Biological sample collection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9757096-B2
Application number	US-201214354933-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2012
Priority date	Oct 31, 2011
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

Biological samples, such as saliva, are commonly collected on a swab and subsequently transferred to an absorbent storage medium. Embodiments of the present invention provide a biological sample collection device 600 comprising a collection portion 620 and a body portion 610 , the body portion including a holding portion 652 for holding a biological sample storage medium ( 618 FIG. 1 ), and a sample collection/transfer means. The collection portion 620 can be arranged in a first position shown in FIG. 4 , separated from the body portion for collecting a sample. The device employs depressible latches ( 630, 640 FIG. 6 ) to control the movements of the collection portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A biological sample collection device, comprising:
a body portion having an area for accepting a biological sample storage medium; and
a sample collection portion including a biological sample collection medium, said sample collection portion being connected to said body portion for relative movement, said relative movement allowing the positioning of the sample collection portion relative to the body portion at least into:
an open position whereby the sample collection portion extends away from the body portion to allow collection of a biological sample on said biological sample collection medium;
a transfer position whereby the sample collection portion is positioned such that the biological sample collection medium and the biological sample storage medium can be brought into contact to allow at least partial transfer of the sample collected on said biological sample collection medium onto said biological sample storage medium; and
a closed position whereby the sample collection portion is positioned intermediate its location in the open position and the transfer position;

the device including a releasable latch for holding the sample collection portion in both said transfer and closed positions, and for selectively releasing the sample collection portion to allow movement from the closed position to the open position, and to allow movement from the transfer position to the closed position,
the device being characterised in that the latch is formed from at least two depressible controls each separately operable for allowing said movement from the closed to the open position, and for allowing said movement from the transfer to the closed position, and
the device including a resilient part connected to or forming part of the body portion, wherein the resilient part is arranged to push against the sample collection portion and urge the sample collection portion toward the open position when the sample collection portion is in the closed position.

2. The biological sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the device further includes a further depressible control for causing the sample collection portion to move from the open position to the transfer position.

3. The biological sample collection device of claim 1 wherein the at least two depressible controls each comprise a cantilevered latch, interfering with movement of the sample collection portion, but moveable out of interference therewith to allow movement of the sample collection portion.

4. The biological sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes a recess for accepting the sample collection portion, the recess being open to the area for accepting the biological sample storage medium, and wherein, when accepted into the area, the biological sample storage medium is substantially inaccessible from the recess when the sample collection portion is in the transfer or closed positions.

5. The biological sample collection device of claim 4 , wherein when the transfer and closed positions are obtained, the sample collection portion is substantially within the recess.

6. The biological sample collection device of claim 4 , wherein when the closed position is obtained, the sample collection portion has a surface which lies within the recess, substantially flush with an outer surface of the body portion.

7. The biological sample collection device of claim 6 , wherein the outer surface and the sample collection portion, when in the closed position, form part of a continuously curved external surface of the body portion.

8. The biological sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the relative movement is rotational movement substantially about a pivot axis extending through the body portion.

9. The biological sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein said urging is resisted by a stop at or adjacent the open position.

10. The biological sample collection device of claim 1 , comprising a locking means for locking said sample collection portion in at least one of said open position and said transfer position.

11. The biological sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the biological sample collection medium comprises an absorbent material for absorbing a liquid biological sample.

12. The biological sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the biological sample storage medium is held in a storage medium holding portion.

13. The biological sample collection device of claim 12 , wherein the biological sample storage medium is removable from said storage medium holding portion.

14. The biological sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the biological sample storage medium comprises a planar membrane for absorbing liquid biological samples.

15. The biological sample collection device of claim 14 , wherein the biological sample storage medium is held on a card.

16. The biological sample collection device of claim 1 , made from a plastics material.

Assignees

• Ge Healthcare Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Pierce Alan Stuart
• Stubbs Simon Laurence John
• Treharne David Gwyn
• Potts Cheryl Louise

Classifications

• A61B10/0051 Primary

  for taking saliva or sputum samples (devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00) · CPC title

• B01L3/5023

  with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis · CPC title

• B01L2300/0816

  Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions · CPC title

• B01L2300/021

  Identification, e.g. bar codes · CPC title

• B01L2300/043

  Hinged closures · CPC title