Touch evidence collection apparatus and method

• US 20070166198A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bode Technology Group Incorporated (Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings)
• Original Assignee: Bode Technology Group Incorporated (Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings)
• Inventors: Sangha, Jangbir S., Bille, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 8,075,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/99
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5029 using swabs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/00 Supporting devices; Holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/028 Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/81 Packaged device or kit

Abstract

A specimen collection apparatus and method is provided that allows for obtaining a specimen of evidence from a crime scene or evidence of any event and the sequential use and transfer and analysis of such evidence in a manner which maintains a demonstrable chain of custody.

Claims

1. An absorbent collection device comprising:

a handle,

a support rod extending from said handle,

an absorbent collector comprising a tubular shaft having first and second ends, said tubular shaft being coaxially mountable upon said support rod,

an absorbent head extending from said second end of said shaft,

a release mechanism on said handle adjacent to said support rod, said release mechanism being movable between first and second positions, and

an actuator for moving said release mechanism between said first and second positions, said release mechanism ejecting said absorbent collector from said support rod.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said release mechanism is a second tube mounted coaxially around said support rod.

3. A collection tube and swab device comprising:

a tube having first and second ends said first end being closed and said second end being open,

a cap having a nipple extending therefrom for insertion into said tube to seal said tube second end by compression fit therein, and

an absorbent collector comprising a shaft having first and second ends, a collection absorbent head mounted on said shaft first end, said shaft second end being affixed to bottom of said cap allowing said cap to act as a handle during evidence collection.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said shaft second end is releasably affixed to said cap.

5. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said shaft second end is releasably affixed to said cap and said shaft second end comprises a cross member perpendicular to said shaft and said cap further comprises a sub-surface groove for releasable receiving said cross member therein.

6. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cap nipple and said tube second end have complementary threads for screw connection therebetween.

7. A collection tube and swab device comprising:

a tube having first and second ends said first end being closed and said second end being open,

a cap having a central body having a first side and a second side and a first threaded nipple extending from said body first side and a second threaded nipple extending from said body second side for screw closure of said tube by either threaded nipple of said cap, and

an absorbent collector comprising a shaft having first and second ends, an absorbent head mounted on said shaft first end and said shaft second end being attached to said cap first nipple for threaded connection of said second nipple with said tube for use of said tube as a handle during evidence collection, and said first threaded nipple providing threaded securing of said collector within said tube for protected storage of said absorbent collector.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the tube has at least one opening to allow for ventilation of the tube upon connection of said cap.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said cap utilizes a compression fit to connect to said tube.

10. The device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising:

a generally tubular shaped sleeve coaxially mounted within said tube,

opposed elongate channels partially extending along the length of said sleeve,

at least one void in said sleeve allowing the passage of gas therethrough, and

opposed indents extending inwardly from the tube sidewalls for slidable engagement of said elongate channels thereon for movement of said sleeve between a first position in which said sleeve is generally within said tube and said second position in which said sleeve is generally extended from said tube to expose said void to permit the passage of gas in and out of said tube.

11. A biological specimen collection device comprising:

a cap having first and second ends an absorbent attached to said cap first end and said cap second end having a void therein,

a support handle insertable into said void in said cap second end for manipulating said cap and absorbent during the collection of a specimen on said absorbent, and

a tube for receiving said absorbent, said tube having and open end and a closed end, said tube being sealed by affixing said cap by compression fit to said tube open end.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said tube further comprises at least one void therein to allow circulation of gases into said tube for drying of said absorbent within said tube and a second tube for attachment to said cap;

said second tube being provided with extraction buffer for extracting a specimen from said absorbent upon insertion of said cap into said second tube and inversion of said second tube to bring said buffer in contact with said specimen containing absorbent.

13. The device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said cap contains a bar code for identification cap.

14. The device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said cap is connected to said tube by means of a threaded connection.