Abstract: The present invention is clothing with foldable portions to provide access to the wearer with the wearer not having to stand from a chair or bed. The present invention includes at least one releasable seam that may be placed in a secured or opened position, so that when the releasable seam is placed in the open position, the clothing material may be folded in a manner to allow access to the wearer without the need to remove the clothing.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits for monitoring the status of women's health, including HRT monitoring and determination or diagnosis of ovulation, contraception, pregnancy, menopause, polycystic ovarian disease, and female sexual dysfunction. The method comprises the steps of: (a) collecting a tear fluid from a female human; (b) determining the tear concentration of at least one hormone of relevance to female fertility, sexual differentiation or sexual dysfunction in a female human, wherein the tear concentration is diagnostics of the status of women's health.

Abstract: The invention provides an in vivo screening assay and an in vitro screening assay for rapid screening of diabetes. A method of the invention includes determining a first glucose concentration in an ocular fluid of a patient; administering orally a load of carbohydrate to the patient; determining a second glucose concentration in an ocular fluid of the patient at a period of time of less than 50 minutes after orally administering of the load of carbohydrate; comparing the second glucose concentration with the first glucose concentration to determine if the patient is likely to be a diabetic. The method of the invention is performed by using a kit of the invention. The kit comprises: (1) a glucose-sensing ophthalmic device and instructions for using the glucose-sensing ophthalmic device to screen for diabetes; or (2) two or more tear-collecting devices, and a testing agent composition which specifically reacts with glucose to form a detectable signal.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a strip for tear collection. The strip has a first end and an opposite second end and preferably has substantially uniform cross-sections from the first end to the second end. The strip is made of a hydrogel material in substantially dry state. The strip is characterized by having a substantially uniform swelling along the hydrogel strip from the first end to the second end when fully wicked by a tear fluid and by having a correlation between the volume of tear uptake by said strip and the length of the wicked end portion of said strip. A strip of the invention is useful for assay of an analyte of interest in a tear fluid. The invention also provides a method and kits for assaying an analyte of interest (e.g., lactoferrin, glucose, herpes simplex virus, hormones, etc.).

Abstract: A method of screening or detecting non-ocular disease in an animal, the method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a tear sample from the animal; (b) separating biomolecules present in the tear sample; and (c) detecting for the presence or absence of one or more biomolecules such that the presence or absence of the one or more biomolecules being an indicator or marker of a disease state in the animal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming on a medical device, preferably an ophthalmic lens, more preferably a contact lens, a diffusion-controllable coating capable of controlling the out-diffusion or release of guest materials from the medical device. The method of the invention comprises: (1) applying one layer of clay and optionally one or more layers of polyionic materials onto the medical device; or (2) applying alternatively a layer of a first polyionic material and a layer of a second polyionic material having charges opposite of the charges of the first polyionic material onto the medical device and releasing the coated medical device into a releasing medium having a composition capable of imparting a desired permeability to the diffusion-controllable coating on the medical device.

Abstract: The invention provides an in vivo screening assay and an in vitro screening assay for rapid screening of diabetes. A method of the invention includes determining a first glucose concentration in an ocular fluid of a patient; administering orally a load of carbohydrate to the patient; determining a second glucose concentration in an ocular fluid of the patient at a period of time of less than 50 minutes after orally administering of the load of carbohydrate; comparing the second glucose concentration with the first glucose concentration to determine if the patient is likely to be a diabetic. The method of the invention is performed by using a kit of the invention. The kit comprises: (1) a glucose-sensing ophthalmic device and instructions for using the glucose-sensing ophthalmic device to screen for diabetes; or (2) two or more tear-collecting devices, and a testing agent composition which specifically reacts with glucose to form a detectable signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a membrane the conductivity of which is dependent on the presence or absence of an analyte. The membrane comprises a closely packed array of self-assembling amphiphilic molecules and two ionophore components. A receptor molecule reactive with the analyte is provided on one of the ionophore components. The binding of the analyte to the receptor molecule causes a change in the relationship between the ionophore components such that the flow of ion across the membrane is prevented or allowed. The ionophore components are preferably selected from the group consisting of amphotericin B, gramicidin A monomers and combinations thereof, with gramicidin A monomers being particularly preferred. The present invention also provides a membrane including receptors directed against the Fc region of antibodies. These receptors are preferably derived from polyclonal antibodies.