Non-invasive collection means and method

• US 4,844,098 A
• Filed: 10/23/1987
• Issued: 07/04/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arnold A. Alexander III, Bridge Investment Corporation, Dljsc As Custodian FBO Roger E Lumpp IRA, Paul Finnegan, Sheldon R. Miller, Susan L. Walker, TRUST UNDER WILL OF KENNETH BEROL FOR BENEFIT OF JOHN BEROL; TRUST UNDER WILL OF KENNETH BEROL FOR BENEFIT OF DAVID BEROL; BEROL FAMILY TRUST FOR BENEFIT OF MARGARET BEATTIE; C/O A. ALEXANDER ARNOLD, III, AS TRUSTEE TRAINER, WORTHAM & COMPANY, INC.
• Original Assignee: Joel R. Mitchen
• Inventors: Mitchen, Joel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US07/112,864
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 128/765-767, 604/19, 604/22, 604/116, 604/289, 604/290, 604/310, 604/312, 604/313, 604/315, 604/316
• US Class Current: 600/578
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150221 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150251 Collection chamber divided into at least two compartments, e.g. for division of samples injection syringes having more than one chamber A61M5/19; syringes for injection of two or more media A61M5/2448, A61M5/284; sample preparation for further analysis A61B5/150755
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150351 Caps, stoppers or lids for sealing or closing a blood collection vessel or container, e.g. a test-tube or syringe barrel caps for bottles or containers in general B65D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15134 Bladeless capillary blood sampling devices, i.e. devices for perforating the skin in order to obtain a blood sample but not using a blade, needle, canula, or lancet, e.g. by laser perforation, suction or pressurized fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis

Abstract

A non-invasive method for collecting tissue fluids from a human or an animal which comprises pretreating the external surface of an area of the skin of the human or the animal with a solution to clean off dead cells, forming a liquid coating over the skin, forming a superficial contusion on that area of the skin without nicking or piercing the skin, sealing that area of the skin and then collecting tissue fluid from the area of the contusion with the assistance of vacuum. The tissue fluid collected may be used for diagnostic purposes. A device for practicing the method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A device for use in a non-invasive method of collecting a tissue fluid sample from a human or an animal which comprises a probe having at one end a relatively rigid member for forming a contusion on the skin of said human or animal, a cup-shaped member surrounding the relatively rigid member for forming a seal with the skin about the outside of the contusion, a sealed vacuum tube in the other end of the probe, a passage in the probe extending from the cup-shaped member to means for opening the seal of the vacuum tube and a one-way valve in said passage permitting flow from the probe tip to the vacuum tube but not in the other direction.

2. A device of claim 1 in which the one-way valve is a duckbilled valve.

3. A non-invasive method for collection of tissue fluid from an animal which comprises pretreating an external surface of a selected area of the skin of the animal to clean off dead cells, applying a probe containing a coating liquid to the selected area of the skin, retaining the liquid on the selected area with the probe, forming a superficial contusion on that area of the skin without removing the probe and without nicking or piercing the skin, and then collecting any tissue fluid and said coating liquid from the area of the contusion with vacuum assistance.