Sampling capsule system and methods
OwnerJames Phillip Jonesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A non-invasive system for sampling gastrointestinal microbiota with their associated environment for discovery, characterization, medical research, diagnostics, and treatment using an ingestible, non-digestible sampling capsule. The capsule device, with ports open for acquiring a sample of gastrointestinal microbiota and content, is placed inside an immediate or delayed release capsule. When the outer capsule dissolves according to its specifications, enteric fluid and content enters the sampling capsule through the ports triggering a hydrophilic stop to release a pulling force to close the ports by enveloping the capsule outer casing over the inner casing, capturing the sample, and holding it sealed until it completes passage through the digestive track, and is recovered from feces for analysis.
Claims20
A sampling capsule, comprising:
- a ported first casing with an open end, a length, an inner surface, and an outer surface,
- a second casing with an open end, a length, an inner surface, and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the open end of one of the first casing and the second casing slideably engages the inner surface of the open end of the other casing permitting a sliding transition of the capsule from an open configuration to a fluid tight, closed configuration.
A gastrointestinal sampling device comprising:
- a hollow capsule having a first casing with a closed end, and an open end and having a ported second casing with a closed end, and an open end;
- and
- a hydrophilic strut configured to space the closed end of the inner casing away from the closed end of the outer casing leaving the ports of the second casing unobstructed as long as the hydrophilic strut is structurally intact.
A gastrointestinal sampling system comprising:
- a hollow capsule having a first casing with a closed end and an open end, the open end slidingly engaged within a second casing also having a closed end and an open end;
- and
- an elastomeric filament attaching the closed end of the first casing to the closed end of the second casing.
An unpowered gastrointestinal sampling device, comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a sample chamber formed in the enclosure;
- a sample inlet in fluid communication with the sample chamber;
- and
- a means for closing the sample inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.