Sample collector and test device
First Claim
1. A sample collection device for assay comprising:
- a handle portion having a first end and a second end;
a collector portion having a first end and a second end,the collector portion first end detachably coupled to the handle portion second end andthe collector portion second end havinga base being movable relative to the handle portion second end when the collector portion first end is coupled to the handle portion second end;
a plunger arm coupled to the base and including a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, the first diameter portion being smaller than the second diameter portion; and
an expandable sponge coaxially disposed on the first diameter portion and on the second diameter portion of the plunger arm between an end wall of the collector portion and the base resulting in an extended collection size of the sponge; and
wherein the plunger arm is moved relative to the handle portion second end such that the second diameter portion of the plunger arm engages a flange reconfiguring the sponge to a smaller sample retaining size and discharging a first portion of the sample for assay and retaining a second portion of the sample in the sponge for subsequent assay.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sample collector and test device is disclosed. The sample collector and test device may be used together as a diagnostic tool for collecting and assay of analytes contained in a sample. A sample collector is also disclosed which may be used with existing sample containers and or test devices. The sample collector may indicate sample adequacy when a sufficient volume of sample has been collected for assay and may also include a sample retaining feature which retains a portion of expressed sample for confirmatory testing, if desirable. The sample collector may also include a mechanism for expressing sample in a sample collector and/or test device. A test device is also disclosed for retaining and assay of an expressed sample. The disclosed test device may be used with existing sample collectors. In a preferred embodiment, test device is used with a preferred sample collector. Test device may include a locking feature for locking a sample retained on a sample collector or test device may be used to receive expressed sample collected from a syringe or another suitable sample delivery device.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A sample collection device for assay comprising:
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a handle portion having a first end and a second end; a collector portion having a first end and a second end, the collector portion first end detachably coupled to the handle portion second end and the collector portion second end having a base being movable relative to the handle portion second end when the collector portion first end is coupled to the handle portion second end; a plunger arm coupled to the base and including a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, the first diameter portion being smaller than the second diameter portion; and an expandable sponge coaxially disposed on the first diameter portion and on the second diameter portion of the plunger arm between an end wall of the collector portion and the base resulting in an extended collection size of the sponge; and wherein the plunger arm is moved relative to the handle portion second end such that the second diameter portion of the plunger arm engages a flange reconfiguring the sponge to a smaller sample retaining size and discharging a first portion of the sample for assay and retaining a second portion of the sample in the sponge for subsequent assay. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A sample collection device for assay comprising:
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a handle portion having a first end and a second end; a collector portion having a first end and a second end, the collector portion first end being coupled to the handle portion second end and the collector portion second end being movable relative to the handle portion second end when the collector portion first end is coupled to the handle portion second end, the collector portion having at least an extended size and a sample retaining size, the sample retaining size being smaller than the extended size, the sizes being defined by a configurable distance between the collector portion second end and the handle portion second end; the collector portion second end also including a plunger arm coupled to the collector portion and including a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, the first diameter portion being smaller than the second diameter portion; and a locking portion disposed on the collector portion, the locking portion being spaced from the handle portion second end when the collector portion is configured in the extended size and the locking portion being engaged with the handle portion second end when the collector portion is configured in the sample retaining size, and a sponge coaxially disposed on the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion of the plunger arm between the locking portion and the collector portion second end resulting in an extended collection size of the sponge when the sponge holds a first amount of sample; wherein the plunger arm is moved relative to the handle portion second end such that the second diameter portion of the plunger arm engages the locking portion reconfiguring the sponge to a smaller sample retaining size and discharging a first portion of the sample for assay and retaining a second portion of sample in the sponge for subsequent assay. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A sample collection device for assay comprising:
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a handle portion having a first end and a second end; a collector portion having a first end operably connected to a second end, the collector portion first end being coupled to the handle portion second end and the collector portion second end having a base being movable relative to the handle portion second end when the collector portion first end is coupled to the handle portion second end; the collector portion second end also including a plunger arm coupled to the collector portion and including a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion; and a sponge coaxially disposed on the first diameter portion and on the second diameter portion of the plunger arm between the handle portion second end and the base resulting in an extended collection size of the sponge; and
;wherein the base is moved relative to the handle portion second end such that the second diameter portion of the plunger arm engages a flange reconfiguring the sponge to a smaller sample retaining size and discharging a first portion of the sample for assay and retaining a second portion of the sample in the sponge for subsequent assay. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A sample collection device for assay comprising:
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a handle portion having a first end and a second end; a collector portion coupled to the handle portion second end and selectively configurable between at least an extended size and a sample retaining size; the collector portion also including a movable base positioned at a first length from the handle portion second end when the collector portion is in the extended size and positioned at a second length from the handle portion second end when the collector portion is in the sample retaining size, the collector portion also including a plunger arm coupled to the base and including a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion; and an expandable sponge coaxially disposed on the first diameter portion and on the second diameter portion of the plunger arm between the collector portion and the handle portion second end and having a dry size, a sample retaining size when the sponge holds a first amount of the sample and a extended size when the sponge holds a second amount of the sample, the sample retaining size being smaller than the extended size and the first amount of sample being sufficient for assay; wherein a sufficient sample is collected for assay when the sponge extended size is substantially equal to the collector portion extended size, wherein the plunger arm is an elongate member having a proximal end adjacent the handle portion second end and the base formed at a distal end, wherein the base is a perforated disc, wherein the sponge is made from a fluid absorbing material that is movable along the elongate member to place the sponge in the extended collection size and wherein the plunger arm has a first diameter portion having a first length and a first width dimension wherein the first length substantially corresponds to the sample retaining size of the sponge, a second diameter portion proximal from the handle portion second end relative to the first diameter portion and having a second length and a second width dimension that is smaller than the first width dimension, wherein the total length of the first length and the second length substantially corresponds to the extended collection size of the sponge, and wherein the handle portion second end defines an opening sized for slidably receiving the plunger arm, such that as the plunger arm slides within the opening, the opening impedes the movement of the first length of the plunger arm, thus defining the sample retaining size.
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Specification