Specimen collection, storage, transportation and assaying device

• US 7,758,815 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ameditech, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hartselle R. Lawrence
• Inventors: Hartselle, R. Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYUN, PAUL SANG HWA
• Application Number:
  US10/910,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20060029517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,177 Days
• Field of Search: 422/58, 422/61, 422/68.1, 422/101, 422/102, 436/165
• US Class Current: 422/400
• 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 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0663 Whole sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• 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 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

Abstract

A tamper-proof, point-of-collection specimen assay apparatus including three selectively connectable and sealable chambers, including a first chamber for receiving a specimen, a second chamber housing a specimen testing device and a specimen transfer site positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber for selectively depositing a portion of the specimen from the first chamber into the second chamber and a third chamber having inlets for depositing another portion of the specimen from the first chamber into the third chamber.

Claims

1. A specimen receptacle comprising,

a first chamber arranged for receiving a specimen directly from a test subject,

a second chamber including a specimen testing device,

a pressure exerting device disposed at least partially within the first chamber for increasing a pressure within the receptacle, wherein the pressure exerting device defines a third chamber, and

a specimen transfer site positioned essentially between the first chamber and the second chamber, the specimen transfer site being adapted and arranged for selectively transferring at least a portion of a specimen between the first chamber and the second chamber,

wherein the specimen testing device does not extend into the third chamber and is not in contact with the pressure exerting device,

wherein the pressure exerting device is connected with a lid having a top side and a bottom side and the pressure exerting device extends downward from the bottom side of the lid into the first chamber,

wherein the lid includes an opening in fluid communication with the third chamber defined by the pressure exerting device, and

wherein the lid further includes a second opening in fluid communication with the first chamber.

2. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are not in fluid communication.

3. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are in fluid communication.

4. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 further comprising a means for transferring a predetermined amount of the specimen within the first chamber directly into the second chamber.

5. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the pressure exerting device is vertically arranged within the first chamber.

6. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the second chamber includes a testing device support chamber in fluid communication with the second chamber and the specimen testing device is at least partially contained within the specimen testing device support chamber.

7. The specimen receptacle according to claim 6 wherein the second chamber includes a floor sloped toward the testing device support chamber.

8. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the second chamber includes a floor sloped toward the specimen testing device.

9. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 further comprising a cap adapted to cover the opening.

10. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 further comprising a second cap adapted to cover the second opening.

11. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the pressure exerting device is a plunger that is vertically arranged within the receptacle.

12. The specimen receptacle according to claim 11 wherein the first chamber includes a plunger receiving portion for receiving an end of the plunger.

13. The specimen receptacle according to claim 12 wherein the end of the plunger includes a first sealing member for engaging a portion of the plunger receiving portion.

14. The specimen receptacle according to claim 13 wherein the end of the plunger includes a second sealing member for engaging another portion of the plunger receiving portion.

15. The specimen receptacle according to claim 14 wherein the lower wall portion defining the plunger receiving portion includes an opening leading directly between the first chamber and the second chamber.

16. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the pressure exerting device includes at least one aperture directly connecting the third chamber with the first chamber.

17. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the third chamber includes at least one aperture adapted and arranged for selectively depositing a predetermined amount of a specimen contained within the first chamber into the third chamber.

18. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the second chamber further includes a moisture detecting member.

19. The specimen receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the first chamber completely surrounds a portion of the pressure exerting device.

20. A specimen receptacle comprising,

a first chamber for receiving a specimen,

a second chamber including a specimen testing device,

a lid detachably disposed on top of the first chamber, the lid having a top side and a bottom side and a hole extending from the top side to the bottom side,

a pressure exerting device integrally formed with the bottom side of the lid,

a third chamber defined by the pressure exerting device and being in direct fluid communication with the hole, and

a specimen transfer site positioned essentially between the first chamber and the second chamber, the specimen transfer site being adapted and arranged for selectively transferring at least a portion of a specimen directly between the first chamber and the second chamber,

wherein the specimen testing device does not extend into the third chamber and is not in contact with the pressure exerting device,

wherein the pressure exerting device is connected with the lid and extends downward from a bottom side thereof,

wherein the hole in the lid is in fluid communication with the third chamber defined by the pressure exerting device, and

wherein the lid further includes a second hole in fluid communication with the first chamber.

21. The specimen receptacle according to claim 20 wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are not in fluid communication.

22. The specimen receptacle according to claim 20 wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are in fluid communication.

23. The specimen receptacle according to claim 20 further comprising a means for transferring a predetermined amount of the specimen within the first chamber directly into the second chamber without passing the specimen through the third chamber.

24. The specimen receptacle according to claim 20 further comprising a closure obstructing the specimen transfer site.

25. The specimen receptacle according to claim 20 wherein the second chamber includes a testing device support chamber in fluid communication with the second chamber and the specimen testing device is completely contained within the specimen testing device support chamber.

26. The specimen receptacle according to claim 25 wherein the second chamber includes a floor sloped toward the testing device support chamber.

27. The specimen receptacle according to claim 20 wherein the lid includes a plunger extending out from the bottom side thereof and into the first chamber.

28. The specimen receptacle according to claim 20 wherein the first chamber includes a plunger receiving portion for receiving an end of a plunger, the receiving portion having an interior surface that directly interacts with the plunger and partially defines the first chamber.

29. The specimen receptacle according to claim 28 wherein the end of the plunger includes at least one sealing member for engaging a portion of the plunger receiving portion.

30. The specimen receptacle according to claim 29 wherein the specimen transfer site is located within the plunger receiving portion.

31. The specimen receptacle according to claim 30 wherein the at least one sealing member is an O-ring.

32. The specimen receptacle according to claim 20 wherein the pressure exerting device is a plunger.

33. The specimen receptacle according to claim 32 wherein the first chamber includes a plunger receiving portion for receiving an end of the plunger.

34. The specimen receptacle according to claim 33 wherein the end of the plunger includes a first sealing member for engaging a portion of the plunger receiving portion.

35. The specimen receptacle according to claim 34 wherein the plunger includes at least one aperture between the first sealing member and a second sealing member.

36. The specimen receptacle according to claim 20 wherein the third chamber includes at least one aperture adapted and arranged for selectively connecting the third chamber with the first chamber.

37. The specimen receptacle according to claim 20 wherein the second chamber further includes a means of detecting moisture.

38. The specimen receptacle according to claim 20 wherein the first chamber completely encircles a length of the pressure exerting device.

39. A specimen receptacle for storing a specimen comprising,

a first chamber containing a first portion of the specimen,

a detachable lid coupled to a rim of the first chamber,

a second chamber including a specimen testing device, the specimen testing device being in contact with a second portion of the specimen,

a plunger defining a third chamber, the third chamber containing a third portion of the specimen,

an opening through the lid that extends directly into the third chamber, and

a specimen transfer site positioned essentially between the first chamber and the second chamber,

wherein the second portion is not in fluid communication with the third portion.

40. The specimen receptacle according to claim 39 wherein the second portion is not in fluid communication with the first portion.

41. The specimen receptacle according to claim 39 wherein the specimen testing device does not extend into the third chamber and is not in contact with the plunger.

42. The specimen receptacle according to claim 39 wherein the plunger is connected with the lid.

43. The specimen receptacle according to claim 42 claim wherein the lid further includes a second opening in fluid communication with the first chamber.

44. The specimen receptacle according to claim 39 wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are not in fluid communication.

45. The specimen receptacle according to claim 39 wherein the plunger is vertically arranged within the first chamber.

46. The specimen receptacle according to claim 39 wherein the second chamber includes a testing device support chamber in fluid communication with the second chamber and the specimen testing device is at least partially contained within the specimen testing device support chamber.

47. The specimen receptacle according to claim 46 wherein the second chamber includes a floor sloped toward the testing device support chamber.

48. The specimen receptacle according to claim 39 wherein the second chamber includes a floor sloped toward the specimen testing device.

49. The specimen receptacle according to claim 39 further comprising a cap adapted to cover the opening.

50. The specimen receptacle according to claim 39 wherein the first chamber includes a plunger receiving portion for receiving an end of the plunger.

51. The specimen receptacle according to claim 50 wherein the end of the plunger includes a first sealing member for engaging a portion of the plunger receiving portion.

52. The specimen receptacle according to claim 51 wherein the end of the plunger includes a second sealing member for engaging another portion of the plunger receiving portion.

53. The specimen receptacle according to claim 52 wherein the lower wall portion defining the plunger receiving portion includes an opening leading directly between the first chamber and the second chamber.

54. The specimen receptacle according to claim 39 wherein the plunger includes at least one aperture directly connecting the third chamber with the first chamber.

55. The specimen receptacle according to claim 39 wherein the second chamber includes a moisture detecting member.

56. The specimen receptacle according to claim 39 wherein the first chamber completely surrounds a portion of the pressure exerting device.