System and method for monitoring health based on collected bodily fluid
First Claim
1. A system for extracting and preserving components of a biological sample of a subject in their original state, comprising:
- a sample collector that non-invasively collects said biological sample from a vaginal canal of said subject, wherein said sample collector collects and retains said biological sample from said vaginal canal;
an extractor comprising (i) a sample receptacle that receives said sample collector via an opening, (ii) a breakable buffer pouch comprising a buffer for preserving said components of said biological sample in their original state during storage or shipping of said biological sample for subsequent processing or analysis of said biological sample, wherein said breakable buffer pouch is separate from said sample receptacle and configured to release said buffer to contact said sample collector in said sample receptacle when said breakable buffer pouch is broken, and (iii) a collection reservoir that is in fluid communication with each of said sample receptacle and said breakable buffer pouch when said breakable buffer pouch is broken, wherein said collection reservoir receives a solution, said solution comprising said buffer from said breakable buffer pouch and said biological sample from said sample receptacle, when said sample collector is in said sample receptacle, wherein said collection reservoir is separate from said sample receptacle and said breakable buffer pouch; and
a cartridge comprising a chamber that comes in fluid communication with said collection reservoir upon docking with said extractor, wherein upon said chamber coming in fluid communication with said collection reservoir, said solution comprising said buffer and said biological sample is subjected to flow from said collection reservoir to said cartridge.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical kit for analysis of vaginal biological samples includes a sample collector, an extractor, and an assay cartridge. The sample collector is compressible and insertable in a vaginal canal for collecting biological samples, and includes a cup-shaped head configured to cradle a cervical os. The extractor includes a sample receptacle configured to receive the sample collector via an open end. The extractor includes a compression mechanism with a compression element that is movable inwards into the open end of the sample receptacle to apply a compression force in response to activation of a release element. The extractor further includes a reservoir in fluid communication with the sample receptacle, the reservoir receiving the biological samples from the sample collector in response to the compression force being applied within the sample receptacle. The assay cartridge has a docking mechanism configured to fluidly communicate with the reservoir of the extractor.
148 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for extracting and preserving components of a biological sample of a subject in their original state, comprising:
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a sample collector that non-invasively collects said biological sample from a vaginal canal of said subject, wherein said sample collector collects and retains said biological sample from said vaginal canal; an extractor comprising (i) a sample receptacle that receives said sample collector via an opening, (ii) a breakable buffer pouch comprising a buffer for preserving said components of said biological sample in their original state during storage or shipping of said biological sample for subsequent processing or analysis of said biological sample, wherein said breakable buffer pouch is separate from said sample receptacle and configured to release said buffer to contact said sample collector in said sample receptacle when said breakable buffer pouch is broken, and (iii) a collection reservoir that is in fluid communication with each of said sample receptacle and said breakable buffer pouch when said breakable buffer pouch is broken, wherein said collection reservoir receives a solution, said solution comprising said buffer from said breakable buffer pouch and said biological sample from said sample receptacle, when said sample collector is in said sample receptacle, wherein said collection reservoir is separate from said sample receptacle and said breakable buffer pouch; and a cartridge comprising a chamber that comes in fluid communication with said collection reservoir upon docking with said extractor, wherein upon said chamber coming in fluid communication with said collection reservoir, said solution comprising said buffer and said biological sample is subjected to flow from said collection reservoir to said cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 29)
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19. A method for extracting and preserving components of a biological sample of a subject in their original state, comprising:
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(a) using a sample collector to non-invasively collect said biological sample from a vaginal canal of said subject, wherein said sample collector collects and retains said biological sample from said vaginal canal; (b) bringing said sample collector in proximity to an extractor comprising (i) a sample receptacle configured to receive said sample collector via an opening, (ii) a breakable buffer pouch comprising a buffer for preserving said components of said biological sample in their original state during storage or shipping of said biological sample for subsequent processing or analysis of said biological sample, wherein said breakable buffer pouch is separate from said sample receptacle and configured to release said buffer to contact said sample collector in said sample receptacle when said breakable buffer pouch is broken, and (iii) a collection reservoir that is in fluid communication with each of said sample receptacle and said breakable buffer pouch when said breakable buffer pouch is broken, wherein said collection reservoir is separate from said sample receptacle and said breakable buffer pouch; (c) depositing said sample collector through said opening into said sample receptacle; (d) receiving, in said collection reservoir, a solution comprising said buffer from said breakable buffer pouch and said biological sample from said sample receptacle; and (e) docking a cartridge comprising a chamber with said extractor, thereby bringing said chamber in fluid communication with said collection reservoir, wherein upon said chamber coming in fluid communication with said collection reservoir, said solution comprising said buffer and said biological sample is subjected to flow from said collection reservoir to said cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification