SINGLE-HAND OPERATED SYRINGE-LIKE DEVICE THAT PROVIDES ELECTRONIC CHAIN OF CUSTODY WHEN SECURING A SAMPLE FOR ANALYSIS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A syringe suitable for obtaining a sample of a substance to be analyzed, wherein the syringe only requires a single hand to operate, and said syringe comprised of:
- a fiber suitable for collecting a sample from a substance to be analyzed;
a protective sheath for protecting the fiber, wherein the fiber can be extracted from the protective sheath and retracted back inside;
a plunger for actuating a means for ejecting and retracting the fiber from the protective sheath; and
a thumb actuator coupled to the plunger to thereby push the plunger when fingers grasp the handle and push on the thumb actuator to thereby operate the ejecting and retracting means using a single hand.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A syringe-like device (hereinafter “syringe”) that is operable by a single hand, wherein the syringe includes a plunger for ejecting and then retracting a fiber or filament used for the collection of solids, solids in suspensions and liquids, wherein the syringe includes a microchip embedded in the syringe housing, and wherein the microchip enables electronic chain of custody tracking of a sample from a point of origin through final analysis.
90 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A syringe suitable for obtaining a sample of a substance to be analyzed, wherein the syringe only requires a single hand to operate, and said syringe comprised of:
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a fiber suitable for collecting a sample from a substance to be analyzed;
a protective sheath for protecting the fiber, wherein the fiber can be extracted from the protective sheath and retracted back inside;
a plunger for actuating a means for ejecting and retracting the fiber from the protective sheath; and
a thumb actuator coupled to the plunger to thereby push the plunger when fingers grasp the handle and push on the thumb actuator to thereby operate the ejecting and retracting means using a single hand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for obtaining a sample of a substance to be analyzed by using a syringe that only requires one hand to operate and thereby obtain the sample, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) providing a syringe having a housing wherein is disposed a fiber, a protective sheath, a plunger for actuating means for means for ejecting and retracting the fiber from the protective sheath, and a thumb actuator coupled to the plunger;
(2) grasping the housing of the syringe using fingers of a first hand;
(3) placing a thumb of the first hand on the thumb actuator; and
(4) pushing the thumb actuator with the thumb a first time to thereby actuate the cam mechanism using only the first hand. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A syringe suitable for obtaining a sample of a substance to be analyzed, wherein the syringe only requires a single hand to operate, and said syringe comprised of:
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a fiber suitable for collecting a sample from a substance to be analyzed;
a protective sheath for protecting the fiber, wherein the fiber can be extracted from the protective sheath and retracted back inside;
a plunger for actuating a means for ejecting and retracting the fiber from the protective sheath;
a thumb actuator coupled to the plunger to thereby push the plunger when fingers grasp the handle and push on the thumb actuator to thereby operate the ejecting and retracting means using a single hand; and
an Identification (ID) circuit disposed thereon, wherein the ID circuit enables electronic chain of custody of a sample obtained by the fiber. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A syringe suitable for obtaining a sample of a substance to be analyzed, wherein the syringe only requires a single hand to operate, and said syringe comprised of:
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a fiber suitable for collecting a sample from a substance to be analyzed;
a protective sheath for protecting the fiber, wherein the fiber can be extracted from the protective sheath and retracted back inside;
a plunger for ejecting the fiber from the protective sheath;
a cam mechanism disposed inside a handle for locking the fiber into an ejected position; and
for releasing the fiber so that it can be retracted;
a spring inside the handle for providing tension for the cam mechanism; and
a thumb actuator coupled to the plunger to thereby push the plunger when fingers grasp the handle and push on the thumb actuator to thereby operate the cam mechanism using a single hand.
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Specification