# US 2024/0188941 A1 · Apparatus for and method of obtaining a biological sample from a surface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0188941 A1 - Document ID: US20240188941A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/555,065 - Filed: 2022-04-20 - Published: 2024-06-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-20 - Applicants: Cerdak (Pty )Ltd - Inventors: Lars-Peter KAMOLZ - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240188941A1 ## CPC - A61B 10/0045: {Devices for taking samples of body liquids} - A61F 13/36: Surgical swabs, e.g. for absorbency or packing body cavities during surgery (A61F13/38, A61M35/006 take precedence) - A61L 15/18: containing inorganic materials - A61L 15/425: {Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges} - C12N 13/00: Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves - C12Q 1/04: Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor {(C12Q1/6897 takes precedence)} - A61B 2010/008: {Interstitial fluid} - A61F 2013/15365: {Dimensions} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES ## Abstract An apparatus for obtaining a biological sample from an exposed surface of a human or animal body, the apparatus including a plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles for absorbing and adsorbing biological material from the exposed surface; and a permeable covering for containing the plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles, wherein the biological material having been absorbed and adsorbed by the plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles forms the biological sample. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for obtaining a biological sample from an exposed surface of a human or animal body, the apparatus including a plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles for absorbing and adsorbing biological material from the exposed surface; and a permeable covering for containing the plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles, wherein the biological material having been absorbed and adsorbed by the plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles forms the biological sample. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles are inert and have a porosity of between 25% and 85%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles have pores with a diameter of between 0.3 and 30 micrometres and wherein the pores are cellular in nature and are interconnected with one another by means of blow-holes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles have a diameter of between 300 and 3000 micrometres. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles have a charged surface caused by ionic and electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding and charge-transfer interactions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the permeable covering is in the form of a sterile permeable and wettable sachet formed from an organic, non-woven material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exposed surface is a wound of a human or animal and the biological material includes wound exudate containing any one or more selected from the group consisting of microorganisms, biomarkers, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), proteins, cellular molecules, endotoxins or combinations thereof, macrophages, neutrophils, fibroblasts, platelets, cytokines molecules including TNF-α, interleukins (ILs) and growth factors, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), IL-1, IL-6, and MMPs, proteases, protease inhibitors, and inflammatory markers, and the microorganisms include any one or more selected from the group consisting of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method of obtaining a biological sample from an exposed surface of a human or animal body, the method including the steps of providing an apparatus according to claim 1; and contacting the apparatus with the exposed surface to permit the plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles to absorb and adsorb biological material from the exposed surface, wherein the biological material having been absorbed and adsorbed by the plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles forms the biological sample. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the exposed surface is a wound of a human or animal and the biological material includes wound exudate containing any one or more selected from the group consisting of microorganisms, biomarkers, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), proteins, cellular molecules, endotoxins or combinations thereof, macrophages, neutrophils, fibroblasts, platelets, cytokines molecules including TNF-α, interleukins (ILs) and growth factors, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), IL-1, IL-6, and MMPs, proteases, protease inhibitors, and inflammatory markers, and the microorganisms include any one or more selected from the group consisting of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A diagnostic method including the steps of providing the apparatus according to claim 1; contacting the apparatus with the exposed surface to permit the plurality of separate and porous ceramic particles to absorb and adsorb biological material from the exposed surface; and subjecting the apparatus to sonication to form a sonication fluid, the sonication step serving to disintegrate a biofilm of microorganisms present in the absorbed and adsorbed biological material so as to form a sonication fluid containing microorganisms. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The diagnostic method according to claim 11, wherein the sonication is performed at frequencies of 20 kilohertz. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The diagnostic method according to claim 11, which includes an additional step of using the sonication fluid to cultivate a bacterial culture or cultures for identifying bacterial strains present in the sonication fluid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The diagnostic method according to claim 11, wherein the exposed surface is a wound of a human or animal and the biological material includes wound exudate containing any one or more selected from the group consisting of microorganisms, biomarkers, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), proteins, cellular molecules, endotoxins or combinations thereof, macrophages, neutrophils, fibroblasts, platelets, cytokines molecules including TNF-α, interleukins (ILs) and growth factors, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), IL-1, IL-6, and MMPs, proteases, protease inhibitors, and inflammatory markers, and the microorganisms include any one or more selected from the group consisting of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.