Hydrophobic/hydrophilic sample collection tip

• US 20030181826A1
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dave Smith, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Thomas J. Foley
• Original Assignee: Dave Smith, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Thomas J. Foley
• Inventors: Liang, Greg, Smith, Dave, Smith, Mike, Waltzer, Eric, Tatum, Roger, Foley, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US10/310,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20030181826A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/581
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0051 for taking saliva or sputum samples devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/23 Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/452 using independent floating stirring elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/81 Combinations of similar mixers, e.g. with rotary stirring devices in two or more receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/812 in two or more alternative mixing receptacles, e.g. mixing in one receptacle and dispensing from another receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/713 comprising breaking packages or parts thereof, e.g. piercing or opening sealing elements between compartments or cartridges containers or packages per se B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7137 Piercing, perforating or melting membranes or closures which seal the compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7161 the containers being connected coaxially before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7163 the containers being connected in a mouth-to-mouth, end-to-end disposition, i.e. the openings are juxtaposed before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7174 using pistons, plungers or syringes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/754251 reciprocating in the mixing receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/041 Connecting closures to device or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5023 : with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/02 : Devices for withdrawing samples sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 : Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48714 : for determining substances foreign to the organism, e.g. drugs or heavy metals drugs by chemical analysis G01N33/94
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54313 : the carrier being characterised by its particulate form
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 : Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 : involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/98 : involving alcohol, e.g. ethanol in breath
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7036 : Jacketed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1002 : with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Assemblies are provided for collecting oral fluid from a mouth of a subject using a hydrophobic/hydrophilic sample collection tip. A sample collection assembly includes a sample collection tip configured for being placed within the mouth, and a conduit in fluid communication with the sample collection tips. The sample collection tip includes a hydrophobic interior and a hydrophilic outer surface. In this manner, the tendency of analytes within the sample to stick to the interior of the sample collection tip is minimized, while allowing wetting of the outer surface of the sample collection tip with the sample to facilitate its collection. The sample collection assembly can further include a hand piece that has a tip on which the sample collection tip is mounted, and through which the conduit can extend. The sample collection tip can have a bore in which the conduit is disposed, e.g., by bonding. The hydrophobic interior of the sample collection tip can be composed of a microporous material, such as high density polyethylene, and the hydrophobic outer surface of the sample collection can include a surfactant. The sample collection tip can have any suitable shape, e.g., hemi-dome shaped.

Claims

1. A sample collection assembly for collecting a sample from a mouth, comprising:

a sample collection tip configured for being placed within said mouth, said sample collection tip comprising a hydrophobic body and a hydrophilic surfactant disposed on an outer surface of said hydrophobic body; and

a conduit in fluid communication with the sample collection tip.

2. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hand piece having a tip on which said sample collection tip is mounted.

3. The sample collection assembly of claim 2, wherein said sample collection tip comprises a rear surface that is bonded to a front surface of said hand piece tip.

4. The sample collection assembly of claim 2, wherein said conduit extends through said hand piece.

5. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said conduit is flexible.

6. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic body is microporous.

7. The sample collection assembly of claim 6, wherein said hydrophobic body comprises a pores having a pore size of 135 μ

m or less.

8. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic body comprises high density polyethylene.

9. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic body comprises a bore, and said conduit is disposed within said bore.

10. The sample collection assembly of claim 9, wherein said conduit is bonded within said bore.

11. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said sample collection tip is hemi-dome shaped.

12. A sample collection assembly for collecting a sample from a mouth, comprising:

a sample collection tip configured for being placed within said mouth, said sample collection tip comprising a hydrophobic interior and a hydrophilic outer surface; and

a conduit in fluid communication with the sample collection tip.

13. The sample collection assembly of claim 12, further comprising a hand piece having a tip on which said sample collection tip is mounted.

14. The sample collection assembly of claim 13, wherein said sample collection tip comprises a rear surface that is bonded to a front surface of said hand piece tip.

15. The sample collection assembly of claim 13, wherein said conduit extends through said hand piece.

16. The sample collection assembly of claim 12, wherein said conduit is flexible.

17. The sample collection assembly of claim 12, wherein said sample collection tip is microporous.

18. The sample collection assembly of claim 17, wherein said sample collection tip comprises a pores having a pore size of 135 μ

m or less.

19. The sample collection assembly of claim 12, wherein said hydrophobic interior of said sample collection tip comprises high density polyethylene.

20. The sample collection assembly of claim 12, wherein said hydrophilic outer surface of said sample collection tip comprises a surfactant.

21. The sample collection assembly of claim 12, wherein said sample collection tip has a bore, and said conduit is disposed within said bore.

22. The sample collection assembly of claim 21, wherein said conduit is bonded within said bore.

23. The sample collection assembly of claim 12, wherein said sample collection tip is hemi-dome shaped.

24. A sample collection assembly for collecting a sample from a mouth, comprising:

a sample collection tip configured for being placed within said mouth, said sample collection tip comprising a hydrophobic interior and a hydrophilic outer surface;

a sample collection chamber;

a conduit in fluid communication between said sample collection tip and said sample collection chamber; and

a pump configured to pump sample from said hydrophobic interior of said sample collection tip, through said conduit, and into said sample collection chamber.

25. The sample collection assembly of claim 24, further comprising a hand piece having a tip on which said sample collection tip is mounted.

26. The sample collection assembly of claim 25, wherein said sample collection tip comprises a rear surface that is bonded to a front surface of said hand piece tip.

27. The sample collection assembly of claim 25, wherein said conduit extends through said hand piece.

28. The sample collection assembly of claim 24, wherein said conduit is flexible.

29. The sample collection assembly of claim 24, wherein said sample collection tip is microporous.

30. The sample collection assembly of claim 29, wherein said sample collection tip comprises a pores having a pore size of 135 μ

m or less.

31. The sample collection assembly of claim 24, wherein said hydrophobic interior of said sample collection tip comprises high density polyethylene.

32. The sample collection assembly of claim 24, wherein said hydrophilic outer surface of said sample collection tip comprises a surfactant.

33. The sample collection assembly of claim 24, wherein said sample collection tip has a bore, and said conduit is disposed within said bore.

34. The sample collection assembly of claim 33, wherein said conduit is bonded within said bore.

35. The sample collection assembly of claim 24, wherein said sample collection tip is hemi-dome shaped.

36. The sample collection assembly of claim 24, wherein said pump is configured to pump said sample at an air flow rate of 5-50 ml/min at 350 mmHg absolute.

37. The sample collection assembly of claim 24, wherein said pump is configured to pump said sample at an air flow rate of 20 ml/min or less at 350 mmHg absolute.