SAMPLE COLLECTION TOOL

• US 20130116596A1
• Filed: 03/25/2011
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DNA Genotek Inc. (Orasure Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: DNA Genotek Inc. (Orasure Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Birnboim, H. Chaim, Sunstrum, Roy, Jackson, Adele, Iwasiow, Rafal Michal, Graham, Romeo, Muir, Rod, Sirois, Mike, Beach, Michael, Panford-Walsh, Rama Nadia, MacLean, Ellen Joan
• Granted Patent: US 9,072,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/570
• 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: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0216 Sampling brushes
• 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 2001/028 Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising

Abstract

A sample collection tool comprises a collection end configured for collecting a sample. Optionally, the sample is collected from within a body cavity of an animal without causing significant discomfort or injury to the animal. A first handle portion has a first end connected to the collection end and a second end. A second handle portion is connected to the second end of the first handle portion by a breakable connection. The second end of the first handle portion has at least one winglet. The at least one winglet is compliant in a preferential direction. The breakable connection is ruptured at least in part when the at least one winglet is forced in the preferential direction.

Claims

1. A sample collection tool comprising:

a collection end;

a first handle portion having a first end connected to the collection end and a second end, the first handle portion forming substantially a cone, the first end being a tip of the cone; and

a second handle portion connected to the second end of the first handle portion by a breakable connection, the second end of the first handle portion having at least one winglet, the at least one winglet being compliant in a preferential direction, the breakable connection being ruptured at least in part when the at least one winglet is forced in the preferential direction.

3. The sample collection tool of claim 1, wherein the first handle portion and the second handle portion are substantially two hollow cones, each of the two hollow cones being cut away longitudinally at least partially, hollow sections of the two hollow cones facing opposite directions.

4. The sample collection tool of claim 3, wherein the collection end is ovoid, has two faces, and comprises a plurality of stubs having blunt ends.

5. The sample collection tool of claim 3, wherein the collection end comprises a tip which is substantially ovoid, and a) has at least two faces, and comprises a first set of parallel ridges and a second set of parallel ridges, the first set being disposed substantially perpendicularly to the second set on at least a portion of the tip, or b) has a generally circular cross section on a longitudinal axis thereof, and has a plurality of raised ridges arranged in rows on a surface of the tip about the longitudinal axis.

10. The sample collection tool of claim 1, wherein the collection end is configured for collecting a sample from a body of an animal, a non-animal source, mouth, vagina, rectum, nose, sinus, ear, throat, saliva, buccal cells, mucus, feces, sputum, vaginal secretions nasal secretions or soil.

11. The sample collection tool of claim 1, wherein the breakable connection comprises at least two breakable attachment points.

12. The sample collection tool of claim 11, wherein the first handle portion further comprises a pair of protrusions, the pair of protrusions facing a pair of the winglets, and each protrusion of the pair of protrusions is connected to a facing one of the pair of winglets by at least one of the at least three breakable points.

15. The sample collection tool of claim 12, wherein an end of the second handle portion connecting the first handle portion is a closed end and comprises a structural reinforcement for facilitating rupture of the at least three breakable points.

16. The sample collection tool of claim 15, wherein the second end of the first handle portion is an open end to allow a sample withdrawal device to be inserted in the hollow section of the first handle portion;

and

the first end of the first handle portion is a closed and angularly oriented ribbed surface for preventing the pipette to be blocked.

17. The sample collection tool of claim 1, wherein the sample collection tool has a length of from about 2 mm to about 25 cm, and wherein the collection end fits into a tube of at least 2 mm in diameter and at least 4 mm in length.

20. The sample collection tool of claim 15, wherein the collection end and the first handle portion are dimensioned to provoke rupture of breakable points located at the pair of winglets when the sample collection tool is inserted into the PCR or microcentrifuge tube by having inner walls of the tube forcing of the pair of winglets into the preferential direction.

21. The sample collection tool of claim 20, wherein rupture of the at least one breakable point located away from the pair of winglets is eased by abutting the collection end and the first handle portion against the inner walls of the PCR or microcentrifuge tube while moving the second handle portion angularly away from the first handle portion.

22. The sample collection tool of claim 21, wherein the collection end and the first handle portion are dimensioned to fit inside the PCR or microcentrifuge tube, and the tube containing the collection end and the first handle portion is resealable after the second handle portion has been removed from the sample collection tool.

23. The sample collection tool of claim 22, wherein the first handle portion comprises a zone adapted to receive a dried reagent, the zone being located toward the first end of the first handle portion and above the collection end.

24. The sample collection tool of claim 23, wherein the dried reagent is proteinase K.

25. The sample collection tool of claim 23, wherein the collection end is adapted to contact a bottom of the PCR or microcentrifuge tube thereby facilitating contact of the zone receiving the dried reagent when a limited amount of a medium is introduced to the tube.

33. A sample collection kit, comprising:

the sample collection tool of claim 1, and

a receptacle for receiving the sample collection tool following collection of a sample.

34. The sample collection kit of claim 33, further comprising:

a container comprising a medium for preserving the sample when the solution is added to the receptacle containing the sample.

36. The sample collection kit of claim 33, further comprising a protease.

37. The sample collection kit of claim 33, wherein the sample comprises a biomolecule.

40. The sample collection kit of claim 33, wherein the sample is a nucleic acid sample and the solution comprises a nucleic acid-preserving medium.

47. The sample collection kit of claim 33, wherein the sample body cavity is from a vagina, rectum, nose, sinus, ear, mouth or throat.

48. The sample collection kit of claim 33, wherein the receptacle is a PCR or microcentrifuge tube.

49. The sample collection kit of claim 48, wherein the tube comprises a PCR reagent.

50. The sample collection kit of claim 33, which further comprises a reagent for extracting a nucleic acid from the sample, a stabilizing medium, a fixative, a solution for preparing the sample for further analysis, a decontaminant, a disinfectant, a solution for facilitating transport of the sample, or a combination thereof.

52. The sample collection kit of claim 49, wherein the PCR reagent comprises MgCl₂, Triton x-100, and KCl.

56. A method of obtaining a sample from a subject, comprising:

providing a subject; and

contacting the sample collection tool of claim 1 with the subject such that a sample from the subject is obtained.

58. The sample collection tool of claim 1, wherein the collection end is scoop-shaped.

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