Specimen handling device

• US 5,543,115 A
• Filed: 07/17/1995
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FCC, LLC d/b/a First Capital
• Original Assignee: Mizuho USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Karakawa, Fuminari
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pyon, Harold Y.
• Application Number:
  US08/502,883
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 422/56, 422/58, 422/61, 422/101, 422/102, 436/66, 436/176, 436/177, 435/269, 435/294, 435/296, 435/810, 128/749, 128/757, 128/759
• US Class Current: 422/535
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0038 Devices for taking faeces samples; Faecal examination devices anal receptacles A61F5/451
• 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 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5082 Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/028 Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/721 Haemoglobin
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/726 Devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/81 Packaged device or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2525 Stabilizing or preserving

Abstract

This invention relates to a specimen handling device for collecting, storing, processing and dispensing of samples. The invention provides for the collection of specimens from any solid or semi-solid material, including biological samples, food samples, waste samples or soil samples.

Claims

1. A specimen handling device comprising:

a sample storage means, a sample collection means, a filter means, a sealable cap and an applicator means;

said sample storage means having a length longer than said sample collection means having one opening containing a sealing means upon which attaches said sealable cap;

said sample collection means comprising an elongated shaft with a grooved sample collection means at one end and a cap end attached to said sealable cap;

said grooved sample collection means containing a plurality of grooves extending parallel to and along the length of said elongated shaft;

said sealable cap comprising a hollow interior through which sample flows from said sample storage means to said applicator means;

said filter means contained entirely within said sealable cap through which liquid passes to flow from said sample storage means to said applicator means;

said applicator means comprising a removable applicator tip with a hollow core where displacement of said applicator tip creates an opening on the top of said sealable cap.

2. A specimen handling device according to claim 1, wherein the filter means is selected from the group consisting of a sponge material or a screen material.

3. A specimen handling device according to claim 2, wherein the filter means is a sponge material made of polyurethane.

4. A specimen handling device of claim 1, wherein the sample storage means is polyethylene.

5. A specimen handling device of claim 1, wherein the sample collection means is polystyrene.

6. A specimen handling device of claim 1, wherein the sealable cap is polypropylene.

7. A specimen handling device of claim 1, wherein a liquid sample-stabilizing reagent is contained in the sample storage means.

8. A specimen handling device of claim 7, wherein the liquid sample-stabilizing reagent stabilizes hemoglobin.

9. A specimen handling device of claim 8, wherein the liquid sample-stabilizing reagent that stabilizes hemoglobin contains a glycosidase capable of lysing bacterial cells.

10. A specimen handling device of claim 9, wherein the glycosidase is lysozyme.

11. A specimen handling device of claim 8, wherein the hemoglobin liquid sample-stabilizing reagent consists of sodium azide and Tris buffer.