Integral sample collection tip

• US 6,951,545 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LifePoint, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LifePoint, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Dave, Smith, Mike, Waltzer, Eric, Tatum, Roger, Foley, Thomas J., Liang, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US10/310,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20030153844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 600/573, 600/309, 600/582, 600/584, 435/17, 514/1, 514/14, 546/233, 546/26, 546/27, 546/63, 546/73, 422/68.1, 422/55, 422/58, 422/82.01, 422/82.02, 422/82.05
• US Class Current: 600/573
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0051 for taking saliva or sputum samples devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/23 Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/452 using independent floating stirring elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/81 Combinations of similar mixers, e.g. with rotary stirring devices in two or more receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/812 in two or more alternative mixing receptacles, e.g. mixing in one receptacle and dispensing from another receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/713 comprising breaking packages or parts thereof, e.g. piercing or opening sealing elements between compartments or cartridges containers or packages per se B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7137 Piercing, perforating or melting membranes or closures which seal the compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7161 the containers being connected coaxially before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7163 the containers being connected in a mouth-to-mouth, end-to-end disposition, i.e. the openings are juxtaposed before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7174 using pistons, plungers or syringes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/754251 reciprocating in the mixing receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/041 Connecting closures to device or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5023 : with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis
• 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 2035/00158 : Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48714 : for determining substances foreign to the organism, e.g. drugs or heavy metals drugs by chemical analysis G01N33/94
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54313 : the carrier being characterised by its particulate form
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 : Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 : involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/98 : involving alcohol, e.g. ethanol in breath
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7036 : Jacketed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1002 : with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Assemblies are provided for collecting a sample from a mouth using an integrated sample collection tip. A sample collection assembly includes a sample collection body configured for being placed within the mouth, wherein the sample collection body includes a bore and one or more pores. The sample collection assembly further includes a conduit that disposed within the bore of the sample collection body and that is in fluid communication with the one or more pores. The conduit is bonded within the bore. The sample collection assembly can further include a hand piece that has a tip on which the sample collection body is mounted, and through which the conduit can extend. The pores can include a plurality of micropores. The sample collection body can be hydrophobic, and a hydrophilic surfactant can be disposed on the outer surface of the sample collection body.

Claims

1. A sample collection assembly for collecting a sample from a mouth, comprising:

a sample collection body configured for being placed within said mouth, said sample collection body having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a bore and one or more pores; and

a conduit disposed within said bore in fluid communication with said one or more pores; and

wherein the outer surface of said sample collection body is hydrophilic and the inner surface of said sample collection body is hydrophobic.

2. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said conduit is bonded within said bore.

3. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hand piece having a tip on which said sample collection body is mounted.

4. The sample collection assembly of claim 3, wherein said sample collection body comprises a rear surface that is bonded to a front surface of said hand piece tip.

5. The sample collection assembly of claim 3, wherein said conduit extends through said hand piece.

6. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said conduit is flexible.

7. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said one or more pores comprises a plurality of pores.

8. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said one or more pores comprises a plurality of micropores.

9. The sample collection assembly of claim 8, wherein said plurality of micropores have a pore size of 135 μ

m or less.

10. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic sample collection body comprises high density polyethylene.

11. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said sample collection body is hemi-dome shaped.

20. The sample collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said sample collection body is hemi-dome shaped.

12. A sample collection assembly for collecting a sample from a mouth;

comprising;

a sample collection body configured for being placed within said mouth, said sample collection body having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a bore and one or more pores; and

a conduit bonded within said bore in fluid communication with said one or more pores, wherein an adhesive force between said conduit and said bore is greater than a cohesive force of said sample collection body; and

wherein the outer surface of said sample collection body is hydrophilic and the inner surface of said sample collection body is hydrophobic.

13. The sample collection assembly of claim 12, further comprising a hand piece having a tip on which said sample collection body is mounted, wherein said sample collection body comprises a rear surface that is bonded to a front surface of said hand piece tip, and an adhesive force between said rear surface of said sample collection body and said front surface of said hand piece tip.

14. The sample collection assembly of claim 13, wherein said conduit extends through said hand piece.

15. The sample collection assembly of claim 12, wherein said conduit is flexible.

16. The sample collection assembly of claim 12, wherein said one or more pores comprises a plurality of pores.

17. The sample collection assembly of claim 12, wherein said one or more pores comprises a plurality of micropores.

18. The sample collection assembly of claim 17, wherein said plurality of micropores have a pore size of 135 μ

m or less.

19. The sample collection assembly of claim 12, wherein said hydrophobic sample collection body comprises high density polyethylene.

21. A sample collection assembly for collecting a sample from a mouth, comprising:

a sample collection body configured for being placed within said mouth, said sample collection body having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a bore and one or more pores;

a sample collection chamber;

a conduit in fluid communication between said one or more pores of said sample collection tip and said sample collection chamber; and

a pump configured to pump sample from said one or more pores of said sample collection body, through said conduit, and into said sample collection chamber; and

wherein the outer surface of said sample collection body is hydrophilic and the inner surface of said sample collection body is hydrophobic.

22. The sample collection assembly of claim 21, wherein said conduit is bonded within said bore, wherein an adhesive force between said conduit and said bore is greater than a cohesive force of said sample collection body.

23. The sample collection assembly of claim 21, further comprising a hand piece having a tip on which said sample collection body is mounted, wherein said sample collection body comprises a rear surface that is bonded to a front surface of said hand piece tip, and an adhesive force between said rear surface of said sample collection body and said front surface of said hand piece tip.

24. The sample collection assembly of claim 23, wherein said conduit extends through said hand piece.

25. The sample collection assembly of claim 21, wherein said conduit is flexible.

26. The sample collection assembly of claim 21, wherein said one or more pores comprises a plurality of pores.

27. The sample collection assembly of claim 21, wherein said one or more pores comprises a plurality of micropores.

28. The sample collection assembly of claim 27, wherein said plurality of micropores have a pore size of 135 μ

m or less.

29. The sample collection assembly of claim 21, wherein said hydrophobic sample collection body comprises high density polyethylene.

30. The sample collection assembly of claim 21, wherein said sample collection body is hemi-dome shaped.