Oral testing devices and methods

• US 8,323,214 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Larry Hartselle
• Inventors: Hartselle, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Szmal, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): LLOYD, EMILY M
• Application Number:
  US12/913,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20120109009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 600/573, 600/576, 600/582, 600/584
• US Class Current: 600/584
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0051 for taking saliva or sputum samples devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0006 involving a colour change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0009 Testing for drug or alcohol abuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4845 Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products A61B5/4848 takes precedence

Abstract

An oral testing device has a housing comprising a window for visually exposing test strips within the housing and a donor sample pad coupled to a first end of the housing. In addition, the oral testing device has a mirror hingedly coupled to a second end of the housing positioned for viewing the test strips when the donor sample pad is inserted within a donor'"'"'s mouth.

Claims

1. An oral testing device, comprising:

a housing comprising a window for visually exposing a saliva test strip within the housing;

a donor sample pad coupled to a first end of the housing, wherein the donor sample pad is in fluid communication with the saliva test strip, and the donor sample pad is configured to transfer saliva to the saliva test strip; and

a mirror directly attached to a second end of the housing, wherein the mirror is configured to be positioned such that a reflection of the saliva test strip via the window is reflected by the mirror such that the reflection is in the field of view of the donor.

2. The oral testing device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a mouthpiece.

3. The oral testing device of claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises a lip stop.

4. The oral testing device of claim 3, wherein the lip stop is positioned contiguous with the sample pad and the sample pad extends outwardly from the lip stop.

5. The oral testing device of claim 1, wherein the donor sample pad extends through an opening in a mouthpiece.

6. The oral testing device of claim 5, wherein the donor sample pad contacts the saliva test strip.

7. The oral testing device of claim 6, wherein the donor sample pad is positioned contiguous relative to the saliva test strip.

8. The oral testing device of claim 1, wherein the mirror is directly attached to the second end of the housing via a hinge.

9. The oral testing device of claim 8, wherein the hinge is configured to place the mirror in an open position where the mirror is configured to reflect the saliva test strip via the window such that the reflection is in the field of view of the donor, and the hinge is further configured to place the mirror in a closed position, where the mirror covers the window.

10. The oral testing device of claim 1, wherein the saliva test strip is a plurality of saliva test strips.

11. The oral testing device of claim 1, wherein the housing is composed of a plastic material.

12. The oral testing device of claim 11, wherein the housing is made of molded plastic.

13. The oral testing device of claim 1, wherein the donor sample pad is made out of a cotton-based material.

14. The oral testing device of claim 1, wherein the window comprises a plastic transparent cover.

15. The oral testing device of claim 1, wherein the saliva test strip is configured to test for one or more of cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), methamphetamine, opiates, and amphetamine.

16. A method for ensuring a proper saliva sample size, the method comprising:

providing an oral testing device comprising;

a housing comprising a window for visually exposing a saliva test strip within the housing, wherein the saliva test strip is configured to provide a visual indication when a proper saliva sample size is collected;

a donor sample pad coupled to a first end of the housing, wherein the donor sample pad is in fluid communication with the saliva test strip, and the donor sample pad is configured to transfer saliva to the saliva test strip; and

a mirror directly attached to a second end of the housing, wherein the mirror is configured to be positioned such that a reflection of the saliva test strip via the window is reflected by the mirror such that the reflection is in the field of view of the donor;

inserting the donor sample pad of the oral testing device into the mouth of the donor; and

removing the donor sample pad from the donor'"'"'s mouth when the saliva test strip indicates the presence of a proper saliva sample size as viewed by the reflection of the test strip via the mirror to the field of vision of the donor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the visual indication of a proper saliva sample size is a change in color.

18. A method for testing a donor for drug use, the method comprising:

providing an oral testing device comprising;

a housing comprising a window for visually exposing a saliva test strip within the housing, wherein the saliva test strip is configured to indicate the presence of a drug in the user'"'"'s saliva;

a donor sample pad coupled to a first end of the housing, wherein the donor sample pad is in fluid communication with the saliva test strip, and the donor sample pad is configured to transfer saliva to the saliva test strip; and

a mirror directly attached to a second end of the housing, wherein the mirror is configured to be positioned such that a reflection of the saliva test strip via the window is reflected by the mirror such that the reflection is in the field of view of the donor;

inserting the donor sample pad of the oral testing device into the mouth of the donor; and

removing the donor sample pad from the donor'"'"'s mouth when the saliva test strip indicates the presence of a proper saliva sample size as viewed by the reflection of the test strip via the mirror to the field of vision of the donor, wherein upon absorption of a proper saliva sample size, the test strip also provides a visual indication of whether or not the drug is present in the saliva.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the visual indication of a proper saliva sample size is a change in color.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the saliva test strip is configured to test for one or more of cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), methamphetamine, opiates, and amphetamine.