Point-of-care diagnostic cartridge
Inventors
Carrano, John • Schneider, Roland • Carrano, John Jacob
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9517467-B1
Publication Date
2016-12-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
A specimen delivery cartridge is disclosed that includes a first housing portion, a second housing portion, a fluid dispenser, and a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger body having a first side and a second side. The second side faces away from the first side. The plunger further includes at least one post extending from the first side of the plunger body. The second side of the plunger body includes at least one actuator that is sized and configured to apply a compressive force onto the fluid dispenser when the plunger is depressed, and the plunger is thereby operable to actuate the fluid dispenser. When actuated, the fluid dispenser releases a reagent to a test specimen to facilitate testing for a target pathogen.
Core Innovation
A point-of-care specimen delivery cartridge includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and a fluid dispenser actuated by a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger body having a first side and a second side, and the second side comprises at least one actuation surface sized and configured to apply a compressive force onto the fluid dispenser when the plunger is depressed.
When the first housing portion is closed relative to the second housing portion, the plunger is operable to actuate the fluid dispenser. The post protrudes through a lower intermediate member of the specimen delivery cartridge and engages an upper intermediate member when the housings are closed, coordinating depression of the plunger and application of compressive force onto the fluid dispenser.
In further configurations, the specimen delivery cartridge includes a specimen collection chamber, a leaching chamber operable to store a reagent fluid, and a conduit providing a fluid flow path from an outlet of the leaching chamber to an inlet of the specimen collection chamber. A sealed piston disposed in the leaching chamber and operable to displace the reagent fluid is provided, and a spring-loaded actuator is operable to actuate the piston upon closing the first housing portion relative to the second housing portion. In a related configuration, the specimen collection chamber comprises a swab gasket including a series of ridges.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes four independent claims covering a specimen delivery cartridge structure, cartridge-level reagent delivery, a swab gasket with a series of ridges, and a method of dispersing reagent using housing closure to drive a compress-and-collapse dispenser-to-conduit transfer.
Plunger-driven compressive actuation of a fluid dispenser in a two-part housing
A specimen delivery cartridge with a first housing portion and a second housing portion, a fluid dispenser, and a plunger having a plunger body with a first side and a second side, where the second side comprises at least one actuation surface sized and configured to apply a compressive force onto the fluid dispenser when the plunger is depressed, and the plunger is operable to actuate the fluid dispenser.
Reagent displacement from a leaching chamber to a specimen collection chamber via sealed piston and conduit
A specimen delivery cartridge including a specimen collection chamber, a leaching chamber operable to store a reagent fluid, and a conduit providing a fluid flow path from an outlet of the leaching chamber to an inlet of the specimen collection chamber, wherein the cartridge further comprises a sealed piston disposed in the leaching chamber operable to displace the reagent fluid into the specimen collection chamber through the conduit and a spring-loaded actuator operable to actuate the piston upon closing the first housing portion relative to the second housing portion.
Specimen collection chamber swab gasket with a series of ridges
A specimen delivery cartridge where the specimen collection chamber comprises a swab gasket, the swab gasket comprising a series of ridges.
Closing the housing to depress a plunger post and compress-and-collapse a fluid dispenser into a conduit
A method of dispersing a reagent to a testing substrate by closing a first housing portion of a specimen delivery cartridge toward a second housing portion, including delivering a compressive force to depress the post, urging the actuation surface of the plunger to compress the fluid dispenser, and collapsing the fluid dispenser to urge fluid from the fluid dispenser to the fluid conduit, with the actuation surface sized and configured to apply the compressive force onto the fluid dispenser when the plunger is depressed, and with the post protruding through a lower intermediate member and engaging an upper intermediate member when the first housing portion is closed relative to the second housing portion.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on a two-part specimen delivery cartridge where a depressed plunger with actuation surfaces applies compressive force to a fluid dispenser, with the plunger post engaging intermediate members during housing closure. Additional coverage specifies leaching-to-collection fluid transfer using a leaching chamber, conduit, sealed piston, and spring-loaded actuator, and includes a swab gasket having a series of ridges. The method claim further defines reagent dispersal by compressing and collapsing a fluid dispenser into an aligned conduit as the housing portions are closed.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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