Methods and systems for biological sample collection and analysis
AssigneeBayer Medical Care Inc.
InventorEdward I. Wulfman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Filtration devices for collection and filtration of biological samples are disclosed. Devices having a filtration element oriented in a generally vertical orientation are provided, as well as filtration devices that incorporate a cooling mechanism to reduce the temperature of collected solids. Tissue collection devices, such as aspiration assemblies, tissue sampling devices, and the like incorporating filtration devices are disclosed. Methods of collecting biological samples and separating biological solids from a liquid/solids mixture are also disclosed, together with analytical techniques and protocols for analyzing biological samples.
Claims21
A cooled filtration assembly for filtering biological materials comprising a housing having a liquid/solids input chamber and a liquid output chamber;
- a liquid/solids input port communicating with the liquid/solids input chamber, a liquid output port communicating with the liquid output chamber, and a filtration member interposed between the liquid/solids input chamber and the liquid output chamber, wherein the filtration member comprises a thermoelectric cooling surface that is actively cooled during operation and filtrate comprising biological materials residing in the filtration assembly during a filtration operation is cooled to a temperature at least 20° F. cooler than the temperature of biological materials entering the liquid/solids input port.
A cooled filtration assembly for filtering biological materials comprising a liquid/solids input port communicating with a liquid/solids input chamber, a liquid output chamber and a liquid output port communicating with the liquid output chamber, and a filtration member interposed between the liquid/solids input chamber and the liquid output chamber, wherein at least one of the liquid/solids input chamber, the liquid output chamber and the filtration member is actively cooled during operation and filtrate comprising biological materials residing in the filtration assembly during a filtration operation is cooled to a temperature at least 20° F. cooler than the temperature of biological materials entering the liquid/solids input port, wherein the filtration member is oriented in a generally vertical orientation during operation of the cooled filtration assembly and extends less than the full height of the liquid/solids input chamber and liquid output chamber, leaving a gap permitting material to flow between the liquid/solids input chamber and the liquid output chamber.
An aspirating system for withdrawal of biological materials from a subject comprising a distal operating head for withdrawing a biological liquid/solids mixture sample from a target interventional site in the subject, a catheter having a lumen for transporting the biological liquid/solids mixture sample in a proximal direction, and a cooled filtration assembly comprising a liquid/solids input port communicating with a liquid/solids input chamber, a liquid output chamber and a liquid output port communicating with the liquid output chamber, and a filtration member interposed between the liquid/solids input chamber and the liquid output chamber, wherein the filtration member comprises a thermoelectric cooling surface, whereby the filtration member is actively cooled during operation and filtrate comprising biological materials residing in the filtration assembly during a filtration operation is cooled to a temperature at least 20° F. cooler than the temperature of biological materials entering the liquid/solids input port.
A filtration device for filtering biological materials comprising a liquid/solids input port communicating with a liquid/solids input chamber, a liquid output chamber and a liquid output port communicating with the liquid output chamber, and a filtration member interposed between the liquid/solids input chamber and the liquid output chamber, wherein at least one of the liquid/solids input chamber, the liquid output chamber and the filtration member is actively cooled during operation and the filtration member is adapted to be oriented in a substantially vertical orientation during a filtration operation, wherein the filtration member extends less than the full height of the liquid/solids input chamber and liquid output chamber, leaving a gap permitting material to flow between the iquid/solids input chamber and the liquid output chamber.
A method for processing a biological sample comprising:
- (a) withdrawing a liquid/solids mixture comprising a target tissue sample from a target site in a subject;
- (b) conveying the liquid/solids mixture to a filtration device comprising a liquid/solids input port communicating with a liquid/solids input chamber, a liquid output chamber and a liquid output port communicating with the liquid output chamber, and a filtration member interposed between the liquid/solids input chamber and the liquid output chamber, wherein at least one of the liquid/solids input chamber, the liquid output chamber and the filtration member is actively cooled during operation for separation of at least a fraction of the solids from liquids, and wherein the filtration member extends less than the full height of the liquid/solids input chamber and the liquid output chamber, leaving a gap permitting material to flow between the input and output chambers and is adapted to be oriented in a substantially vertical orientation during a filtration operation, whereby the solids reside in the filtration device and the liquids are withdrawn from the filtration device;
- (c) actively cooling the solids residing in the filtration device to produce cooled solids;
- and
- (d) analyzing the cooled solids.
A tissue sampling assembly for withdrawal of biological materials from a subject comprising a sample removal device for removing a biological sample and a cooled filtration assembly comprising a liquid/solids input port communicating with a liquid/solids input chamber, a liquid output chamber and a liquid output port communicating with the liquid output chamber, and a filtration member interposed between the liquid/solids input chamber and the liquid output chamber, wherein the filtration member comprises a thermoelectric cooling surface, whereby the filtration member is actively cooled during operation and filtrate comprising biological materials residing in the filtration assembly during a filtration operating is cooled to a temperature at least 20° F. cooler than the temperature of biological materials entering the liquid/solids input port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.