Sample collector and assay device and method for its use
First Claim
1. A device for collecting a liquid sample, which device comprises:
- a housing,means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, said means comprising a bibulous pad designed to absorb and hold said predetermined amount of liquid sample, andmeans attached to said housing for mating said device with a container having a volume of liquid for dilution of said liquid sample and during said mating creating a pressure differential between the interior of said housing and a chamber formed by said mated housing and container, said pressure differential being sufficient to move a predetermined volume of the liquid through said means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample and into said housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device is disclosed for collecting a liquid sample and diluting the liquid sample by virtue of being adapted for use with a container having a volume of diluting liquid. The device comprises a housing adapted for mating with the container where the mated housing and container form a chamber. A bibulous pad is attached to the housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample. Additionally, the device, when used with the container, creates a pressure differential between the interior of the housing and the chamber. The pressure differential is sufficient to move a predetermined volume of the diluting liquid through the bibulous pad and into the housing. The device can be used for assaying for a component of a sample. The device has particular use in immunochromatography and for convenience can also contain a strip of bibulous material confined in the housing. In a method for collecting a liquid sample and subsequently diluting the sample with a predetermined volume of a liquid, the sample is collected on an bibulous pad at the base of a housing. The pad is designed to absorb a predetermined amount of the sample. Next, a pressure differential is created between the housing and a container having a volume of diluting liquid to cause a predetermined volume of the liquid to pass through the pad and into the housing.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A device for collecting a liquid sample, which device comprises:
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a housing, means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, said means comprising a bibulous pad designed to absorb and hold said predetermined amount of liquid sample, and means attached to said housing for mating said device with a container having a volume of liquid for dilution of said liquid sample and during said mating creating a pressure differential between the interior of said housing and a chamber formed by said mated housing and container, said pressure differential being sufficient to move a predetermined volume of the liquid through said means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample and into said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In combination, a container having a predetermined volume of liquid for diluting a liquid sample and a device for collecting a liquid sample, which device comprises:
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a housing, means attached to said housing for sealed mating of said device with said container, means incorporated with said housing for providing an air-tight seal during the mating of said housing and said container, means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a sample, said means comprising a bibulous pad designed to absorb and hold said predetermined amount of liquid sample, means for venting the interior of said housing to the outside atmosphere, and means incorporated into said housing for allowing the liquid to enter said housing, the dimensions of said housing in conjunction with the dimensions of said container being such that upon sealed mating of said housing and said container a volume of air between the inner walls of said container and the outer walls of said housing forces substantially all of the predetermined volume of the liquid through said means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a sample and into said housing through said means incorporated into said housing for allowing the liquid to enter said housing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. In combination a device for collecting a liquid sample and a vial containing a volume of a liquid medium comprising reagents for a chromatographic test, said vial having threaded closure means, said device comprising:
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a housing formed by a continuous side wall and top and bottom walls, a bibulous pad attached to the outside of the bottom wall of said housing, said bibulous pad being designed to absorb and hold a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, an opening to the outside atmosphere in the top wall of said housing, and an opening in the bottom wall of said housing permitting fluid communication through said bibulous pad to the interior of said housing, said top wall having threaded means compatible with the threaded closure means of said vial, said threaded means including means for forming an air-tight seal between said housing and said vial, the dimensions of said housing and said vial being such that upon the sealed closure of said housing into said vial said bibulous pad intimately contacts the bottom of said vial and a volume of air is trapped between said housing and said container sufficient to force a predetermined volume of liquid medium in said vial for diluting said liquid sample through said bibulous pad and concomitantly into said housing. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A device for diluting a liquid sample, which comprises:
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a first chamber formed by side and top and bottom walls, a bibulous pad attached to the outside of the bottom wall of said first chamber, said bibulous pad being designed to absorb and hold a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, an opening to the outside atmosphere in the top wall of said first chamber, and an opening in the bottom wall of said first chamber permitting fluid communication through said pad to the interior of said first chamber, a second chamber containing a volume of a liquid, said second chamber formed by side and bottom walls, means incorporated in said top wall of said first chamber for sealing said second chamber so as to force a volume of air into said first chamber, said volume of air being sufficient to move a predetermined volume of liquid through said pad and into said first chamber thereby diluting said sample. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for diluting a liquid sample with a predetermined volume of a liquid, which comprises:
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(a) collecting said sample on a bibulous pad at the base of a housing, said pad being designed to absorb and hold a predetermined amount of said sample, and (b) creating a pressure differential between said housing and a container having a volume of liquid for dilution of said liquid sample to cause a predetermined volume of said liquid to pass through said pad and move into the housing, said sample or a component thereof being soluble in said liquid. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. In a kit containing reagents for conducting an immunochromatography, the improvement which comprises included with said kit a device for collecting a liquid sample, which device comprises:
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a housing a strip of bibulous material confined in said housing, means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, said means comprising a bibulous pad designed to absorb and hold said predetermined amount of liquid sample, and means attached to said housing for mating said device with a container having a volume of liquid for dilution of the liquid sample and during said mating creating a pressure differential between the interior of said housing and a chamber formed by said mated housing and container, said pressure differential being sufficient to move a predetermined volume of the liquid through said means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample and into said housing.
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Specification