Sampling and Assay Device

• US 20080260581A1
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orion Diagnostica Oy
• Original Assignee: Orion Diagnostica Oy
• Inventors: Kylma, Anna Kaisa, Haiva, Veli-Mies, Rosman, Esa, Granberg, Christer
• Granted Patent: US 9,327,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0683 mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5029 using swabs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5082 Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3211 coaxially and provided with means facilitating admixture
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/028 Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising

Abstract

A sampling and assay device comprises at least three chamber portions (1, 3, 4) connected together in a row. Each chamber portion (1, 3, 4) defines a chamber (11, 13, 27) and adjacent chambers (11, 13, 27) along the row are separated by respective partitions (14, 15). One end chamber (4) is capable of receiving a sample either on a swab or as a liquid. The other chambers (11, 13) contain reagent for performing the assay. Adjacent chamber portions (1, 3, 4) along the row are relatively movable towards each another. In respect of each pair of adjacent chamber portions (1, 3), one of the adjacent chamber portions (1) has the respective partition (14) fixed thereto and the other of the adjacent chamber portions (3) has a rupture member (17) arranged to rupture the respective partition (14) on relative movement of the adjacent chamber portions (1, 3). As a result, the sampling and assay device is capable of rupturing each partition (14, 15) simultaneously on relative movement of the chamber portions (1, 4) at the ends of the row towards each other. Also, each pair of adjacent chamber portions (1, 3) have respective connection portions (2a, 3a) mated together, the connection portions (2a, 3a) being designed to allow further chamber portions identical to an intermediate chamber portion to be connected into said row.

Claims

1. A sampling and assay device comprising:

a chamber assembly defining at least three chambers arranged in a row, adjacent chambers along the row being separated by respective partitions, wherein at least one of the chambers is capable of receiving a sample and at least a further two of the chambers contain reagent; and

a rupture arrangement capable of rupturing all the partitions simultaneously.

2. A sampling and assay device comprising at least three chamber portions connected together in a row and each defining a chamber, adjacent chambers along the row being separated by respective partitions, at least one of the chambers being capable of receiving a sample and at least a further two of the chambers containing reagent,

wherein adjacent chamber portions along the row are relatively movable towards each another and, in respect of each pair of adjacent chamber portions, one of the adjacent chamber portions has the respective partition fixed thereto and the other of the adjacent chamber portions has a rupture member arranged to rupture the respective partition on relative movement of the adjacent chamber portions, whereby the sampling and assay device is capable of rupturing all the partitions simultaneously on relative movement of the chamber portions at the ends of the row towards each other.

3. A sampling and assay device according to claim 2, wherein each pair of adjacent chamber portions have respective connection portions mated together.

4. A sampling and assay device according to claim 3, wherein, in respect of at least one pair of adjacent chamber portions, a first one of the chamber portions has a female connection portion and the other, second one of the chamber portions has a male connection portion mated with said female connection portion, said partition being fixed on said first chamber portion across the aperture in said female connection portion and said rupture member being formed by an edge of said male connection portion facing the partition.

5. A sampling and assay device according to claim 4, wherein said first one of the chamber portions comprises:

an annular body defining the chamber and having an opening at one end at least; and

a cap comprising an annular wall fitted in said opening of the annular body, the annular wall being said female connection portion.

6. A sampling and assay device according to claim 5, wherein said first one of the chamber portions is an intermediate chamber portion arranged intermediate two end chamber portions in said row, and the annular body of said first one of the chamber portions has protruding therefrom a male connection portion connected to a female connection portion of a further, adjacent chamber portion.

7. A sampling and assay device according to claim 6, wherein the male connection portion of said first one of the chamber portions is identical to the male connection portion of said further, adjacent chamber portion.

8. A sampling and assay device according to claim 3, wherein

an intermediate chamber portion intermediate other chamber portions in said row has first and second connection portions, the second connection portion being capable of being mated to the first connection portion of a notional chamber portion having an identical construction to the said intermediate chamber portion, whereby the sampling and assay device is capable of having further chamber portions identical to the said intermediate chamber portion connected into said row.

9. A sampling and assay device according to claim 2, further comprising a barrier element extending across the chamber of the one of the adjacent chamber portions which has the partition fixed thereto to prevent passage of the ruptured partition.

10. A sampling and assay device according to claim 2, further comprising a removable blocking element arranged between a pair of adjacent chamber portions to prevent relative movement between the pair of adjacent chamber portions.

11. A sampling and assay device according to claim 10, wherein a further chamber portion adjacent the pair of adjacent chamber portions has a member engaging the removable blocking element to prevent relative movement between the pair of adjacent chamber portions and the further chamber portion.

12. A sampling and assay device according to claim 2, further comprising a removable blocking element arranged to prevent relative movement of a pair of adjacent chamber portions and a further chamber portion adjacent the pair of adjacent chamber portions.

13. A sampling and assay device according to claim 10, wherein the removable blocking element is formed integrally with one of the chamber portions and is detachable therefrom.

14. A sampling and assay device according to claim 10, wherein the removable blocking element is arranged at the end of a female connection portion of one of the pair of chamber portions which is mated with a male connection portion of the other of the pair of chamber portions.

15. A sampling and assay device according to claim 2, wherein the chamber portion at one end of the row is a tubular body having an open end distal from the adjacent chamber portion in the row for insertion of a swab for carrying a sample.

16. A sampling and assay device according to claim 15, wherein the chamber portion adjacent the tubular body has a partition fixed thereto and tubular body has a rupture member at the end proximate to the adjacent chamber portion in the row.

17. A sampling and assay device according to claim 16, wherein the rupture member is a wall extending around an aperture capable of having a swab inserted therethrough.

18. A sampling and assay device according to claim 16, wherein

the chamber portion adjacent the tubular body has an annular portion forming a male connection portion, and

the tubular body has at the end proximate to the adjacent chamber portion in the row an annular skirt forming a female connection portion mated with said male connection portion.

19. A sampling and assay device according to claim 15, further comprising a swab for carrying a sample mounted to a holder having a releasable engagement portion arranged, on insertion of the swab into the open end of the tubular body, to engage the tubular body with the swab held outside the chamber of the chamber portion adjacent the tubular body and, on release, to allow insertion of the swab into the chamber of the chamber portion adjacent the tubular body

20. A sampling and assay device according to claim 19, wherein the releasable engagement portion comprises a catch arranged to engage the open end of the tubular body and being deflectable to release the open end of the tubular body.

21. A sampling and assay device according to claim 2, wherein the chamber portion at one end of the row has a stopper which is removable to allow entry of a sample to the chamber.

22. A sampling and assay device according to claim 2, wherein the chamber which is capable of receiving a sample contains a buffer.

23. A sampling and assay device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the end chamber portions at the end of the row is optically transparent in at least a part thereof for inspection of the contents.

24. A sampling and assay device according to claim 2, wherein the gap between each partition and its respective rupture member is at most 3 mm.

25. (canceled)

26. A sampling and assay device including at least three chamber portions and connected together in a row, each chamber portion defining a chamber, adjacent chambers along the row being separated by respective puncturable partitions,

wherein each pair of adjacent chamber portions have respective connection portions mated together,

an intermediate chamber portion intermediate other chamber portions in said row has first and second connection portions, the second connection portion being capable of being mated to the first connection portion of a notional chamber portion having an identical construction to the said intermediate chamber portion, whereby the sampling and assay device is capable of having further chamber portions identical to the said intermediate chamber portion connected into said row.

27. A system for assembling sampling and assay devices having a plurality of chambers arranged in a row, the system comprising:

at least one type of end chamber portion defining a chamber and having a connection portion;

at least one type of intermediate chamber portion defining a chamber and having two connection portions,

wherein the connection portions of the types of end chamber portion and intermediate chamber portion are capable of being mated together to assemble a sampling and assay device with an end chamber portion, at least one intermediate chamber portion and a further end chamber portion connected in a row.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the system includes a type of intermediate chamber portion each have a first and second connection portions, the first connection portion of one intermediate chamber portion being capable of being mated to the second connection portion of another intermediate chamber portion.