Devices and methods for collecting and stabilizing biological samples
First Claim
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1. A device for collecting and stabilizing a biological sample, the device comprising:
- (a) a housing comprising an open end portion, a closed end portion, and an interior space;
(b) a retainer insertable into the interior space of the housing, the retainer comprising a vessel for receiving a solution and a penetrable seal for enclosing the solution within the vessel;
(c) a collector removably engagable with the open end portion of the housing and capable of sealingly closing the open end portion of the housing, the collector comprising an absorbent member for collecting the biological sample,wherein, when the collector is engaged with the open end portion of the housing, the absorbent member is received in the housing and the collector breaks the penetrable seal of the retainer that has been inserted into the interior space of the housing and propels the solution to flow through the absorbent member, thereby releasing the biological sample from the absorbent member and facilitating mixing of the biological sample with the solution; and
wherein the vessel has an open top, and a closed bottom, the closed bottom is formed with a central portion recessed inwardly toward the open top of the vessel or a protrusion protruded inwardly toward the open top of the vessel to compress the absorbent member when the collector is engaging or engaged with the open end portion of the housing, thereby squeezing the biological sample out of the absorbent member.
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Abstract
The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for collecting and stabilizing biological samples, and more particularly, for collecting and stabilizing blood or other bodily fluids from a user'"'"'s fingertip, earlobe, heel or other locations. The present invention also relates to sample collection devices that simplify the process for mixing the biological samples with an additive or additives, provide for efficient storage and safe transport of the samples, and provide for easy access to the samples for subsequent processing.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A device for collecting and stabilizing a biological sample, the device comprising:
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(a) a housing comprising an open end portion, a closed end portion, and an interior space; (b) a retainer insertable into the interior space of the housing, the retainer comprising a vessel for receiving a solution and a penetrable seal for enclosing the solution within the vessel; (c) a collector removably engagable with the open end portion of the housing and capable of sealingly closing the open end portion of the housing, the collector comprising an absorbent member for collecting the biological sample, wherein, when the collector is engaged with the open end portion of the housing, the absorbent member is received in the housing and the collector breaks the penetrable seal of the retainer that has been inserted into the interior space of the housing and propels the solution to flow through the absorbent member, thereby releasing the biological sample from the absorbent member and facilitating mixing of the biological sample with the solution; and wherein the vessel has an open top, and a closed bottom, the closed bottom is formed with a central portion recessed inwardly toward the open top of the vessel or a protrusion protruded inwardly toward the open top of the vessel to compress the absorbent member when the collector is engaging or engaged with the open end portion of the housing, thereby squeezing the biological sample out of the absorbent member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A device for collecting and stabilizing a biological sample, the device comprising:
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(a) a housing comprising an open end portion, a closed end portion, and an interior space; (b) a retainer insertable into the interior space of the housing, the retainer comprising a vessel for receiving a solution and a penetrable seal for enclosing the solution within the vessel; (c) a collector removably engagable with the open end portion of the housing and capable of sealingly closing the open end portion of the housing, the collector comprising; an absorbent member for collecting the biological sample; a body portion serving as a handle when taking the biological sample and as a seal when engaging or engaged with the open end portion of the housing; and a stem portion fixedly coupled with the body portion or monolithically formed with the body portion, wherein (i) the stem portion comprises a first segment proximal to the body portion and a second segment distal to the body portion; (ii) the absorbent member is attached to the second segment of the stem portion; (iii) when the collector is engaged with the open end portion of the housing, the absorbent member and at least a portion of the second segment are received in the retainer; (iv) the first segment is formed with one or more open slots to allow the released biological sample and the propelled solution flow through; and (v) the second segment distal to the body portion is formed with a cavity for accommodating the absorbent member; wherein the stem portion further comprises a partition disposed between the first segment and the second segment for preventing the absorbent member from being pushed into the second segment when the collector is engaging or engaged with the open end portion of the housing, wherein the partition is formed with at least one hole or slot through which the first segment is in fluidic communication with the second segment; and wherein, when the collector is engaged with the open end portion of the housing, the absorbent member is received in the housing and the collector breaks the penetrable seal of the retainer that has been inserted into the interior space of the housing and propels the solution to flow through the absorbent member, thereby releasing the biological sample from the absorbent member and facilitating mixing of the biological sample with the solution.
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23. A device for collecting and stabilizing a biological sample, the device comprising:
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(a) a housing comprising an open end portion, a closed end portion, and an interior space; (b) a retainer insertable into the interior space of the housing, the retainer comprising a vessel for receiving a solution and a penetrable seal for enclosing the solution within the vessel; (c) a collector removably engagable with the open end portion of the housing and capable of sealingly closing the open end portion of the housing, the collector comprising; an absorbent member for collecting the biological sample; a body portion serving as a handle when taking the biological sample and as a seal when engaging or engaged with the open end portion of the housing; and a stem portion fixedly coupled with the body portion or monolithically formed with the body portion, wherein (i) the stem portion comprises a first segment proximal to the body portion and a second segment distal to the body portion; (ii) the absorbent member is attached to the second segment of the stem portion; (iii) when the collector is engaged with the open end portion of the housing, the absorbent member and at least a portion of the second segment are received in the retainer; (iv) the first segment proximal to the body portion is formed with a reservoir for facilitating mixing of the biological sample with the solution and accommodating the mixture of the biological sample and the solution; and (v) the second segment distal to the body portion is formed with a cavity for accommodating the absorbent member; wherein the stem portion further comprises a partition disposed between the first segment and the second segment for preventing the absorbent member from being pushed into the second segment when the collector is engaging or engaged with the open end portion of the housing, wherein the partition is formed with at least one hole or slot through which the first segment is in fluidic communication with the second segment; and wherein, when the collector is engaged with the open end portion of the housing, the absorbent member is received in the housing and the collector breaks the penetrable seal of the retainer that has been inserted into the interior space of the housing and propels the solution to flow through the absorbent member, thereby releasing the biological sample from the absorbent member and facilitating mixing of the biological sample with the solution.
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24. A device for collecting and stabilizing a biological sample, the device comprising:
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(a) a housing comprising an open end portion, a closed end portion, and an interior space; (b) a retainer insertable into the interior space of the housing, the retainer comprising a vessel for receiving a solution and a penetrable seal for enclosing the solution within the vessel, (c) a collector removably engagable with the open end portion of the housing and capable of sealingly closing the open end portion of the housing, the collector comprising; an absorbent member for collecting the biological sample; a body portion serving as a handle when taking the biological sample and as a seal when engaging or engaged with the open end portion of the housing; and a stem portion fixedly coupled with the body portion or monolithically formed with the body portion, wherein (i) the stem portion comprises a first segment proximal to the body portion and a second segment distal to the body portion; (ii) the absorbent member is attached to the second segment of the stem portion; and (iii) when the collector is engaged with the open end portion of the housing, the absorbent member and at least a portion of the second segment are received in the retainer; wherein the collector further comprises a first elastomeric seal disposed on an exterior surface of the second segment of the stem portion, wherein the first elastomeric seal provides sealing between the exterior surface of the second segment of the stem portion and an interior surface of the retainer when the collector is engaging or engaged with the open end portion of the housing; and wherein, when the collector is engaged with the open end portion of the housing, the absorbent member is received in the housing and the collector breaks the penetrable seal of the retainer that has been inserted into the interior space of the housing and propels the solution to flow through the absorbent member, thereby releasing the biological sample from the absorbent member and facilitating mixing of the biological sample with the solution.
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25. A kit for health care, comprising:
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(a) a collector comprising an absorbent member for collecting a biological sample; (b) a housing comprising an open end portion, a closed end portion, and an interior space; and (c) a retainer insertable into the interior space of the housing, the retainer comprising a vessel for receiving a solution and a penetrable seal for enclosing the solution within the vessel, wherein, the collector is removably engagable with the open end portion of the housing and capable of sealingly closing the open end portion of the housing, and wherein, when the collector is engaged with the open end portion of the housing, the absorbent member is received in the housing and the collector breaks the penetrable seal of the retainer that has been inserted into the interior space of the housing and propels the solution to flow through the absorbent member, thereby releasing the biological sample from the absorbent member and facilitating mixing of the biological sample with the solution; and wherein the vessel has an open top, and a closed bottom, the closed bottom is formed with a central portion recessed inwardly toward the open top of the vessel or a protrusion protruded inwardly toward the open top of the vessel to compress the absorbent member when the collector is engaging or engaged with the open end portion of the housing, thereby squeezing the biological sample out of the absorbent member.
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26. A method for collecting and stabilizing a biological sample, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a collector comprising an absorbent member, a housing, and a retainer insertable into the housing, wherein the retainer comprises a vessel for receiving a solution and a penetrable seal for enclosing the solution within the vessel; (b) collecting the biological sample by the absorbent member of the collector; and (c) sealingly engaging the collector with the housing, wherein, the sealingly engaging of the collector with the housing breaks the penetrable seal of the retainer that has been inserted into an interior space of the housing and propels the solution retained in the retainer to flow through the absorbent member, thereby releasing the biological sample from the absorbent member and facilitating mixing of the biological sample with the solution; and wherein the vessel has an open top, and a closed bottom, the closed bottom is formed with a central portion recessed inwardly toward the open top of the vessel or a protrusion protruded inwardly toward the open top of the vessel to compress the absorbent member when the collector is engaging or engaged with the open end portion of the housing, thereby squeezing the biological sample out of the absorbent member.
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Specification