Fluid sample collection system and method
Inventors
Gallagher, Timothy Joseph • Steiger, Jeffrey H. • Hanne, Robert
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-7854895-B2
Publication Date
2010-12-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
A fluid sample collection system includes a vial, a plunger and a fluid sample collection device having an absorbent for absorbing and retaining a fluid sample therein. The plunger includes an elongated handle portion and a plunger head portion detachably connected to the handle portion. The plunger also includes a splash guard supported on the handle portion. During the sample collection process, the saturated absorbent from the sample collection device is placed into the vial and the plunger is then advanced toward a closed end of the vial to express the fluid sample from the absorbent. The plunger head portion is retained within the vial with the absorbent in a generally compressed state and the handle portion is detached and removed from the vial.
Core Innovation
A fluid sample collection kit is described that includes an absorbent configured to absorb and retain a fluid sample, a vial having a wall that defines a closed end and an open end, and a cap configured to selectively seal the open end. The kit further includes a plunger detached from the absorbent, having an elongated handle portion and a plunger head portion connected to the handle portion, with the plunger head portion configured to compress the absorbent.
The plunger is placed into the vial independent of the absorbent, and the plunger head portion compresses the absorbent into contact with the closed end of the vial to express the fluid sample from the absorbent into the vial. After expression, the arrangement supports retention of the plunger head in the vial with the absorbent in a generally compressed state, and the handle portion detaches from the plunger head portion.
Optional refinements include a splash guard supported on the plunger handle to minimize splashing or fluid movement into an open-end space during compression. Additional features include a splash guard diameter lesser than an inner diameter of the vial proximate a mid-portion of the vial, a vial inner diameter that decreases along at least a partial length from the open end toward the closed end, and a plunger head diameter that generally matches an inner diameter of the vial proximate the closed end to create frictional interference. Buffer solution within the vial is also described as an optional refinement for mixing with the expressed fluid sample.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims cover three aspects of a fluid sample collection kit and method workflows. Across the independent claims, there are five main inventive feature groups.
Detached plunger compresses absorbent in a vial to express sample
A fluid sample collection kit includes an absorbent configured to absorb and retain a fluid sample therein; a vial having a wall defining a closed end and an open end; a cap configured to selectively seal with the open end of the vial; and a plunger detached from the absorbent having an elongated handle portion and a plunger head portion connected to the handle portion, wherein the plunger head portion is configured to compress the absorbent, when it is placed into the vial independent of the plunger, into contact with the closed end to thereby express the fluid sample from the absorbent into the vial.
Independent insertion of plunger and absorbent then compress to express
A method of collecting a fluid sample includes absorbing the fluid sample with the absorbent; inserting the absorbent into the open end of the vial; inserting the plunger into the open end of the vial independent of the absorbent; and moving the plunger toward the closed end of the vial to compress the absorbent into contact with the closed end to thereby express the fluid sample from the absorbent into the vial.
Engage plunger head with vial to detach handle while retaining compressed absorbent
A method includes engaging a plunger head portion with a vial so the handle portion detaches from the plunger head portion while an absorbent is retained in the vial in a generally compressed state.
Seal and ship sealed vial for remote compression and detachment
A method includes absorbing the fluid sample with the absorbent; inserting the absorbent into the open end of the vial at a first location; sealing the open end with a cap at the first location; shipping the sealed vial having the absorbent contained therein to a second location remote from the first location; opening the sealed vial at the second location; inserting the plunger into the open end of the vial at the second location; moving the plunger toward the closed end to compress the absorbent into contact with the closed end to thereby express the fluid sample into the vial at the second location; detaching the handle portion of the plunger from the plunger head portion at the second location; and removing the handle portion of the plunger from the open end of the vial at the second location.
Optional extraction and buffer solution mixing with expressed sample
In the methods, additional operations include opening a sealed vial at a second location and extracting the expressed sample from the vial at that second location, and optionally introducing a buffer solution into the vial and mixing the expressed fluid sample with the buffer solution.
Across the independent claims, coverage centers on a fluid sample collection workflow in which a detached plunger compresses an absorbent in a vial to express a fluid sample, with the absorbent retained in a generally compressed state while the handle is detached. Additional claim coverage explicitly includes remote workflows with sealing and shipping of the sealed vial to a second location for subsequent opening, compression, and handle removal, and includes optional buffer solution and extraction operations.
Stated Advantages
Minimize splashing or fluid movement into the vial open-end space during compression to reduce sample loss/contamination.
Reduce sample loss/contamination during compression.
Documented Applications
Remote shipment workflows in which a sealed vial containing expressed sample or absorbent is shipped from a first location to a second location for later operations.
An analysis workflow where sample is expressed and later extracted for analysis at a later site.
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