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Publication Number
US-11358138-B2
Publication Date
2022-06-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A blood sample collection and/or storage device includes a two-piece housing that encompasses a port at which a fingertip blood sample is collected. After the sample is taken, the two-piece housing is moved to a closed position to protect the sample for storage and optionally process the sample.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to collecting a biological sample using a device with a housing that provides a sample interface in a first position and restricts access to the sample interface in a second position. The housing includes a conduit disposed within the housing, where the conduit is a capillary tube having openings at a first end and a second end. A sample storage chamber is disposed within the housing and is configured to receive the biological sample from the conduit.
A biological sample is provided at the sample interface so that the biological sample is drawn from the sample interface into the conduit via capillary action. When the housing is moved from the first position to the second position, a mechanical actuator is used to dispense a predetermined amount of the biological sample from the second end of the conduit into the sample storage chamber via mechanical force. This same movement transitions the housing from an opening state to a restricted access state.
In further embodiments, the device includes a test region disposed within the housing, where performing an assay on the biological sample uses the test region. The housing is formed from first and second portions configured to be pressed towards one another to configure the device from the first position to the second position. The description further indicates that downstream testing can be carried out using an assay/test region such as an immunoassay strip or a lateral flow strip in fluid communication with the biological sample path.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies two independent method claims directed to collecting a biological sample with a capillary-tube conduit, capillary-action drawing, mechanical-force dispensing of a predetermined amount into a sample storage chamber, and, in the second independent claim, performing an assay at an internal test region.
Capillary-tube sample drawing with predetermined mechanical dispensing
A method for collecting a biological sample comprising receiving a device with a housing having a sample interface, a capillary tube conduit disposed within the housing with openings at first and second ends, a sample storage chamber disposed within the housing to receive the biological sample from the conduit, and a mechanical actuator; providing a biological sample in the sample interface to draw the biological sample into the conduit via capillary action; and moving the housing from a first position to a second position such that the first position provides an opening to the sample interface and the second position restricts access to the sample interface, where the mechanical actuator dispenses a predetermined amount from the second end of the conduit into the sample storage chamber via mechanical force.
Assay using an internal test region with pressed housing transition
A method for collecting a biological sample comprising receiving a device with a housing having a sample interface, a capillary tube conduit disposed within the housing with openings at first and second ends, a sample storage chamber disposed within the housing to receive the biological sample from the conduit, a test region disposed within the housing, and a mechanical actuator; providing a biological sample in the sample interface to draw the biological sample into the conduit via capillary action; moving the housing from a first position to a second position such that the first position provides an opening to the sample interface and the second position restricts access to the sample interface, where the mechanical actuator dispenses a predetermined amount from the second end of the conduit into the sample storage chamber via mechanical force; performing an assay on the biological sample using the test region; and configuring the device from the first position to the second position by pressing first and second portions of the housing towards one another.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on capillary-action drawing into a capillary tube conduit, dispensing a predetermined amount by mechanical force when the housing transitions from open to access-restricted, and, in the second independent claim, performing an assay at a test region disposed within the housing.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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