Sample collector and test device
First Claim
1. A sample collection device for assay comprising:
- a plunger, including a plunger arm coupled to a disk, where the plunger arm includesa first diameter portion, anda second diameter portion that is larger than the first diameter portion and where the disk is disposed on the second diameter portion; and
a recess;
a plug, includingan end wall anda channel, where the end wall defines an opening holding the recess of the plunger and where the channel is configured for slidably receiving the first diameter portion of the plunger arm into the channel of the plug; and
an expandable sponge coaxially disposed on the first diameter portion of the plunger arm,wherein the sample collection device is configured ina sample collection size when the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion of the plunger arm are outside the channel of the plug prior to collecting a sample with the expandable sponge;
an expanded size when the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion of the plunger arm are outside the channel of the plug and the sample was collected with the expandable sponge such that the expandable sponge extends from the end wall of the plug to the disk over the first diameter portion of the plunger arm and the second diameter portion of the plunger arm providing an indication to a user that an adequate sample size was collected; and
a sample retaining size when the first diameter portion of the plunger arm is slidably received into the channel of the plug expressing a portion of the sample from the expandable sponge while the second diameter portion of the plunger arm remains outside the channel of the plug retaining a portion of the sample in the expandable sponge.
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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.
112 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A sample collection device for assay comprising:
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a plunger, including a plunger arm coupled to a disk, where the plunger arm includes a first diameter portion, and a second diameter portion that is larger than the first diameter portion and where the disk is disposed on the second diameter portion; and a recess; a plug, including an end wall and a channel, where the end wall defines an opening holding the recess of the plunger and where the channel is configured for slidably receiving the first diameter portion of the plunger arm into the channel of the plug; and an expandable sponge coaxially disposed on the first diameter portion of the plunger arm, wherein the sample collection device is configured in a sample collection size when the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion of the plunger arm are outside the channel of the plug prior to collecting a sample with the expandable sponge; an expanded size when the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion of the plunger arm are outside the channel of the plug and the sample was collected with the expandable sponge such that the expandable sponge extends from the end wall of the plug to the disk over the first diameter portion of the plunger arm and the second diameter portion of the plunger arm providing an indication to a user that an adequate sample size was collected; and a sample retaining size when the first diameter portion of the plunger arm is slidably received into the channel of the plug expressing a portion of the sample from the expandable sponge while the second diameter portion of the plunger arm remains outside the channel of the plug retaining a portion of the sample in the expandable sponge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification