Collection device for collecting liquid sample

• US 6,338,720 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1999
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha (Terumo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha (Terumo Corporation)
• Inventors: Morikawa, Naoki, Oomori, Tooru, Takemoto, Masafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/397,093
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 600/584, 600/573, 422/56, 606/4-5
• US Class Current: 600/584
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0663 Whole sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5023 with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00

Abstract

A specimen collection tip for collecting a specimen includes a base portion, a slender tube extending from one face of the base portion, a plurality of elastically deformable mounting claws extending from the opposite face of the base portion, and a test paper is set in place on the opposite face of the base portion. The base portion is generally in the shape of a flat disc and has a pedestal part for supporting and fixing the test paper. The opposite face of the base portion also includes a flange part formed at the outer peripheral side of the base portion. The lower face of the flange part is formed in a generally flat plane. When the tip is inserted into a tip receiving part of an analyte measuring device, the lower face of the flange part contacts the leading end of the tip receiving part to fix the position of the tip with respect to the tip receiving part.

Claims

1. A specimen collection tip adapted to be mounted on a measuring device for collecting a liquid specimen to be analyzed by the measuring device to determine the presence or amount of a component in the specimen comprising:

a generally planar base portion, a longitudinally extending tube extending away from said base portion, said tube including an inflow path along which the specimen is adapted to flow, a test paper set on base portion in communication with the inflow path for receiving specimen flowing through the inflow path, said test paper carrying a reagent which reacts with the component in the specimen to produce a measurable color change indicative of the presence or amount of the component in the sample, and a plurality of spaced apart elongated mounting projections provided on the base portion for mounting the specimen collection tip on the measuring device so that the mounting projections flex outwardly upon mounting the specimen collection tip on the measuring device.

2. The specimen collection tip according to claim 1, wherein the reagent carried by the test paper is of a type which reacts with the component in the specimen to determine a concentration of the component in the specimen.

3. The specimen collection tip according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of spaced apart mounting projections extend away from the base portion in a direction opposite the direction in which the tube extends, said projections being deflectable upon mounting the specimen collection tube on the measuring device.

4. The specimen collection tip according to claim 3, wherein said base portion possesses an outer periphery, and said mounting projections being positioned radially inwardly of said outer periphery of the base portion.

5. The specimen collection tip according to claim 1, wherein said base portion is comprised of two parts, said test paper being fixed between said two parts.

6. The specimen collection tip according to claim 1, wherein said inflow path for the specimen extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to said test paper.

7. A specimen collection tip for collecting a liquid specimen to be analyzed to determine the presence of a component in the specimen comprising:

a main body in which is formed an inflow path along which the specimen is adapted to flow, a test paper fixed in position on the base portion in communication with the inflow path for receiving specimen flowing through the inflow path, said test paper carrying a reagent which reacts with the component in the specimen to produce a measurable color change indicative of the presence of the component in the sample, a plurality of elongated spaced apart mounting projections provided on the main body for engaging a leading end part of a measuring device that is adapted to detect said measurable color change so that the mounting projections elastically deform in a radial direction of the base portion upon mounting the specimen collection tip on the measuring device.

8. The specimen collection tip according to claim 7, wherein the reagent carried by the test paper is of a type which reacts with the component in the specimen to determine a concentration of the component in the specimen.

9. The specimen collection tip according to claim 7, wherein said mounting projections surround the test paper.

10. The specimen collection tip according to claim 7, wherein said mounting projections each have a radially outwardly facing surface provided with a protuberance that is adapted to engage a ridge formed on an inner wall surface of a recess formed in the leading end part of the measuring device.

11. The specimen collection tip according to claim 7, wherein said main body includes a base portion possessing an outer periphery and a capillary tube extending away from the base portion in a direction opposite said mounting projections, said mounting projections being positioned radially inwardly of said outer periphery of the base portion.

12. The specimen collection tip according to claim 11, wherein said base portion is comprised of a first part and a second part, said test paper being fixed between said first and second parts.

13. The specimen collection tip according to claim 7, wherein said main body includes a flange part radially outwardly beyond the mounting projections.

14. The specimen collection tip according to claim 7, wherein said inflow path for the specimen extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to said test paper.

15. A specimen collection tip for collecting a liquid specimen to be analyzed to determine the presence of a component in the specimen comprising:

a main body in which is formed an inflow path along which the specimen is adapted to flow, the main body having an outer periphery, a test paper fixed in position on the main body to receive the specimen flowing through the inflow path, said test paper carrying a reagent which reacts with the component in the specimen to produce a measurable color change, at least one mounting projection extending from the main body for mounting the specimen collection tip at a forward end of a measuring device, said at least one mounting projection being spaced inwardly from an adjoining portion of the outer periphery of the main body so that the adjoining portion of the outer periphery of the main body extends outwardly beyond the at least one mounting projection for contacting the forward end of the measuring device when the specimen collection tip is mounted at the forward end of the measuring device.

16. The specimen collection tip according to claim 15, including a plurality of mounting projections extending from the main body and spaced inwardly from the adjoining portion of the outer periphery of the main body.

17. The specimen collection tip according to claim 16, wherein said mounting projections surround the test paper.

18. The specimen collection tip according to claim 15, wherein said mounting projection has an outwardly facing peripheral surface provided with a protuberance that is adapted to engage a ridge formed on an inner wall surface of a recess formed in the leading end part of the measuring device.

19. The specimen collection tip according to claim 15, wherein said main body includes oppositely facing first and second faces, said mounting projection extending away from the first face and said test paper being fixed to said first face.

20. The specimen collection tip according to claim 15, wherein said main body includes first and second parts, said mounting projection extending from the first part and said test paper being fixed between said first part and said second part.

21. The specimen collection tip according to claim 15, wherein said inflow path for the specimen extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to said test paper.

22. The specimen collection tip according to claim 15, wherein said main body includes a base portion defined by first and second parts, said inflow path being defined by a capillary tube extending away from said second part of the base portion.

23. The specimen collection tip according to claim 22, wherein said mounting projection extends from the first part of the base portion and said test paper is fixed between said first part and said second part.