Apparatuses, systems, and methods for sample capture and extraction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11852567-B2
Application number	US-202117446686-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2021
Priority date	Oct 29, 2020
Publication date	Dec 26, 2023
Grant date	Dec 26, 2023

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems associated with aerosol collection devices (such as, but not limited to, breath-aerosol collector devices, breathalyzers) are provided. An example aerosol collection device includes a sample transfer adapter configured to receive a sample and a device body connected to the sample transfer adapter. In some examples, the device body defines a flow channel that guides the sample to a filter component, and the filter component contains a buffer solution.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating an aerosol collection device comprising:
removing a cap component of the aerosol collection device from an upper plunger component of the aerosol collection device, wherein the upper plunger component is housed within a vessel component having at least one vertical lock ridge element and at least one vertical stop ridge element disposed on an inner lateral surface of the vessel component;
connecting a sample transfer adapter to a flow channel defined by the upper plunger component and a tube component; and
causing a sample to flow into the aerosol collection device through the flow channel and contact a buffer solution within the aerosol collection device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample transfer adapter comprises a sampling tunnel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample transfer adapter comprises a mask component.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aerosol collection device comprises at least one capsule component storing the buffer solution.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one capsule component is positioned on a top surface of at least one capsule extraction body element of the aerosol collection device, wherein the at least one capsule component comprises a first capsule component storing a first buffer solution and a second capsule component storing a second buffer solution.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein connecting the sample transfer adapter to the flow channel causes a release of the buffer solution from the at least one capsule component to a filter component within the aerosol collection device.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the upper plunger component is positioned on a top surface of the at least one capsule component.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
exerting a rotational force on the upper plunger component, causing the upper plunger component to translate from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein:
in the first configuration, a bottom surface of the upper plunger component is in contact with the top surface of the at least one capsule component, and
in the second configuration, the bottom surface of the upper plunger component is in contact with a top surface of a lower plunger component.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the upper plunger component comprises at least one leg portion, wherein the rotational force causes at least a portion of the at least one leg portion to rotate past the at least one vertical lock ridge element and stop at the at least one vertical stop ridge element.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the lower plunger component comprises a plurality of plunger support wings, wherein, in the second configuration, the bottom surface of the upper plunger component is in contact with a top surface of each of the plurality of plunger support wings of the lower plunger component.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the lower plunger component is positioned on a top surface of a filter component.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
exerting a vertically downward force on a top surface of the upper plunger component, causing the lower plunger component to press on the filter component.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the upper plunger component is configured to transfer the vertically downward force to the lower plunger component and cause a vertical movement of the lower plunger component.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein a sample distribution annulus element is fluidly connected to the filter component, wherein the sample distribution annulus element comprises one or more sample distribution elements configured to distribute at least a portion of the sample to a respective filter portion of a plurality of distributed filter portions defined throughout the filter component.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
attaching an extraction cartridge to a sample liquid extraction outlet of the aerosol collection device via one or more attachment means defined at least in part by the extraction cartridge.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein attaching the extraction cartridge to the sample liquid extraction outlet comprises:
puncturing a groove component disposed about a bottom surface of the aerosol collection device upon an attachment of the extraction cartridge to the sample liquid extraction outlet.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein puncturing the groove component disposed about the bottom surface of the aerosol collection device generates a fluid communication path between the aerosol collection device and the extraction cartridge attached thereto.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving the buffer solution extracted from the aerosol collection device at the extraction cartridge connected to the sample liquid extraction outlet, wherein the extraction cartridge is defined at least in part by a sample liquid volumetric capacity corresponding to a maximum volume of sample liquid that can be received by the extraction cartridge; and
determining that the extraction cartridge has received the maximum volume of sample liquid that can be received by the extraction cartridge.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
disconnecting the extraction cartridge from the sample liquid extraction outlet of the aerosol collection device.

Assignees

• Hand Held Prod Inc

Inventors

• Mcbrady Adam Dewey
• Shafai Moin
• Ponte Rivas Oscar
• Celoria Aoife
• Foster Philip C
• Brandt Dustin Michael
• Isella Giorgio Carlo
• Sanchez De La Rosa Jose Guadalupe
• Rahislic Emir
• Childers Amanda Esther Sall
• Germaine Gennady
• Haggerty Thomas Merritt

Classifications

• G01N1/2205 Primary

  with filters · CPC title

• G01N2001/2223

  aerosol sampling devices · CPC title

• G01N1/2202 Primary

  involving separation of sample components during sampling · CPC title

• G01N1/2214 Primary

  by sorption · CPC title

• G01N1/2247

  Sampling from a flowing stream of gas · CPC title