1. A method for determining the volume of fluid in the peritoneal cavity of a subject comprising:
(a) placing measuring electrodes MLL and MRL on the loins of the subject, MLL being placed on the left loin and MRL being placed on the right loin, MLL and MRL defining a loin plane;
(b) placing measuring electrodes MLB and MRB on the buttocks of the subject, MLB being placed on the left buttock and MRB being placed on the right buttock, MLB and MRB defining a buttock plane;
(c) placing upper current-providing electrodes ILU and IRU on the subject, ILU being outboard of measuring electrode MLL and IRU being outboard of measuring electrode MRL;
(d) placing lower current-providing electrodes IRL and ILL on the subject, IRL being outboard of measuring electrode MRB and ILL being outboard of measuring electrode MLB;
(e) connecting upper current-providing electrode ILU to upper current-providing electrode IRU;
(f) connecting lower current-providing electrode ILL to lower current-providing electrode IRL;
(g) applying current I between the connected upper current-providing electrodes and the connected lower current-providing electrodes;
(h) measuring the voltage \u03a6L between MLL and MLB while current I is applied;
(i) measuring the voltage \u03a6R between MRL and MRB while current I is applied; and
(j) determining the volume V of fluid in the peritoneal cavity based on the equation:
V=(KP\u03c3)\xb7(LP2R)
where:
(1) KP is a subject-specific calibration constant;
(2) \u03c3 is the conductivity of the fluid in the peritoneal cavity;
(3) LP is the distance between the loin plane and the buttock plane; and
(4) R is the average of RL and RR, where
RL=\u03a6LI, and
RR=\u03a6RI.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein KP3 is determined by:
(i) performing steps (g), (h), and (i) before the introduction of a predetermined volume VC of dialysis fluid into the subject’s peritoneal cavity to obtain \u03a6LB and \u03a6RB, said dialysis fluid having a conductivity \u03c3C;
(ii) performing steps (g), (h), and (i) after the introduction of a predetermined volume VC of dialysis fluid into the subject’s peritoneal cavity to obtain \u03a6LA and \u03a6RA; and
(iii) determining KP from the equation:
KP=(\u03c3C)\xb7(VCLP2)\xb7(RBRA)(RB\u2212RA)
where
RB=(\u03a6LB+\u03a6RB)(2I), and
RA=(\u03a6LA+\u03a6RA)(2I).
3. The method of claim 2 where VC is at least one liter.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein KP is determined by:
(i) introducing dialysis fluid into the subject’s peritoneal cavity;
(ii) performing steps (g), (h), and (i) to obtain \u03a6LB and \u03a6RB;
(iii) removing fluid from the subject’s peritoneal cavity;
(iv) performing steps (g), (h), and (i) to obtain \u03a6LA and \u03a6RA; and
(v) determining KP from the equation:
KP=(\u03c3C)\xb7(VCLP2)\xb7(RBRA)(RA\u2212RB)
where
RB=(\u03a6LB+\u03a6RB)(2I),
RA=(\u03a6LA+\u03a6RA)(2I), and
VC and \u03c3C are, respectively, the volume and conductivity of the fluid removed in step (iii).
5. The method of claim 4 where VC is at least one liter.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the current I is alternating current having a frequency in the range from about 5 kilohertz to about 500 kilohertz.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the current I has a frequency of about 5 kilohertz.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the upper current-providing electrodes are placed on the subject’s hands and the lower current-providing electrodes are placed on the subject’s feet.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the upper current-providing electrodes are placed on the subject’s trunk and the tower current-providing electrodes are placed on the subject’s thighs.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the upper current-providing electrodes and the measuring electrodes MLL and MRL are carried by a common support which is placed on the subject’s trunk.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the lower current-providing electrode ILL and the measuring electrode MLB are carried by a first common support which is placed at least in part on the subject’s left leg and the lower current-providing electrode IRL and the measuring electrode MRB are carried by a second common support which is placed at least in part on the subjects right leg.
12. A method of controlling a peritoneal dialysis procedure comprising:
(A) continuously flowing dialysis fluid through a subject’s peritoneal cavity;
(B) while step (A) is being performed, determining the volume of fluid in the peritoneal cavity by a bioimpedance measurement directed at the peritoneal cavity; and
(C) controlling step (A) based on the volume of fluid in the peritoneal cavity determined in step (B).
13. The method of claim 12 wherein step (B) is performed by:
(a) placing measuring electrodes MLL and MRL on the loins of the subject, MLL being placed on the left loin and MRL being placed on the right loin, MLL and MRL defining a loin plane;
(b) placing measuring electrodes MLB and MRB on the buttocks of the subject, MLB being placed on the left buttock and MRB being placed on the right buttock, MLB and MRB defining a buttock plane;
(c) placing upper current-providing electrodes ILU and IRU on the subject, ILU being outboard of measuring electrode MLL and IRU being outboard of measuring electrode MRL;
(d) placing lower current-providing electrodes IRL and ILL on the subject, IRL being outboard of measuring electrode MRB and ILL being outboard of measuring electrode MLB;
(e) connecting upper current-providing electrode ILU to upper current-providing electrode IRU;
(f) connecting lower current-providing electrode ILL to lower current-providing electrode IRL;
(g) applying current I between the connected upper current-providing electrodes and the connected lower current-providing electrodes;
(h) measuring the voltage \u03a6L between MLL and MLB while current I is applied;
(i) measuring the voltage \u03a6R between MRL and MRB while current I is applied; and
(j) determining the volume V of fluid in the peritoneal cavity based on the equation:
V=(KP\u03c3)\xb7(LP2R)
where:
(1) KP is a subject specific calibration constant;
(2) \u03c3 is the conductivity of the fluid in the peritoneal cavity;
(3) LP is the distance between the loin plane and the buttock plane; and
(4) R is the average of RL and RR, where
RL=\u03a6LI, and
RR=\u03a6RI.
14. The method of claim 12 where the rate of flow of dialysis fluid into, out of, or both into and out of the peritoneal cavity is controlled in step (C).
15. The method of claim 12 where the composition of the dialysis fluid is controlled in step (C).
16. The method of claim 12 including the additional step of determining the conductivity of dialysis fluid removed from the subject while step (A) is being performed.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein in step (A), the continuous flowing of dialysis fluid through the subject’s peritoneal cavity is performed for a period of at least three hours and step (B) is performed at least at regular intervals throughout said period.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein step (B) is performed substantially continuously throughout said period.
19. The method of claim 12 wherein in step (A), the continuous flowing of dialysis fluid through the subject’s peritoneal cavity is performed for a period of at least six hours and step (B) is performed at least at regular intervals throughout said period.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein step (B) is performed substantially continuously throughout said period.
21. The method of claim 12 wherein in step (B), the bioimpedance measurement employs measuring electrodes located in the subject’s loin and buttock regions.
22. Apparatus for determining the volume of fluid in the peritoneal cavity of a subject comprising:
(a) measuring electrodes MLL and MRL for placement on the loins of the subject, MLL to be placed on the left loin and MRL to be placed on the right loin such that, when so placed, MLL and MRL define a loin plane;
(b) measuring electrodes MLB and MRB for placement on the buttocks of the subject, MLB to be placed on the left buttock and MRB to be placed on the right buttock such that, when so placed, MLB and MRB define a buttock plane;
(c) upper current-providing electrodes ILU and IRU for placement on the subject;
(d) lower current-providing electrodes IRL and ILL for placement on the subject;
(e) means for connecting upper current-providing electrode ILU to upper current-providing electrode IRU;
(f) means for connecting lower current-providing electrode ILL to lower current-providing electrode IRL;
(g) means for applying a current I between the connected upper current-providing electrodes and the connected lower current-providing electrodes;
(h) means for measuring the voltage \u03a6L between MLL and MLB while current I is applied;
(i) means for measuring the voltage \u03a6R between MRL and MRB while current I is applied; and
(j) means for determining the volume V of fluid in the peritoneal cavity based on the equation:
V=(KP\u03c3)\xb7(LP2R)
where:
(1) KP is a subject-specific calibration constant;
(2) \u03c3 is the conductivity of the fluid in the peritoneal cavity;
(3) LP is the distance between the loin plane and the buttock plane; and
(4) R is the average of RL and RR, where
RL=\u03a6LI, and
RR=\u03a6RI.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising means for determining KP, said means comprising:
(i) means for determining the voltage \u03a6LB between MLL and MLB and the voltage \u03a6RB between MRL and MRB while current I is applied, said determination being made before the introduction of a predetermined volume VC of dialysis fluid into the subject’s peritoneal cavity, said dialysis fluid having a conductivity ac;
(ii) means for determining the voltage \u03a6LA between MLL and MLB and the voltage \u03a6RA between MRL and MRB while current I is applied, said determination being made after the introduction of a predetermined volume VC of dialysis fluid into the subject’s peritoneal cavity; and
(iii) means for determining KP from the equation:
KP=(\u03c3C)\xb7(VCLP2)\xb7(RBRA)(RB\u2212RA)
where
RB=(\u03a6LB+\u03a6RB)(2I), and
RA=(\u03a6LA+\u03a6RA)(2I).
24. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising means for determining KP, said means comprising:
(i) means for introducing dialysis fluid into the subject’s peritoneal cavity;
(ii) means for determining the voltage \u03a6LB between MLL and MLB and the voltage \u03a6RB between MRL and MRB while current I is applied, said determination being made before removal of fluid from the subject’s peritoneal cavity;
(iii) means for removing fluid from the subject’s peritoneal cavity;
(iv) means for measuring the volume VC of fluid removed from the subject’s peritoneal cavity;
(v) means for determining the voltage \u03a6LA between MLL and MLB and the voltage \u03a6RA between MRL and MRB while current I is applied, said determination being made after the removal of the volume VC of fluid from the subject’s peritoneal cavity; and
(vi) means for determining KP from the equation:
KP=(\u03c3C)\xb7(VCLP2)\xb7(RBRA)(RA\u2212RB)
where
RB=(\u03a6LB+\u03a6RB)(2I),
RA=(\u03a6LA+\u03a6RA)(2I), and
\u03c3C is the conductivity of the fluid removed from the subject’s peritoneal cavity.
25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the current I is alternating current having a frequency in the range from about 5 kilohertz to about 500 kilohertz.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the current I has a frequency of about 5 kilohertz.
27. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a support for carrying the upper current-providing electrodes and the measuring electrodes MLL and MRL.
28. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a first support for carrying the lower current-providing electrode ILL and the measuring electrode MLB and a second support for carrying the lower current-providing electrode IRL and the measuring electrode MRB.
29. Apparatus for performing a peritoneal dialysis procedure comprising:
(A) first means for continuously flowing dialysis fluid through a subject’s peritoneal cavity, said flowing of dialysis fluid being capable of causing the accumulation of ultrafiltrate from the subject in the peritoneal cavity;
(B) second means for determining the volume of fluid in the peritoneal cavity while dialysis fluid is flowed through the subject’s peritoneal cavity, said second means comprising means for performing a bioimpedance measurement directed at the peritoneal cavity; and
(C) third means for controlling the first means based on the volume of fluid in the peritoneal cavity determined by the second means.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the means for performing a bioimpedance measurement directed at the peritoneal cavity comprises:
(a) measuring electrodes MLL and MRL for placement on the loins of the subject, MLL to be placed on the left loin and MRL to be placed on the right loin such that, when so placed, MLL and MRL define a loin plane;
(b) measuring electrodes MLB and MRB for placement on the buttocks of the subject, MLB to be placed on the left buttock and MRB to be placed on the right buttock such that, when so placed, MLB and MRB define a buttock plane;
(c) upper current-providing electrodes ILU and IRU for placement on the subject;
(d) lower current-providing electrodes IRL and ILL for placement on the subject;
(e) means for connecting upper current-providing electrode ILU to upper current-providing electrode IRU;
(f) means for connecting lower current-providing electrode ILL to lower current-providing electrode IRL;
(g) means for applying a current I between the connected upper current-providing electrodes and the connected lower current-providing electrodes;
(h) means for measuring the voltage \u03a6L between MLL and MLB while current I is applied;
(i) means for measuring the voltage \u03a6R between MRL and MRB while current I is applied; and
(j) means for determining the volume V of fluid in the peritoneal cavity based on the equation:
V=(KP\u03c3)\xb7(LP2R)
where:
(1) KP is a subject-specific calibration constant;
(2) \u03c3 is the conductivity of the fluid in the peritoneal cavity;
(3) LP is the distance between the loin plane and the buttock plane; and
(4) R is the average of RL and RR, where
RL=\u03a6LI, and
RR=\u03a6RI.
31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the third means controls the ultrafiltration rate of the first means.
32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the third means controls the rate at which the first means flows dialysis fluid through the subject’s peritoneal cavity.
33. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the third means controls the composition of the dialysis fluid which the first means flows through the subject’s peritoneal cavity.
34. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the third means includes means for determining the conductivity of the dialysis fluid removed from the subject by the first means.
35. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code means embodied therein for:
(a) determining the volume V of fluid in the peritoneal cavity of a subject based on the equation:
V=(KP\u03c3)\xb7(LP2R)
where:
(1) KP is a subject-specific calibration constant
(2) \u03c3 is the conductivity of the fluid in the peritoneal cavity:
(3) LP is the distance between a loin plane and a buttock plane of the subject, the loin plane being established by the locations of measuring electrodes MLL and MRL placed on the subject’s left and right loins, respectively, and the buttock plane being established by measuring electrodes MLB and MRB placed on the subject’s left and right buttocks, respectively; and
(4) R is the average of RL and RR, where
(i) RL=\u03a6LI,
(ii) RR=\u03a6RI, and
(iii) I is an applied current between connected upper current-providing electrodes ILU IRU and connected lower current-providing electrodes IRL and ILL placed on the subject with ILU and IRU being outboard of measuring electrode MLL, IRU being outboard of measuring electrode MRL, IRL being outboard of measuring electrode MRB and ILL being outboard of measuring electrode MLB, and
(iv) \u03a6L and \u03a6R are measured voltages between MLL and MLB and between MRL and MRB, respectively, while current I is applied; and
(b) displaying the value of the calculated volume V to the subject andor to a care provider andor controlling the flow of dialysis fluid through the suibject’s peritoneal cavity using the calculated volume V.
36. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code means embodied therein for:
(a) determining a subject-specific for use in determining the volume of fluid in the subject’s peritoneal cavity calibration constant KP from the equation:
KP=(\u03c3C)\xb7(VCLP2)\xb7(RBRA)(RB\u2212RA)
where
(i) RB=(\u03a6LB+\u03a6RB)(2I);
(ii) RA=(\u03a6LA+\u03a6RA)(2I);
(iii) VC and \u03c3C are, respectively, the volume and conductivity of a predetermined volume of dialysis fluid;
(iv) LP is the distance between a loin plane and a buttock plane of the subject, the loin plane being established by the locations of measuring electrodes MLL and MRL placed on the subject’s left and right loins, respectively, and the buttock plane being established by measuring electrodes MLB and MRB placed on the subject’s left and right buttocks, respectively;
(v) I is an applied current between connected upper current-providing electrodes ILU and IRU connected lower current-providing electrodes IRL and ILL placed on the subject with ILU being outboard of measuring electrode MLL, IRU being outboard of measuring electrode MRL, IRL being outboard of measuring electrode MRB and ILL being outboard of measuring electrode MLB,
(vi) \u03a6LA and \u03a6RA are measured voltages between MLL and MLB and between MRL and MRB, respectively, obtained before introduction of the predetermined volume of dialysis fluid into the subject’s peritoneal cavity and while current I is applied; and
(vii) \u03a6LA and \u03a6RA are measured voltages between MLL and MLB and between MRL and MRB, respectively, obtained after introduction of the predetermined volume of dialysis fluid into the subject’s peritoneal cavity and while current I is applied; and
(b) displaying the value of the calculated subject-specific calibration constant KP to the subject andor to a care provider andor controlling the flow of dialysis fluid through the subject’s peritoneal cavity using the calculated subject-specific calibration constant KP.
37. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code means embodied therein for:
(a) determining a subject-specific for use in determining the volume of fluid in the subject’s peritoneal cavity calibration constant KP from the equation:
KP=(\u03c3C)\xb7(VCLP2)\xb7(RBRA)(RB\u2212RA)
where
(i) RB=(\u03a6LB+\u03a6RB)(2I);
(ii) RA=(\u03a6LA+\u03a6RA)(2I);
(iii) LP is the distance between a loin plane and a buttock plane of the subject, the loin plane being established by the locations of measuring electrodes MLL and MRL placed on the subject’s left and right loins, respectively, and the buttock plane being established by measuring electrodes MLB and MRB placed on the subject’s left and right buttocks, respectively;
(iv) I is an applied current between connected upper current-providing electrodes ILU and IRU and connected lower current-providing electrodes IRL and ILL placed on the subject with ILU being outboard of measuring electrode MLL, IRU being outboard of measuring electrode MRL, IRL being outboard of measuring electrode MRB and ILL being outboard of measuring electrode MLB,
(v) \u03a6LB and \u03a6RB are measured voltages between MLL and MLB and between MRL and MRB, respectively, obtained after introduction of dialysis fluid into the subject’s peritoneal cavity and while current I is applied:
(vi) \u03a6LA and \u03a6RA are measured voltages between MLL and MLB and between MRL and MRB, respectively, obtained after removal of fluid from the subject’s peritoneal cavity and while current I is applied; and
(vii) VC and \u03c3C are, respectively, the volume and conductivity of the fluid removed from the subject’s peritoneal cavity; and
(b) displaying the value of the calculated subject-specific calibration constant KP to the subject andor to a care provider andor controlling the flow of dialysis fluid through the subject’s peritoneal cavity using the calculated subject-specific calibration constant KP.
38. Apparatus comprising a computer which has been programmed to:
(a) determine the volume V of fluid in the peritoneal cavity of a subject based on the equation:
V=(KP\u03c3)\xb7(LP2R)
where:
(1) KP is a subject-specific calibration constant,
(2) \u03c3 is the conductivity of the fluid in the peritoneal cavity:
(3) LP is the distance between a loin plane and a buttock plane of the subject, the loin plane being established by the locations of measuring electrodes MLL, and MRL, placed on the subject’s left and right loins, respectively, and the buttock plane being established by measuring electrodes MLB and MRB placed on the subject’s left and right buttocks, respectively; and
(4) R is the average of RL and RR, where
(i) RL=\u03a6LI,
(ii) RR=\u03a6RI, and
(iii) I is an applied current between connected upper current-providing electrodes ILU and IRU and connected lower current-providing electrodes IRL and ILL placed on the subject with ILU being outboard of measuring electrode MLL, IRU being outboard of measuring electrode MRL, IRL being outboard of measuring electrode MRB and ILL being outboard of measuring electrode MLB, and
(iv) \u03a6L and \u03a6R are measured voltages between MLL and MLB and between MRL and MRB, respectively, while current I is applied; and
(b) display the value of the calculated volume V to the subject andor to a care provider andor control the flow of dialysis fluid through the subject’s peritoneal cavity using the calculated volume V.
39. Apparatus comprising a computer which has been programmed to:
(a) determine a subject-specific for use in determining the volume of fluid in the subject’s peritoneal cavity calibration constant KP from the equation:
KP=(\u03c3C)\xb7(VCLP2)\xb7(RBRA)(RB\u2212RA)
where
(i) RB=(\u03a6LB+\u03a6RB)(2I);
(ii) RA=(\u03a6LA+\u03a6RA)(2I);
(iii) VC and \u03c3C are, respectively, the volume and conductivity of a predetermined volume of dialysis fluid;
(iv) LP is the distance between a loin plane and a buttock plane of the subject, the loin plane being established by the locations of measuring electrodes MLL and MRL placed on the subject’s left and right loins, respectively, and the buttock plane being established by measuring electrodes MLB and MRB placed on the subject’s left and right buttocks, respectively;
(v) I is an applied current between connected upper current-providing electrodes ILU a IRU and connected lower current-providing electrodes IRL and ILL placed on the subject with ILU being outboard of measuring electrode MLL, IRU being outboard of measuring electrode MRL, IRL being outboard of measuring electrode MRB and ILL being outboard of measuring electrode MLB,
(vi) \u03a6LB and \u03a6RB are measured voltages between MLL and MLB and between MRL and MRB, respectively, obtained before introduction of the predetermined volume of dialysis fluid into the subject’s peritoneal cavity and while current I is applied; and
(vii) \u03a6LA and \u03a6RA are measured voltages between MLL and MLB and between MRL and MRB, respectively, obtained after introduction of the predetermined volume of dialysis fluid into the subject’s peritoneal cavity and while current I is applied; and
(b) display the value of the calculated subject-specific calibration constant KP to the subject andor to a care provider andor control the flow of dialysis fluid through the subject’s peritoneal cavity using the calculated subject-specific calibration constant KP.
40. Apparatus comprising a computer which has been programmed to:
(a) determine a subject-specific for use in determining the volume of fluid in the subject’s peritoneal cavity calibration constant KP from the equation:
KP=(\u03c3C)\xb7(VCLP2)\xb7(RBRA)(RB\u2212RA)
where
(i) RB=(\u03a6LB+\u03a6RB)(2I);
(ii) RA=(\u03a6LA+\u03a6RA)(2I);
(iii) LP is the distance between a loin plane and a buttock plane of the subject, the loin plane being established by the locations of measuring electrodes MLL and MRL placed on the subject’s left and right loins, respectively, and the buttock plane being established by measuring electrodes MLB and MRB placed on the subject’s left and right buttocks, respectively
(iv) I is an applied current between connected upper current-providing electrodes ILU and IRU and connected lower current-providing electrodes IRL and ILL placed on the subject with ILU being outboard of measuring electrode MLL, IRU being outboard of measuring electrode MRL, IRL being outboard of measuring electrode MRB and ILL being outboard of measuring electrode MLB,
(v) \u03a6LB and \u03a6RB are measured voltages between MLL and MLB and between MRL and MRB, respectively, obtained after introduction of dialysis fluid into the subject’s peritoneal cavity and while current I is applied;
(vi) \u03a6LA and \u03a6RA are measured voltages between MLL and MLB and between MRL and MRB, respectively, obtained after removal of fluid from the subject’s peritoneal cavity and while current I is applied; and
(vii) VC and \u03c3C are, respectively, the volume and conductivity of the fluid removed from the subject’s peritoneal cavity; and
(b) display the value of the calculated subject-specific calibration constant KP to the subject andor to a care provider andor control the flow of dialysis fluid through the subject’s peritoneal cavity using the calculated subject-specific calibration constant KP.
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 web application for creating query string for conducting searches in at least one search engine of at least one database of structured documents structured according to content-fields, said application comprising:
an interactive table of the search words, wherein the search words are organized according to priorities and relations between the search words, said table is programmed to enable the user to change search words priority and relations; and
a software module for creating Boolean query string based on the search words inserted by a user into said interactive table,
wherein said query is defined in accordance with the relations between the search words, wherein said relations are defined according to the organization of the search words within the interactive table.
2. The web application of claim 1 further enables the user to associate a content-field with at least one of the search words in the interactive table, wherein the search according to said query is carried out according to the content-fields associated with each search word of said query.
3. The web application of claim 2 is operatively associated with at least one dictionary database wherein the interactive table enables the user to add relevant search words from said dictionary database,
wherein each search word of the interactive table is a hyperlink, enabling the user open an interactive dictionary application that enables associating with said at least one dictionary database and select words to be included in the interactive table.
4. The web application of claim 1 further comprising a query scope module enabling to determine relevant categories for the query, wherein the determined queries are included within the Boolean query.
5. The web application of claim 4 further comprising queries database enabling the user to save queries data and relevant search results in said queries database and to retrieve saved queries and search results from said queries database,
wherein each query data record comprises at least some of: search words, relevant classification, relevant search results and all search words inserted by the user during each saving of said query, wherein the structure of said queries database enables saving of a query search session comprising aggregated information of associated queries and query history having a common search scope.
6. The web application of claim 5 further allows a user to save and display of at least one query-configuration, which is one of the recorded query data combinations.
7. The web application of claim 1, wherein each document is associated with at least one classification and wherein said application further comprises a classification module enabling to receive at least one relevant classification of selected search results relating the created Boolean query and include said relevant classification within said Boolean query.
8. The web application of claim 1 creates different queries from one set of instructions provided by the user, wherein each of these queries optionally contains a different set of search words,
wherein different proximity operators enable to locate and display proximate related words allowing different search content-fields to be chosen;
thus, the application enables creating a set of queries for the same search and comparing the number of results each query retrieves, allowing users to define the number of desirable results, whereby the application determines which of the queries are most suitable.
9. The web application of claim 1 further comprising a communication module enabling to transmit query data to at least one second user.
10. The web application of claim 1 further comprising a type module enabling the user to associate an invention type to the query and allow searching for structured documents according to the type.
11. The web application of claim 1 wherein said structured documents are one of: patent and patent-application content documents or articles documents, wherein said documents are structured into predefined content-fields.
12. A query builder method for automatic creation of a query string for conducting a search through at least one database of structured documents structured according to content-fields, said method comprising:
inserting search data which includes search words, and defining relation between said search words and properties of the search words;
creating a search query according to said search data by defining Boolean and proximity operators in accordance with defined relation, defining weights for each search word or group of search words according to search words properties and defining search content-fields for each search word or group of search words according to search words properties.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:
selecting at least one invention type of the structured document; and
associating an invention type to the query to allow searching for structured documents according to said selected type.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of associating at least one content-field to at least one of the inserted search words, wherein said content-field defines the segment of content in the structured documents that is searched through for the associated search word.
15. The method of claim 12 further comprising defining search words’ priorities, wherein each content-field is associated with a priority enabling to prioritize the presentation of search results according to the content-fields priorities.
16. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of saving the created query within a queries database, wherein said queries database is organized according to relevant categories and the search words.
17. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:
defining root search words, wherein a user selects the search words;
defining the query search range by defining priority of each root search word;
defining query scope by determining the relevant content-fields;
creating at least one Boolean query string based on integration of defined query context and scope.
18. A query builder method for automatic creation of a query string for conducting searches in a search engine of at least one database of structured documents structured according to content-fields, said method comprising the steps of:
defining at least two groups of root search words;
creating a multiplicity of Boolean query strings, wherein each string includes one possible combination of at least one word from said at least two groups.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprises the step of searching for relevant structured documents for each combination of search word and their associated content-fields, wherein each search word is associated with at least one content-field.