US4624929A — Sample collector and assay device and method for …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 124 words

A device for collecting a liquid sample, which device comprises: a housing, means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, said means comprising a bibulous pad designed to absorb and hold said predetermined amount of liquid sample, and means attached to said housing for mating said device with a container having a volume of liquid for dilution of said liquid sample and during said mating creating a pressure differential between the interior of said housing and a chamber formed by said mated housing and container, said pressure differential being sufficient to move a predetermined volume of the liquid through said means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample and into said housing.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 124 words

A device for collecting a liquid sample, which device comprises: a housing, means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, said means comprising a bibulous pad designed to absorb and hold said predetermined amount of liquid sample, and means attached to said housing for mating said device with a container having a volume of liquid for dilution of said liquid sample and during said mating creating a pressure differential between the interior of said housing and a chamber formed by said mated housing and container, said pressure differential being sufficient to move a predetermined volume of the liquid through said means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample and into said housing.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

The device of claim 1 in which further includes a strip of bibulous material confined in said housing.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

The device of claim 2 wherein said strip of bibulous material is a paper strip.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

The device of claim 2 which further includes means within said housing for maintaining said strip of bubulous material free from contact with said housing.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

The device of claim 2 wherein said strip of bibulous material contains reagents for performing a chromatographic test.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The device of claim 2 wherein said strip of bibulous material contains reagents for performing an immunochromatography.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

A kit comprising in combination: (a) the device of claim 2, (b) a container capable of mating with the device of claim 2, and (c) reagents for conducting a chromatographic test.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 13 words

The kit of claim 7 wherein the reagents are immunochromatographic test conducting reagents.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 34 words

The device of claim 1 which further includes means for removing excess liquid and filtering out particles from said sample, said means being removable, porous and in overlying relationship to said sample collecting means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The device of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a continuous side wall and top and bottom walls.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 1 wherein said means for mating includes an air-tight seal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 11 words

The device of claim 11 wherein said seal is an O-ring.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The device of claim 1 wherein said housing includes means for venting the interior of said housing to the outside atmosphere.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

The device of claim 1 which further includes an opening in the bottom of said housing.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 41 words

The device of claim 1 wherein said means for mating includes means for concomitantly sealing said housing in the container and forcing a volume of air in said chamber into said housing, said volume of air being sufficient to force the

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 204 words

In combination, a container having a predetermined volume of liquid for diluting a liquid sample and a device for collecting a liquid sample, which device comprises: a housing, means attached to said housing for sealed mating of said device with said container, means incorporated with said housing for providing an air-tight seal during the mating of said housing and said container, means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a sample, said means comprising a bibulous pad designed to absorb and hold said predetermined amount of liquid sample, means for venting the interior of said housing to the outside atmosphere, and means incorporated into said housing for allowing the liquid to enter said housing, the dimensions of said housing in conjunction with the dimensions of said container being such that upon sealed mating of said housing and said container a volume of air between the inner walls of said container and the outer walls of said housing forces substantially all of the predetermined volume of the liquid through said means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a sample and into said housing through said means incorporated into said housing for allowing the liquid to enter said housing.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 204 words

In combination, a container having a predetermined volume of liquid for diluting a liquid sample and a device for collecting a liquid sample, which device comprises: a housing, means attached to said housing for sealed mating of said device with said container, means incorporated with said housing for providing an air-tight seal during the mating of said housing and said container, means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a sample, said means comprising a bibulous pad designed to absorb and hold said predetermined amount of liquid sample, means for venting the interior of said housing to the outside atmosphere, and means incorporated into said housing for allowing the liquid to enter said housing, the dimensions of said housing in conjunction with the dimensions of said container being such that upon sealed mating of said housing and said container a volume of air between the inner walls of said container and the outer walls of said housing forces substantially all of the predetermined volume of the liquid through said means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a sample and into said housing through said means incorporated into said housing for allowing the liquid to enter said housing.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 17 words

The device of claim 16 which further includes a strip of bibulous material confined in said housing.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The device of claim 17 which further includes means within said housing for maintaining the strip of bibulous material free from contact with said housing.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 34 words

The device of claim 16 which further includes means for removing excess liquid and filtering out cells and cellular debris, said means being removable, porous, and in overlying relationship to said sample collecting means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 214 words

In combination a device for collecting a liquid sample and a vial containing a volume of a liquid medium comprising reagents for a chromatographic test, said vial having threaded closure means, said device comprising: a housing formed by a continuous side wall and top and bottom walls, a bibulous pad attached to the outside of the bottom wall of said housing, said bibulous pad being designed to absorb and hold a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, an opening to the outside atmosphere in the top wall of said housing, and an opening in the bottom wall of said housing permitting fluid communication through said bibulous pad to the interior of said housing, said top wall having threaded means compatible with the threaded closure means of said vial, said threaded means including means for forming an air-tight seal between said housing and said vial, the dimensions of said housing and said vial being such that upon the sealed closure of said housing into said vial said bibulous pad intimately contacts the bottom of said vial and a volume of air is trapped between said housing and said container sufficient to force a predetermined volume of liquid medium in said vial for diluting said liquid sample through said bibulous pad and concomitantly into said housing.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 214 words

In combination a device for collecting a liquid sample and a vial containing a volume of a liquid medium comprising reagents for a chromatographic test, said vial having threaded closure means, said device comprising: a housing formed by a continuous side wall and top and bottom walls, a bibulous pad attached to the outside of the bottom wall of said housing, said bibulous pad being designed to absorb and hold a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, an opening to the outside atmosphere in the top wall of said housing, and an opening in the bottom wall of said housing permitting fluid communication through said bibulous pad to the interior of said housing, said top wall having threaded means compatible with the threaded closure means of said vial, said threaded means including means for forming an air-tight seal between said housing and said vial, the dimensions of said housing and said vial being such that upon the sealed closure of said housing into said vial said bibulous pad intimately contacts the bottom of said vial and a volume of air is trapped between said housing and said container sufficient to force a predetermined volume of liquid medium in said vial for diluting said liquid sample through said bibulous pad and concomitantly into said housing.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 15 words

The device of claim 20 which further includes a paper strip confined in said housing.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 31 words

The device of claim 21 which further includes a circumferential protrusion in an interior bottom portion of said housing, said protrusion creating a void in the bottom portion of said housing.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device of claim 20 which further includes a removable, porous pad in overlying relationship to said bibulous pad.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 159 words

A device for diluting a liquid sample, which comprises: a first chamber formed by side and top and bottom walls, a bibulous pad attached to the outside of the bottom wall of said first chamber, said bibulous pad being designed to absorb and hold a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, an opening to the outside atmosphere in the top wall of said first chamber, and an opening in the bottom wall of said first chamber permitting fluid communication through said pad to the interior of said first chamber, a second chamber containing a volume of a liquid, said second chamber formed by side and bottom walls, means incorporated in said top wall of said first chamber for sealing said second chamber so as to force a volume of air into said first chamber, said volume of air being sufficient to move a predetermined volume of liquid through said pad and into said first chamber thereby diluting said sample.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 159 words

A device for diluting a liquid sample, which comprises: a first chamber formed by side and top and bottom walls, a bibulous pad attached to the outside of the bottom wall of said first chamber, said bibulous pad being designed to absorb and hold a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, an opening to the outside atmosphere in the top wall of said first chamber, and an opening in the bottom wall of said first chamber permitting fluid communication through said pad to the interior of said first chamber, a second chamber containing a volume of a liquid, said second chamber formed by side and bottom walls, means incorporated in said top wall of said first chamber for sealing said second chamber so as to force a volume of air into said first chamber, said volume of air being sufficient to move a predetermined volume of liquid through said pad and into said first chamber thereby diluting said sample.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 16 words

The device of claim 24 which further comprises a paper strip confined in said first chamber.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 36 words

The device of claim 25 which further includes a circumferential protrusion in an interior bottom portion of said first chamber to maintain said strip free from contact with the inner bottom wall of said first chamber.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device of claim 24 which further includes a removable porous pad in overlying relationship to said bibulous pad.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 96 words

A method for diluting a liquid sample with a predetermined volume of a liquid, which comprises: (a) collecting said sample on a bibulous pad at the base of a housing, said pad being designed to absorb and hold a predetermined amount of said sample, and (b) creating a pressure differential between said housing and a container having a volume of liquid for dilution of said liquid sample to cause a predetermined volume of said liquid to pass through said pad and move into the housing, said sample or a component thereof being soluble in said liquid.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 96 words

A method for diluting a liquid sample with a predetermined volume of a liquid, which comprises: (a) collecting said sample on a bibulous pad at the base of a housing, said pad being designed to absorb and hold a predetermined amount of said sample, and (b) creating a pressure differential between said housing and a container having a volume of liquid for dilution of said liquid sample to cause a predetermined volume of said liquid to pass through said pad and move into the housing, said sample or a component thereof being soluble in said liquid.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 28 wherein said pressure differential is created by concomitantly sealing the container and trapping a volume of air sufficient to force said predetermined volume of liquid through said pad.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 28 wherein the housing contains a strip of bibulous material and the predetermined volume of liquid, with the sample or a component thereof dissolved therein, contacts a portion of the strip.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 30 wherein the strip of bibulous material is maintained free from contact with the inner bottom wall of said housing.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 30 wherein said strip of bibulous material is a paper strip.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 30 wherein said strip of bibulous material contains reagents for performing a chromatographic test.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 30 wherein said strip of bibulous material contains reagents for performing an immunochromatography.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 28 wherein said liquid sample contains particles and said particles are removed therefrom prior to creating the pressure differential.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 28 wherein the housing contains a continuous side wall and top and bottom walls.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 28 wherein an air-tight seal is employed to create said pressure differential.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 150 words

In a kit containing reagents for conducting an immunochromatography, the improvement which comprises included with said kit a device for collecting a liquid sample, which device comprises: a housing a strip of bibulous material confined in said housing, means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, said means comprising a bibulous pad designed to absorb and hold said predetermined amount of liquid sample, and means attached to said housing for mating said device with a container having a volume of liquid for dilution of the liquid sample and during said mating creating a pressure differential between the interior of said housing and a chamber formed by said mated housing and container, said pressure differential being sufficient to move a predetermined volume of the liquid through said means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample and into said housing.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 150 words

In a kit containing reagents for conducting an immunochromatography, the improvement which comprises included with said kit a device for collecting a liquid sample, which device comprises: a housing a strip of bibulous material confined in said housing, means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample, said means comprising a bibulous pad designed to absorb and hold said predetermined amount of liquid sample, and means attached to said housing for mating said device with a container having a volume of liquid for dilution of the liquid sample and during said mating creating a pressure differential between the interior of said housing and a chamber formed by said mated housing and container, said pressure differential being sufficient to move a predetermined volume of the liquid through said means attached to said housing for collecting a predetermined amount of a liquid sample and into said housing.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-11-24	1990-05-26	1990-11-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-11-24	1994-05-26	1994-11-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-11-24	1998-05-26	1998-11-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Sample collector and assay device and method for its use

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