# US 10,369,564 B2 · Minimally-invasive collection system for collecting biological samples for quantifying heavy metals, other toxicants, pathogens, and biomarkers

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- Number: US 10,369,564 B2
- Document ID: US10369564B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/602,864
- Filed: 2017-05-23
- Published: 2018-05-17
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-20
- Assignees: Northwestern University
- Applicants: Northwestern University
- Inventors: William E. Funk; Thomas W. McDade; Andrew Unger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369564B2

## CPC

- B01L 3/5023: {with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis}
- A61B 5/150022: {for capillary blood or interstitial fluid}
- A61B 5/150305: {Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices}
- A61B 5/150358: {Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent}
- A61B 5/150755: {Blood sample preparation for further analysis, e.g. by separating blood components or by mixing}
- A61B 5/151: {Devices} specially adapted for taking samples of capillary blood, e.g. by lancets {, needles or blades}
- A61B 5/15105: {Purely manual piercing, i.e. the user pierces the skin without the assistance of any driving means or driving devices}
- A61B 5/15142: {Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable}
- B01L 3/5055: {Hinged, e.g. opposable surfaces}
- G01N 33/84: involving inorganic compounds or pH
- A61B 5/150412: {Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin (blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442)}
- A61B 5/150503: {Single-ended needles (hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396)}
- B01L 1/52: {Transportable laboratories; Field kits}
- B01L 2200/0689: Sealing
- B01L 2200/141: Preventing contamination, tampering
- B01L 2200/185: Long distance transport, e.g. mailing
- B01L 2300/021: Identification, e.g. bar codes
- B01L 2300/0681: Filter
- B01L 2300/069: Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
- B01L 2300/0816: Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
- B01L 2300/126: Paper
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

Disclosed are devices, kits, compositions, and methods for collecting, transporting, and detecting toxicants, pathogens, and biomarkers in a biological sample. The devices, kits, compositions and methods may be utilized to collect and transport dried blood samples from a skin prick and detect toxicants, pathogens, and biomarkers in the dried blood samples.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for collecting a blood sample, the system comprising:
(a) a sealed and resealable container containing:
(b) a device for collecting a blood sample; the device comprising:
(i) a support card;
(ii) one or more treated sample pads that are free of detectable levels of contaminants and that are adhered to the support card on a section of the support card that is free of detectable levels of contaminants;
(iii) a desiccant adhered to the support card;
(iv) an adhesive that is configured for sealing the sample pad and the desiccant on the support card when the support card is folded to encase the sample pad and desiccant inside the folded support card.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the treated sample pad of the device comprises filter paper.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the treated sample pad of the device comprises specimen collection paper.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the treated sample pad of the device is perforated to facilitate removal of the treated sample pad or a portion of the treated sample pad from the support card.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the treated sample pad of the device is treated with an inorganic acid that is free of detectable levels of heavy metals.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the treated sample pad of the device is treated with nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, or a mixture thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the treated sample pad of the device is treated with an acid diluted in ultrapure water to a concentration value of less than 10% (v/v).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the treated sample pad of the device comprises less than 5 ng of the contaminant.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises multiple sample pads which may be treated as the treated sample pad or untreated.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the support card further comprises a tag for identifying a sample applied to the sample pad.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the support card comprises a front and a back; the treated sample pad and desiccant are adhered to the front of the support card; the tag is adhered to the back of the support card; such that when the support card is folded the front including the treated sample pad and desiccant adhered thereto are encased on the inside of the folded support card, and the back including the tag adhered thereto are located on the outside of the folded support card.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A system of claim 1, wherein the sealed and resealable container is free of detectable levels of contaminants.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, further comprising an adhesive on the outside of the sealed and resealable container for adhering a master support card, optionally wherein the master support card comprises a tag that may be correlated to the tag of the device contained in the sealed and resealable container.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the master support card comprises a tag that may correlated to the tag of the device contained in the sealed and resealable container.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the sealed and resealable container is perforated at an end to facilitate opening of the sealed and resealable container and removal of the device by tearing the sealed and resealable container at the perforated end.