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US 11,239,065 B2Granted
Collection probe and methods for the use thereof
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsLivia Schiavinato Eberlin, Thomas Milner, Jialing Zhang, John Lin, John Rector, Nitesh Katta, Aydin Zahedivash
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and devices are provided for assessing tissue samples from a plurality of tissue sites in a subject using molecular analysis. In certain aspects, devices of the embodiments allow for the collection of liquid tissue samples and delivery of the samples for mass spectrometry analysis.
Claims32
A probe configured to collect discrete droplets of liquid sample, the probe comprising:
- an internal reservoir comprising an opening to an exterior of the probe and configured to hold a fixed volume of a solvent in direct contact with a surface outside the probe for a period of time to form a liquid sample in the internal reservoir;
- a first inlet to the internal reservoir;
- a second inlet to the internal reservoir;
- an outlet from the internal reservoir;
- a first port configured to receive the solvent from an external solvent source;
- a first internal flow path from the first port to the first inlet to the internal reservoir;
- a second port configured to receive gas from an external gas source;
- a second internal flow path from the second port to the second inlet to the internal reservoir;
- a third port configured to provide a discrete droplet of the liquid sample from the internal reservoir to an external flow path;
- and
- a third internal flow path from the outlet to the third port.
8 more elements
A method of operating a probe, the method comprising:
- positioning an end of the probe in contact with a surface, the probe comprising:
- an internal reservoir comprising an opening at the end of the probe;
- a first inlet to the internal reservoir;
- a second inlet to the internal reservoir;
- an outlet from the internal reservoir;
- a first port configured to receive a solvent from an external solvent source;
- a first internal flow path from the first port to the first inlet to the internal reservoir;
- a second port configured to receive gas from an external gas source;
- a second internal flow path from the second port to the second inlet to the internal reservoir;
- a third port configured to provide a liquid sample to an external flow path;
- and
- a third internal flow path from the outlet to the third port;
- transferring the solvent through the first internal flow path to the internal reservoir of the probe;
- holding a fixed volume of the solvent in the internal reservoir in direct contact with the surface for a period of time to extract molecules from the surface;
- and
- transferring a single, discrete droplet of liquid sample from the internal reservoir through the third internal flow path to the third port.
13 more elements
A method of operating a probe to collect a liquid sample, the method comprising:
- positioning an end of the probe in contact with a tissue site, the probe comprising:
- an internal reservoir comprising an opening at the end of the probe;
- a first inlet to the internal reservoir;
- a second inlet to the internal reservoir;
- an outlet from the internal reservoir;
- a first port configured to receive a solvent from an external solvent source;
- a first internal flow path from the first port to the first inlet to the internal reservoir;
- a second port configured to receive gas from an external gas source;
- a second internal flow path from the second port to the second inlet to the internal reservoir;
- a third port configured to provide a liquid sample to an external flow path;
- and
- a third internal flow path from the outlet to the third port;
- transferring the solvent through the first internal flow path to the internal reservoir of the probe, wherein the opening provides direct contact between the tissue site and a volume of the solvent in the internal reservoir;
- forming the liquid sample in a manner that is non-destructive to the tissue site, wherein the liquid sample comprises the volume of the solvent in the internal reservoir;
- and
- transferring the liquid sample from the internal reservoir through the third internal flow path to the third port.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.