# US 8,273,305 B2 · Specimen sample collection device and test system

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- Number: US 8,273,305 B2
- Document ID: US8273305B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/031,978
- Filed: 2011-02-22
- Published: 2011-11-03
- Granted: 2012-09-25
- Earliest claimed: 2007-07-14
- Inventors: Paul D. Slowey; Richard Herrig; James Wickstead; John Ennis; Paul Smith; Jason Giddings; Keith Seritella
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8273305B2

## CPC

- A61B 10/0051: {for taking saliva or sputum samples (devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00)}
- A61B 10/02: Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy {(A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48)}
- B01L 3/5023: {with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis}
- B01L 3/5029: {using swabs}
- A61B 2010/0003: {including means for analysis by an unskilled person}
- B01L 2200/026: Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
- B01L 2200/143: Quality control, feedback systems
- B01L 2300/027: Digital display, e.g. LCD, LED
- B01L 2300/0864: comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
- G01N 2001/028: {Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- 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

A specimen sample collection device includes a handle having a sufficiency indicator and absorbent pad partially contained therein with one or more test strips, a pad compression tube insertable over the absorbent pad within the handle and around an end of the handle, and a collection tube having one or more sample chambers, attachable to the pad compression tube, and wherein the compression tube defines one or more chambers, and wherein when the collection tube is attached to the pad compression tube, the chambers are in fluid communication with the pad compression tube. A sufficiency indicator includes a light pipe indicator. The system includes a ratcheting pad compression tube lock. An electro-optical reader captures and records test strip results through the window and communicates the results to a printer or other device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A specimen sample collection device and test system, comprising:
a handle having opposing first and second ends and opposing first and second sides, a sufficiency indicator, and first and second unidirectional, locking teeth disposed on said opposing first and second sides of said handle, respectively;
an absorbent pad partially contained within said handle and extending out from said handle first end;
one or more test strips contained within said handle in fluid communication with said absorbent pad, said one or more test strips to detect a substance and produce an observable indication of said substance through a window in said handle;
a pad, compression tube insertable over said absorbent pad and around, said first end of said handle, said pad compression tube including one or more outlets and a plurality of locking holes on opposing sides of said pad compression tube for lockingly engaging said locking teeth, said locking holes spaced apart lengthwise on said compression tube to lock said pad compression tube over said handle first end in progressively tighter compression positions, wherein said window remains unobscured when said pad compression tube is fully inserted over said handle first end;
a collection tube sealingly connectable to at least one of said pad compression tube outlets, said collection tube including one or more sample chambers, wherein when said collection tube is connected to said pad compression tube at least one of said corresponding one or more sample chambers is in fluid communication with said pad compression tube and said absorbent pad; and,
an electro-optical reader including a port to receive said handle second end at least up to and including said window, said electro-optical reader to record said observable indication through said window.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The specimen sample collection device and test system as in claim 1, further comprising one or more membranes corresponding to said one or more test strips, each of said one or more membranes disposed within said handle in fluid communication with said absorbent pad and said corresponding one or more test strips.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The specimen sample collection device and test system as in claim 2, wherein said electro-optical reader further includes a printing device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The specimen sample collection device and test stem as in claim 3, wherein said, sufficiency indicator comprises a light pipe.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The specimen sample collection device and test system as in claim 2, wherein, said sufficiency indicator comprises a light pipe.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The specimen sample collection device and test system as in claim 1, wherein said electro-optical reader further includes a printing device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The specimen sample collection device and test system as in claim 6, wherein said sufficiency indicator comprises a light pipe.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The specimen sample collection device and test system as in claim 1, wherein said sufficiency indicator comprises a light pipe.