Dual swab fluid sample collection for split sample testing and fingerprint identification device

• US 10,564,155 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2017
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raouf A. Guirguis
• Original Assignee: Raouf A. Guirguis
• Inventors: Guirguis, Raouf A
• Primary Examiner(s): White, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US15/417,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20180217139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5023 with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5029 using swabs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/18 with provision for splitting samples into portions G01N1/12, G01N1/14 take precedence; fraction-collection apparatus for chromatography B01D15/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/028 Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54386 Analytical elements

Abstract

An apparatus for testing a fluid sample including a sample receiving member having an opening for receiving a fluid sample, wherein the sample receiving member comprises at least a first and second sample collection chambers, a sample retention member, in fluid communication with the first sample collection chamber, to retain a portion of the fluid sample, and at least one test strip, in fluid communication with the second collection chamber, to indicate the presence or absence of at least one analyte in the fluid sample, wherein the first collection chamber is not in fluid communication with the second collection chamber.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing a fluid sample comprising:

a sample receiving member having an opening for receiving a fluid sample, wherein the sample receiving member comprises at least a first and second sample collection chambers;

a sample retention member, in fluid communication with the first sample collection chamber, to retain a portion of the fluid sample;

at least one test strip, in fluid communication with the second sample collection chamber, to indicate the presence or absence of at least one analyte in the fluid sample;

a dual fluid collector comprising first and second fluid collection prongs to collect the fluid sample and transfer the fluid sample into the first and second sample collection chambers respectively, wherein each of the first and second fluid collection prongs comprise sealing members to seal the fluid samples within the first and second sample collection chambers respectively;

wherein the first collection chamber is not in fluid communication with the second collection chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second collection prongs further comprise:

an absorbent material to absorb the fluid sample; and

a compression member operatively associated with the absorbent material.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the absorbent material comprises a visual indicator to indicate the presence of a predetermined amount of the fluid sample.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the compression member comprises:

a first compression segment to compresses the absorbent material of the first fluid collection prong; and

a second compression segment to compress the absorbent material of the second fluid collection prong.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a device for biometric identification.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said device for biometric identification is a fingerprint acquisition pad.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fingerprint acquisition pad is an immunoassay-based fingerprint acquisition pad.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dual fluid collector further comprises a closure member capable of sealing the open end of the sample receiving member when the dual fluid collector is inserted into the sample receiving member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the closure member is capable of sealing the open end of the first collection chamber and is capable of sealing the open end of the second collection chamber.