Universal collector for submandibular-sublingual saliva
AssigneeThe United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
InventorsAndy Wolff, Ronald L. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid sampling device for sampling and collecting biological fluids from membrane bounded areas of a subject includes a buffering chamber to which a vacuum is applied, a sampling tube connector, a storage tube connector and a vent. In operation the vent is closed to apply the vacuum to a sampling tube connected to the sample tube connector to draw a sample into the buffering chamber. The drawn fluid flows under gravitational force into a storage tube attached to the storage tube connector. The device is particularly useful for sampling and collecting submandibular and sublingual saliva.
Claims19
A fluid sampling device comprising a chamber means having first and second opposed surfaces, said chamber means defining an interior space having inclined wall surfaces, two through-holes located in said first surface of said chamber means, wherein one of said through-holes is adapted to receive a sampling tube, a tube connecting means located on said first surface of said chamber means, and being in fluid communication with said interior space and a storage tube receiving means located on said second surface of said chamber means being in fluid communication with said interior space, said first surface comprising a substantially spherical surface.
A method of sampling biological fluid from a subject which comprises:
- applying a vacuum to a buffering chamber having an opening vent and a sampling tube connected thereto, said buffering chamber comprising a substantially spherical chamber;
- closing said vent to apply the vacuum to said sampling tube;
- contacting said sampling tube to an area containing fluid to be sampled so as to draw fluid through said sampling tube into said buffering chamber and;
- collecting said drawn fluid into a storage tube attached to said buffering chamber as said fluid leaves the sampling tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.