# US 9,039,636 B2 · Devices and methods for enhanced cellular sample transfer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,636 B2 - Document ID: US9039636B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/360,263 - Filed: 2012-01-27 - Published: 2012-08-02 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-27 - Assignees: Resolution Biomedical, Inc. - Applicants: Donald Williams; Michael Friedl - Inventors: Donald Williams; Michael Friedl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039636B2 ## CPC - 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)} - B01F 33/5011: {portable during use, e.g. hand-held} - B01F 35/32021: {Shaking by hand a portable receptacle or stirrer for mixing} - B01F 35/5312: {with vertical baffles mounted on the walls} - B01L 3/5082: {Test tubes per se} - G01N 1/286: {involving mechanical work, e.g. chopping, disintegrating, compacting, homogenising (microtomes G01N1/06; pulverising in general B02C; mixing in general B01F)} - B01L 2300/0858: Side walls - B01L 2400/086: using baffles or other fixed flow obstructions - G01N 2001/028: {Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - 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 Described are embodiments of a biological specimen collection transfer and container system and method for handling and processing specimens of cellular, and related particulate matter, directly into a vial or other like container. The vial, or container, assembly includes a series of ridges, protrusions, or like engagement members, that extend from the inside of the vial or container. Application of an external force between the collection apparatus and the engagement members contained within the vial, or container, results in an increased amount of cells, cellular structures, related material, and other particulates to transfer from the collection apparatus to the vial, or like container, thereby improving the sample yield and processing effectiveness of the sample in order to increase diagnostic utility. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A biological specimen collection vial kit comprising: a collection apparatus comprising any one of the group consisting of: a brush, a spatula, a swab, and a broom; a cap; and a vial consisting essentially of an external surface, a cap interface, a longitudinal axis and an interior surface, wherein the interior surface consists of a plurality of vertical interior surface features parallel to the longitudinal axis that are embedded on and proximate to the interior surface of the vial, wherein the vial is configured for physical agitation between the collection apparatus and one or more of said interior surface features in order to more effectively release cellular specimen material in to the vial. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vial kit according to claim 1, wherein the interior surface features are arranged in a pattern on the interior of the vial and are spaced between 5 and 10 millimeters apart. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vial kit according to claim 1, wherein the interior surface features are arranged in a pattern on the interior of the vial and are spaced more than 10 millimeters apart. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vial kit according to claim 1, wherein the interior surface features are arranged in a vertical pattern on the interior of the vial and are spaced between 5 and 10 millimeters apart. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vial kit according to claim 1, wherein the interior surface features are arranged in a vertical pattern on the interior of the vial and are spaced more than 10 millimeters apart. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vial kit according to claim 1, wherein a cap is configured to be detached from the vial during processing of the sample. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vial kit according to claim 1, wherein a cap is configured to not be detached from the vial during a sample collection, the cap comprising a hole in the top of the cap with a cover that allows the sample to be transferred into other containers for analysis. ### Claim 8 A method of obtaining a biological sample disposed in a collection apparatus, the method comprising: contacting a collection apparatus with a vial, the collection apparatus selected among the group consisting of a brush, a swab, a spatula, and a broom, the vial comprising an interior surface, the interior surface consisting of a plurality of vertical interior surface features parallel to a longitudinal axis of, and located proximate to the interior surface of, the vial, wherein the collection apparatus contacts the vertical interior surface features in the vial in order to transfer the biological sample from the collection apparatus into the vial; and removing the collection apparatus from the vial. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further configured for harvesting cells and related cellular materials from the collection apparatus in a liquid-based system, further comprising the following steps: (a) providing the vial at least partially filled with liquid; (b) placing the collection apparatus in said vial so that a portion thereof is submerged in said liquid; (c) positioning said collection apparatus within said vial; and (d) moving said collection apparatus so that it physically contacts at least one of the interior surface features. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said moving said collection apparatus so that it physically contacts at least one of the interior surface features comprises contact between said at least one of the interior surface features and said collection apparatus is selected among the group consisting of an endocervical brush, an endocervical swab, an endocervical spatula, and an endocervical broom. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further configured for harvesting cells and related cellular materials from the collection apparatus in a liquid-based system, further comprising the following steps: (a) providing the vial at least partially filled with liquid; (b) removing a cap from the vial; (c) placing the collection apparatus in said vial so that a portion thereof is submerged in said liquid; (d) positioning said collection apparatus within said vial; (e) moving said collection apparatus so that it physically contacts at least one of the interior surface features to increase the amount of a biological sample that can be obtained from the collection apparatus; and (f) replacing the cap on the vial. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further configured for harvesting cells and related cellular materials from the collection apparatus in a liquid-based system, further comprising the following steps: (a) providing the vial at least partially filled with liquid; (b) opening a cap from the vial; (c) placing the collection apparatus in said vial so that a portion thereof is submerged in said liquid; (d) positioning said collection apparatus within said vial; (e) moving said collection apparatus so that it physically contacts at least one of the interior surface features to increase the amount of a biological sample that can be obtained from the collection apparatus; and (f) closing the cap on the vial. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the contacting the collection apparatus with the vial comprises contact between the collection apparatus and the vertical interior surface features, wherein the vertical interior surface features are selected from the group consisting of ribs, protrusions, depressions, wings, projections, surface finishes, friction surfaces, and meshes.