Systems and methods for collecting, testing and transporting liquid biological specimens

• US 20060064032A1
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtox Co.
• Original Assignee: Medtox Scientific, Inc. (Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings)
• Inventors: Morris, Alan, Bohannon, Robert, Chapman, Glen, Owens, Bud M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,458,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/573
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/007 for taking urine samples measuring urological functions A61B5/20; genital receptacles A61F5/451; urinals for bed-ridden persons A61G9/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30

Abstract

A collection system for collecting, testing and transporting liquid biological specimens that limits exposure of a tester to the liquid sample and keeps the collected samples pristine even after exposing some of the sample to test strips. The system includes a collection body for receiving and holding a liquid sample, a lid that is coupled to the body, and a test strip housing. The lid includes a transfer conduit while the test strip housing includes an opening defined within the test strip housing. The transfer conduit and the opening are aligned when the test strip housing is coupled to the lid. When the system is moved or tilted, some of the liquid sample moves through the transfer conduit and the opening into the test strip housing.

Claims

1. A collection system for collecting a liquid sample, the collection device comprising:

a body for receiving and holding a liquid sample, the body including coupling structure defined at a top portion for receiving a lid; and

a lid for coupling to the body, the lid including mating structure for mating with the coupling structure, the lid further including a transfer conduit defined therein and test strip housing receiving structure on a top portion of the lid and around the transfer conduit for receiving a test strip housing.

2. A collection system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a test strip housing comprising:

a test strip receiving area including at least one test strip reservoir;

an opening defined within the test strip housing for alignment with the transfer conduit within the lid; and

housing mating structure around the opening for mating with the test strip housing receiving structure to thereby couple the test strip housing to the lid.

3. A collection system in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a vent located adjacent the test strip receiving area.

4. A collection system in accordance with claim 3 wherein the vent is defined within a cover over the test strip receiving area and is located at a position relative to the opening whereby during use of the system, fluid level of liquid sample within the test strip receiving area is defined by positioning of the vent.

5. A collection system in accordance with claim 4 wherein the cover over the test strip receiving area is substantially clear.

6. A collection system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the test strip housing comprises a trough adjacent the at least one test strip reservoir.

7. A collection system in accordance with claim 6 wherein a manifold pad is positioned within the trough.

8. A collection system in accordance with claim 2 wherein a test strip is positioned within the at least one test strip reservoir.

9. A collection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transfer conduit is positioned approximately one-half inch from an edge of the lid.

10. A collection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transfer conduit is defined within a substantially conical protrusion that extends such that a top of the conical protrusion is substantially flush with a top surface of the test strip housing receiving structure.

11. A collection system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the transfer conduit comprises an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the inlet is larger than the outlet.

12. A collection system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the test strip receiving area comprises a plurality of test strip reservoirs.

13. A collection system in accordance with claim 12 wherein a test strip is positioned within some of the test strip reservoirs and at least one adulteration strip is positioned within a test strip reservoir.

14. A collection system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the transfer conduit is defined within a substantially conical protrusion that extends such that a top of the conical protrusion is substantially flush with a top surface of the test strip housing receiving structure.

15. A collection system in accordance with claim 14 wherein the transfer conduit comprises an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the inlet is larger than the outlet.

16. A collection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coupling structure and the mating structure comprise cooperating threads.

17. A collection system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the test strip housing receiving structure comprises a partially circular protrusion that defines two lips and the housing mating structure comprises a partially circular receiving portion that includes tabs that engage the lips.

18. A collection system in accordance with claim 17 wherein the transfer conduit is defined within a substantially conical protrusion that extends such that a top of the conical protrusion is substantially flush with a top surface of the test strip housing receiving structure.

19. A collection system in accordance with claim 18 wherein the housing mating structure further comprises a ring protrusion that at least partially surrounds the conical protrusion.

20. A collection system in accordance with claim 19 wherein the transfer conduit comprises an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the inlet is larger than the outlet.

21. A collection system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the lid includes an arch portion defined with its periphery and the test strip housing comprises an arch portion defined within its periphery, the test strip housing arch portion extending beyond the lid arch portion when the test strip housing is coupled to the lid.

22. A collection system in accordance with claim 17 wherein the housing mating structure and the test strip housing receiving structure are coupled together with a one-quarter turn that causes the tabs to engage the lips.

23. A collection system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the housing mating structure and the test strip housing receiving structure are coupled together with a snap-on connection.

24. A collection system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the housing mating structure and the test strip housing receiving structure are coupled together with a slide-on connection.

25. A collection system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the housing mating structure and the test strip housing receiving structure are coupled together with a magnetic connection.

26. A collection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the body comprises a marker to indicate a minimum amount for a liquid sample.

27. A collection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the body comprises at least one side protrusion on an outer surface that defines a corresponding indentation on an inner surface.

28. A collection system in accordance with claim 27 wherein the body comprises at least three side protrusions on an outer surface that define corresponding indentations on an inner surface.

29. A collection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coupling structure and the mating structure comprise cooperating magnetic components.

30. A collection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coupling structure and the mating structure comprise cooperating snaps.

31. A method of collecting and testing a liquid sample, the method comprising:

providing a liquid sample within a collection body;

coupling a lid to the collection body, the lid including a transfer conduit defined therein;

coupling a test strip housing to the top of the lid, wherein the test strip housing includes an opening defined therein that is aligned with the transfer conduit, and further includes a test strip receiving area;

providing a vent above the opening;

providing at least one test strip with the test strip receiving area; and

moving the collection body so that liquid sample moves through the transfer conduit and the opening and engages the at least one test strip.

32. A method in accordance with claim 31 further comprising providing a vent located at a position relative to the opening whereby during use of the system, fluid level of liquid sample within the test strip receiving area is defined by positioning of the vent.

33. A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein the collection body is moved until an edge of the test strip housing engages a support surface and the method further comprises allowing the test strip housing edge to rest on the support surface.

34. A method in accordance with claim 33 wherein the test strip housing edge rests on the support surface in a range of three to five minutes.

35. A method in accordance with claim 33 wherein the test strip housing edge rests on the support surface in a range of one to 15 seconds.

36. A method in accordance with claim 33 further comprising moving the edge of the test strip housing away from the support surface and removing the test strip housing.

37. A method in accordance with claim 36 further comprising sealing the opening after removing the test strip housing.

38. A method in accordance with claim 36 further comprising photocopying the test strip housing after removing the test strip housing.

39. A method in accordance with claim 36 further comprising reading the test strip housing with an electronic reader after removing the test strip housing.

40. A method in accordance with claim 36 wherein coupling the lid to the collection body comprises mating threads defined on both the lid and the collection body.

41. A method in accordance with claim 36 wherein coupling the test strip housing to the lid comprises turning housing mating structure relative to test strip housing receiving structure with a one-quarter turn that causes tabs to engage lips.

42. A method in accordance with claim 36 wherein coupling the lid to the collection body comprises using cooperating magnetic components located on the lid and the collection body.

43. A method in accordance with claim 31 further comprising moving the edge of the test strip housing away from the support surface and reading the test strip housing while the test strip housing is coupled to the lid.

44. A method in accordance with claim 43 wherein the test strip housing is read visually.

45. A method in accordance with claim 42 wherein the test strip housing is read electronically.

46. A collection system for collecting a liquid sample, the collection device comprising:

a body for receiving and holding a liquid sample, the body including coupling structure defined at a top portion for receiving a lid;

a lid for coupling to the body, the lid comprising;

mating structure for mating with the coupling structure;

a transfer conduit defined within a substantially conical protrusion and comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is larger than the outlet; and

test strip housing receiving structure on a top portion of the lid and around the transfer conduit for receiving a test strip housing; and

a test strip housing comprising;

a test strip receiving area including a plurality of test strip reservoirs;

an opening defined within the test strip housing for alignment with the transfer conduit within the lid; and

housing mating structure around the opening for mating with the test strip housing receiving structure to thereby couple the test strip housing to the lid.

47. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 further comprising a vent located adjacent the test strip receiving area.

48. A collection system in accordance with claim 47 wherein the vent is defined within a cover over the test strip receiving area and is located at a position relative to the opening whereby during use of the system, fluid level of liquid sample within the test strip receiving area is defined by positioning of the vent.

49. A collection system in accordance with claim 48 wherein the cover over the test strip receiving area is substantially clear.

50. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the test strip housing comprises a trough adjacent the at least one test strip reservoir.

51. A collection system in accordance with claim 50 wherein a manifold pad is positioned within the trough.

52. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein test strips are positioned within some of the test strip reservoirs and at least one adulteration strip is positioned within a test strip reservoir.

53. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the transfer conduit is positioned approximately one-half inch from an edge of the lid.

54. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the transfer conduit is defined within a substantially conical protrusion that extends such that a top of the conical protrusion is substantially flush with a top surface of the test strip housing receiving structure.

55. A collection system in accordance with claim 54 wherein the housing mating structure further comprises a ring protrusion that at least partially surrounds the conical protrusion.

56. A collection system in accordance with claim 55 wherein the test strip housing receiving structure comprises a partially circular protrusion that defines two lips and the housing mating structure comprises a partially circular receiving portion that includes tabs that engage the lips.

57. A collection system in accordance with claim 56 wherein the housing mating structure and the test strip housing receiving structure are coupled together with a one-quarter turn that causes the tabs to engage the lips.

58. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the coupling structure and the mating structure comprise cooperating threads.

59. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the lid includes an arch portion defined with its periphery and the test strip housing comprises an arch portion defined within its periphery, the test strip housing arch portion extending beyond the lid arch portion when the test strip housing is coupled to the lid.

60. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the housing mating structure and the test strip housing receiving structure are coupled together with a snap-on connection.

61. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the housing mating structure and the test strip housing receiving structure are coupled together with a slide-on connection.

62. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the housing mating structure and the test strip housing receiving structure are coupled together with a magnetic connection.

63. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the body comprises a marker to indicate a minimum amount for a liquid sample.

64. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the body comprises at least one side protrusion on an outer surface that defines a corresponding indentation on an inner surface.

65. A collection system in accordance with claim 64 wherein the body comprises at least three side protrusions on an outer surface that define corresponding indentations on an inner surface.

66. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the coupling structure and the mating structure comprise cooperating magnetic components.

67. A collection system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the coupling structure and the mating structure comprise cooperating snaps.