1. A touch detect system for coupling between a touch panel and a host, the touch detect system comprising:
a FIFO memory;
a timer that is enabled and reset upon transfer of touch data from the touch panel to the FIFO memory, and that is allowed to timeout after a period where no touch is detected since the last touch; and
a controller that interrupts the host when the timer times out to signal to the host that touch data is available in the FIFO memory for reading.
2. The touch detect system of claim 1, further comprising a data acquisition block that transfers touch data from the touch panel to the FIFO memory.
3. The touch detect system of claim 2, wherein the data acquisition block enables and resets the timer.
4. The touch detect system of claim 1, wherein the controller further interrupts the host when the amount of touch data in the FIFO memory reaches a FIFO threshold.
5. The touch detect system of claim 1, wherein the FIFO threshold is adjustable.
6. A touch screen system comprising:
a data acquisition block;
a host;
a FIFO memory; and
a timer that is enabled and reset upon transfer of touch data from the data acquisition block to the FIFO memory, and that is allowed to timeout after a period where no touch is detected since the last touch; and
a controller that interrupts the host when the timer times out to signal to the host that touch data is available in the FIFO memory for reading.
7. The touch screen system of claim 6 wherein the timer comprises a plurality of J-K flip-flops.
8. The touch screen system of claim 6 wherein the timer comprises reset and clock inputs, and an output.
9. The touch screen system of claim 6 wherein the controller further interrupts the host when the amount of touch data in the FIFO memory reaches.
10. The touch screen system of claim 9 wherein the threshold is adjustable.
11. A method for controlling a touch screen system comprising:
buffering touch data from a touch panel in a FIFO memory;
resetting a timer when touch data is stored in the FIFO memory;
allowing the timer to timeout after a period where no touch is detected since the last touch; and
interrupting a host when the timer times out to signal to the host that touch data is available in the FIFO memory for reading.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising, interrupting the host when the amount of data in the FIFO memory has reached a threshold value, and for the host to read the data available in the FIFO memory.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising, adjusting the threshold value.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein all acquired data is stored in the FIFO memory under the control of a touch screen controller.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of collecting biological liquid from a subject, comprising:
providing a multiple layer absorbent pad sized for retention in a perineal space of a wearer, the multiple layers of the pad comprising an inner absorbent layer, an outer absorbent layer, and an intermediate layer between the first and second absorbent layers, wherein the inner and outer absorbent layers are denser than the intermediate layer, and the pad forms an empty internal cavity within the pad, wherein liquid in the internal cavity is absorbed through the inner absorbent layer into the intermediate layer and liquid external to the device is absorbed through the outer absorbent layer into the intermediate layer; and
placing the pad in a perineal space of the wearer so that liquid is absorbed by the pad from the perineal space into the pad.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer is an anti-microbial layer.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a diagnostic test of the liquid absorbed by the pad.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pad and cavity are elongated and generally taper in width from a top of the pad to a bottom of the pad, and a ratio of average fiber density of outer layer: intermediate layer: inner layer is about 1-1.5 to 0.25-0.5 to 1.75-2.25, and a ratio of thicknesses of outer layer: intermediate layer: inner layer is about 0.5-1.5 to 8-12 to 1-2.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pad is a folded pad that is sealed together along at least two opposing edges to form the internal cavity.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein the intermediate anti-microbial layer is treated with an antibacterial substance, or consists essentially of rayon or silk which have inherent anti-microbial activity.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the intermediate anti-microbial layer consists essentially of rayon.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the pad has an open end that communicates with the cavity, and the pad further comprises a flap that is folded from an edge of the pad into the cavity to form a protective layer.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pad has a generally ovate cross-section with an enlarged width top edge and a reduced width bottom edge, and the pad is placed in the perineal space with the enlarged width top edge against a body of the user.
10. A method of making a perineal absorbent pad for retention in a perineal space of a wearer, comprising:
providing an elongated multi-layered pad comprising at least one absorbent layer and an anti-microbial layer, the pad further comprising a length, a width, a thickness, a longitudinal centerline, and opposing top and bottom edges; and
folding the pad along the longitudinal centerline and securing the opposing top and bottom edges to one another to present the at least one absorbent layer externally of the anti-microbial layer, and the folded pad forms an internal longitudinal cavity.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the anti-microbial layer comprises a fiber that inhibits the growth of bacteria.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fiber that inhibits the growth of bacteria comprises rayon.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the pad is folded so that the anti-microbial layer forms a non-external layer of the folded pad.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the pad is folded so that the external layer of the folded pad is non-adhesive.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the multi-layered pad comprises the anti-microbial layer between first and second absorbent layers, and the pad is folded so that first absorbent layer forms a wall of the internal cavity, the second absorbent layer forms an exterior of the pad, and the absorbent layer is between the absorbent layers.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one absorbent layer has a greater length than the anti-microbial layer so that the at least one absorbent layer forms a flap, and the flap is folded against the anti-microbial layer before folding the pad along the longitudinal centerline and securing the opposing top and bottom edges to one another, so that the flap forms an extra layer of the pad along a transverse open edge of the folded pad.
17. A device comprising:
a multiple layer absorbent pad sized for retention in a perineal space of a wearer, the multiple layers of the pad comprising an inner absorbent layer, an outer absorbent layer, and an intermediate layer between the first and second absorbent layers, wherein the inner and outer absorbent layers are denser than the intermediate layer; and
an internal cavity within the pad, wherein liquid in the internal cavity is absorbed through the inner absorbent layer into the intermediate layer and liquid external to the device is absorbed through the outer absorbent layer into the intermediate layer, and the greater density of the inner and outer layer results in liquid flow that favors retention of the liquid in the intermediate layer instead of the cavity within the pad.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein the inner absorbent layer is an innermost layer of the device that is exposed to and forms the cavity within the device, and the outer absorbent layer is an outermost layer of the pad.
19. The device of claim 17, wherein the intermediate layer is an anti-microbial layer.
20. The device of claim 17, wherein a ratio of the average fiber density of outer layer: intermediate layer: inner layer is about 1-1.5 to 0.25-0.5 to 1.75-2.25 and a ratio of thicknesses of the outer layer: intermediate layer: inner layer is about 0.5-1.5 to 8-12 to 1-2.
21. The device of claim 17, wherein the multiple layer absorbent pad has a length, a width, a thickness, a longitudinal centerline, and opposing top and bottom edges, wherein the pad is folded along the longitudinal centerline with the opposing top and bottom edges secured to one another to present the at least one absorbent layer externally of the intermediate layer, and the folded pad forms an internal cavity.
22. The device of claim 19, wherein the anti-microbial layer comprises a fiber that inhibits the growth of bacteria.
23. The device of claim 22, wherein the fiber that inhibits the growth of bacteria comprises a rayon or silk material.
24. The device of claim 18, wherein the anti-microbial layer contains an added anti-microbial agent.
25. The device of claim 17, further comprising a flap extending from a transverse edge of the absorbent pad, wherein the flap is folded against the pad so that the flap is contained within the internal cavity.
26. The device of claim 25, wherein the flap is an extension of the absorbent layer.
27. The device of claim 17, wherein the pad is a pad that is folded along a folding line, and tapers in transverse cross-sectional profile away from the folding line.
28. The device of claim 17, wherein the pad is non-adhesive.
29. The device of claim 17, wherein the pad has substantially smooth outer surfaces.
30. A method for collecting fluid andor exfoliated cells contained in the fluid from a perineal orifice for diagnostic purposes, the method comprising:
placing in a perineal space the device of claim 17;
collecting fluid in the device while the device is located in the perineal space;
removing the device from the perineal space;
extracting fluid from the device; and
performing medical diagnostic testing on the extracted fluid.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the perineal space is an interlabial space.
32. The method of claim 30, wherein the perineal space is an intergluteal space adjacent to and external of the anus.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein the extracted fluid contains cells comprising one or more of ectocervical, cervical, endometrial, vaginal or blood cells.
34. The method of claim 30, wherein the diagnostic testing is directed to organisms and biological material associated with bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases.
35. The method of claim 30, wherein the diagnostic testing is directed to biological materials associated with cancers.
36. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of placing the absorbent media into a shipping container prior to extracting fluid from the absorbent media.
37. A method of using the pad of claim 17 to administer a therapeutic agent to a subject, comprising:
providing a therapeutic agent in the pad; and
inserting the pad into a perineal space where it is retained to administer the therapeutic agent to the subject.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein inserting the pad into the perineal space comprises inserting the pad into an interlabial space or an into an intergluteal space against an anus.
39. The method of claim 37, wherein providing a therapeutic agent in the pad comprises placing the therapeutic agent in the cavity.