Method and apparatus for identification of a liquid secreted by an animal, especially of amniotic liquid

Es ist ein Verfahren zum Identifizieren einer von einem Lebewesen abgesonderten Flüssigkeit, insbesondere von Fruchtwasser, beschrieben, wobei die Flüssigkeit über deren charakteristische flüchtige Bestandteile identifiziert wird. A sample of the liquid on a cotton swab (2) is placed in a sample holder (4) having an opening (6) for volatile components (8) of the liquid to escape through. The volatile components are lead via a testing unit to a measuring chamber (12). The testing unit has a suction snout (14), pump and dosimeter or flow meter and sensors (8-32), metal oxide sensor and /or conductivity sensors (9). Alternatively a quartz micro balances and/or surface acoustic wave sensor is used. The sensors are connected with electrical circuitry (18) which processes the sensor signals and provides measurement values to a computer (20). The computer has a database of odour fingerprints to identify different odours and performs principal compound analysis. The liquid odour is assigned to a type of odour which indicates if amniotic fluid is included in the liquid. Alternatively the fluid can be directly measured at the patient without taking a sample.