Patent ID: 7892179

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring a physiological condition within a mammal comprising: a probe for insertion into a body lumen of the mammal, the probe comprising: an elongated tubular housing having a first internal cavity; a first circuit board located within the first internal cavity; a pH sensor for measuring pH within the body lumen located at a distal portion of the elongated tubular housing, the pH sensor generating a pH signal indicative of the measured pH and operably coupled to the first circuit board; a memory device storing parametric data unique to the pH sensor, the memory device located within the first internal cavity and operably coupled to the first circuit board; a temperature sensor for measuring temperature within the body lumen and generating a temperature signal indicative of the measured temperature, the temperature sensor located at the distal portion of the elongated tubular housing and operably coupled to the first circuit board; and a first interface connector located at a proximal portion of the elongated tubular housing and operably coupled to the first circuit board; a handle for manipulating tile probe, the handle comprising: a second housing having a second internal cavity; a second circuit board located within the second internal cavity; a microprocessor for processing the pH signal and generating an output signal based on the processing of the pH signal, the microprocessor located within the second internal cavity and operably coupled to the second circuit board; a display device on the second housing for displaying the output signal generated by the microprocessor and operably coupled to the second circuit board; and a second interface connector located at the second housing and operably coupled to the second circuit board; the probe connected to the handle in a manner that allows the probe and the handle to be repetitively engaged and disengaged from each other; wherein when the probe is connected to the handle, the first and second interface connectors are in electrical connection so that the microprocessor retrieves the parametric data from the memory device of the probe and receives the pH signal; wherein the microprocessor processes the temperature signal and generates the output signal based on the processing of the pH signal and the temperature signal; and wherein the output signal represents the measured physiological condition and comprises vaginal health, cervical health, and/or fertility status.