Method and Device for Collection and Transport of a Biological Sample

• US 20080219885A1
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ORYX Holdings Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: ORYX Holdings Pty Limited
• Inventors: Horstman, Tony
• Application Number:
  US12/088,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20080219885A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/61
• 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: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/005 Packages for mailing or similar transport of samples

Abstract

A device for the collection and transport of biological material, the device including a container having at least two parts temporarily attached together and adapted for storage of biological collection indicia on an outbound leg of the transport and the safe transport of a biological sample on an inbound leg wherein the biological sample is rendered benign during transport and transported in one of the container parts.

Claims

1. A device for the collection and transport of biological material, the device including a container having at least two parts temporarily attached together and adapted for storage of biological collection indicia on an outbound leg of the transport and the safe transport of a biological sample on an inbound leg wherein the biological sample is rendered benign during transport and transported in one of the container parts.

2. A device according to claim 1 including a kit of manufactured items comprising all components sent to users, including envelopes or similar, a primary package two part container that the collection device arrives in and includes a return package to be returned to the laboratory, at least one collection device used to physically collect the sample, a sample carrier portion of the at least one collection device to which the target biological material is collected or concentrated and a sample receiver component within the return package into which the sample carrier is placed.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the container casing includes top and bottom halves and a sealing means for releasably opening and resealing the container.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the sealing means includes a perimeter seal fin and trench provided with finger tabs placed to allow easy opening of the casing.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein the casing is provided with at least one, one-way type openings to allow pressure and moisture balancing and further avoid inadvertent opening.

6. A device according to claim 1 further including a tamper-evident mechanism, to assure the integrity of the contents as they arrive at the user.

7. A device according to claim 2 wherein the kit contains instructions, at least one sample collection device, at least one sample enclosure and treatment component, at least one waste collection and disposal element, and return seal and user/kit identification.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the instructions are displayed on a panel attached to the top half of the casing, such that the to half of the casing remains in an open position and the user is minimally required to turn pages or otherwise handle kit materials.

9. A device according to claim 2 wherein the sample carrier includes a removable portion of minimal size which carries the target material, for return to the laboratory.

10. A device according to claim 2 wherein the sample carrier is associated with the collection device and is removable from the collection device by means of a handling portion configured such that the user is not subject to contact with the sample area itself.

11. A device according to claim 2 wherein the sample carrier carries the target material in a manner that the target material is releasable into fluid upon immersion and agitation of the sample carrier.

12. A device according to claim 2 wherein after collection of the target material, the sample carrier is treated or stabilised to render the material benign to enable postal carriage.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein stabilisation is achieved by physical or chemical destruction or bonding of the sample material or by removal of any medium which may sustain or allow dispersal of biological material.

14. A device according to claim 2 wherein the sample receiver includes two functions, namely desiccation and chemical treatment of the target material.

15. A device according to claim 2 wherein upon closure of the casing, the sample receiver is slightly compressed by the walls of the casing, to retain the sample carrier and maximise contact of the sample carrier with the sample receiver.

16. A device according to claim 3 wherein the containers of the device are attached to one another by a frangible portion until the user forcibly separates the containers from one another.

17. A device according to claim 1 wherein at least one Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices are placed on the sample carrier to identify and track the sample.

18. A device according to claim 2 wherein the collection device is a blood sampling device including a skin-penetrating mechanism, and the sample carrier includes an absorbent substrate.

19. A device according to claim 2 wherein the collection device is a fluid sampling device including a collection device adapted to having an exposed end for plunging into a fluid volume, and absorbent or textured to retain a minimal sample volume, and the sample carrier includes a hydrophilic membrane with a pore size suitable to act as a coarse filter for the target particles as fluid is drawn through, the hydrophilic membrane attached removeably to the collection device housing, such that it may be removed from the housing following absorption of the target fluid, loaded with the collected material.

20. A device according to claim 2 wherein the collection device is an internal swab sampling device with padded or absorbent-ended swabs attached removeably to the collection device.

21. A device according to claim 2 wherein the collection device is an external swab sampling device are adapted to remove dry material from a dry surface and capture it on the carrier surface.

22. A device according to claim 2 wherein the collection device is an adhesive panel suitable for the collection of skin cells or free dry material by placing the panel over the target surface and applying a compressive force or by simply placing the target material onto the adhesive panel with a repositionable cover to maintain adhesive properties prior to use.

23. A device according to claim 2 wherein the collection device includes a probe device having a head portion to dislodge and capture particles of larger semi-solid samples and an extended handling body attached to the head portion.

24. A device according to claim 23 wherein the probe device includes a punch tube with a mating internal rod slidably engaged within such that forward motion of the inner rod will eject material collected in the tube end by the action of punching the tube into a sample.

25. A sample collection device including a sample carrier portion for collection or concentration of target biological material and a sample receiver component into which the sample carrier is placed for transport of the target biological material to a laboratory.