Devices and methods for collecting and analyzing fluid samples from the oral cavity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016331356-A1
Application number	US-201615054008-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 25, 2016
Priority date	Jul 26, 2010
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Devices for collecting a fluid sample from the oral cavity, the device including a mouthpiece that includes a chamber, the chamber including front and rear inner walls; and means for collecting the fluid sample from the oral cavity; and methods of collecting and analyzing samples of fluid from the oral cavity, including the steps of placing the device in the oral cavity, collecting the fluid sample and conducting an analysis of the fluid sample.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device suitable for collecting samples of a fluid from the oral cavity of a mammal, comprising:
a mouthpiece comprising a chamber defined by front and rear inner walls and a base inner wall of said mouthpiece, said base wall extending between said front and rear inner walls; and means for collecting said fluid sample from said oral cavity.

2 . The device of claim 1 wherein said fluid is selected from the group consisting of a gas, gingival crevicular fluid, blood and saliva.

3 . The device of claim 1 wherein said mouthpiece is suitable for directing a liquid onto a plurality of surfaces of said oral cavity, said front and rear inner walls of said chamber comprise a plurality of openings, said mouthpiece further comprising,
a first manifold for containing a first portion of said liquid and providing said first portion to said chamber through said openings of said front inner wall,
a second manifold for containing a second portion of said liquid and providing said second portion to said chamber through said openings of said rear inner wall,
a first port for conveying said first portion of liquid to and from said first manifold, a second port for conveying said second portion of liquid to and from said second manifold, and
means for providing an effective seal of said mouthpiece within said oral cavity.

4 . The device of claim 1 wherein said means for collecting said fluid sample is selected from the group consisting of a manifold dedicated to collection of said fluid, an orifice and a plurality of nozzles placed at spaced intervals about said mouthpiece.

5 . The device of claim 3 wherein said means for collecting fluid samples comprise said openings in at least one of said inner walls, at least one of said first and second manifolds and at least one of said first and second ports.

6 . The device of claim 1 comprising a compartment for storage of said fluid sample.

7 . The device of claim 6 wherein said compartment is detachable from said device.

8 . A method for collecting and analyzing a sample of a fluid from the oral cavity of a mammal, said method comprising:
placing a device suitable for collecting said sample of said fluid in said oral cavity of said mammal, said device comprising:
a mouthpiece comprising a chamber defined by front and rear inner walls and a base inner wall of said mouthpiece, said base wall extending between said front and rear inner walls; and
means for collecting said fluid sample from said oral cavity,
collecting said fluid sample from said oral cavity; and conducting an analysis of said fluid sample.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein said mouthpiece is suitable for directing a liquid onto a plurality of surfaces of said oral cavity, said front and rear inner walls of said chamber comprise a plurality of openings, said mouthpiece further comprising,
a first manifold for containing a first portion of said liquid and providing said first portion to said chamber through said openings of said front inner wall,
a second manifold for containing a second portion of said liquid and providing said second portion to said chamber through said openings of said rear inner wall,
a first port for conveying said first portion of liquid to and from said first manifold, a second port for conveying said second portion of liquid to and from said second manifold, and
means for providing an effective seal of said mouthpiece within said oral cavity.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein said collection is conducted simultaneously with directing said liquid onto said plurality of surfaces of said oral cavity of said mammal.

11 . The method of claim 9 wherein said collection is conducted prior to directing said liquid onto said plurality of surfaces of said oral cavity of said mammal.

12 . The method of claim 9 wherein said collection is conducted after directing said liquid onto said plurality of surfaces of said oral cavity of said mammal.

13 . The method of claim 9 wherein said collection is conducted prior to and after directing said liquid onto said plurality of surfaces of said oral cavity of said mammal.

14 . The method of claim 9 wherein said collection is conducted prior to, simultaneously with and after directing said liquid onto said plurality of surfaces of said oral cavity of said mammal.

15 . The method of claim 8 wherein analysis of said fluid sample is conducted by a method selected from the group consisting of lateral flow technology, microfluidic immunoassay, DNA-DNA hybridization, color metrics, photoimaging, gas chromatography, zinc oxide semiconductor sensors, quantitative light fluorescence and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction.

16 . The method of claim 8 wherein said means for collecting said fluid sample is selected from the group consisting of a manifold dedicated to collection of said fluid, an orifice and a plurality of nozzles placed at spaced intervals about said mouthpiece, said openings in at least one of said inner walls, at least one of said first and second manifolds and at least one of said first and second ports.

17 . The method of claim 9 wherein said means for collecting said fluid sample is selected from the group consisting of said openings in at least one of said inner walls, at least one of said first and second manifolds and at least one of said first and second ports.

18 . The method of claim 8 wherein said fluid is selected from the group consisting of a gas, gingival crevicular fluid, blood and saliva.

19 . The method of claim 8 further comprising introducing an agent selected from the group consisting of a fluid sample stimulating agent, a conglomeration agent and a coagulation agent.

Assignees

• Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc

Inventors

• Binner Curt
• Fougere Richard J
• Fusi Ii Robert W
• Mcdonough Justin E
• Nicholson Tomishima Karln Lynne
• Reddy Megha

Classifications

• A61B5/157

  {Devices} characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood · CPC title

• A61C17/065

  characterised by provisions for processing the collected matter, e.g. for separating solids or air · CPC title

• A61B5/097

  Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices · CPC title

• A61B5/682

  Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth · CPC title

• A61B2010/0087

  Breath samples · CPC title