# US 9,435,716 B2 · Forensic collection device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,716 B2 - Document ID: US9435716B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/351,986 - Filed: 2012-10-19 - Published: 2015-01-08 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-21 - Assignees: Vibod GmbH - Applicants: Vibod GmbH - Inventors: Peter Dobrowolski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435716B2 ## CPC - G01N 1/02: Devices for withdrawing samples {(sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08)} - A61B 10/0045: {Devices for taking samples of body liquids} - G01N 2001/028: {Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising} - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present invention discloses a device as well as a collection element (1) for collecting a chemical and/or biological sample directly from a surface exposing said sample material. Furthermore, a method for collecting a chemical and/or biological sample directly from a surface exposing said sample material and a kit thereof is subject-matter of the present invention. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device, which can be used with one hand, for collecting a forensic biological and/or chemical sample directly from a surface exposing said sample material comprising: (i) a holding element (5) comprising a plug (4) at a first end, (ii) a releasing element (6) connected to the holding element (5) and (iii) a collection element (1) comprising, on the lateral area of the collection element (1), a collection surface on which said sample is deposited and at least one side surface, wherein the plug extends into the collection element (1) along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the collection element (1), wherein the collection element (1) is attached in a mechanically detachable fashion to the holding element (5), and wherein the releasing element (6) is capable of exerting a mechanical force to the side surface of the collection element (1) such that the collection element (1) is detached from the holding element (5), wherein the second end of the holding element (5) and the releasing element (6) are connected directly to each other or are connected via a handhold (3), and wherein the holding element (5), the releasing element (6) and the handhold (3) are integral. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element (5) is L-, Z- or U-shaped. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the collection surface is perpendicular to the handhold (3). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the collection element (1) and the holding element (5) are attached to each other via a plug-and-socket connection, wherein the collection element (1) comprises the socket and the holding element (5) comprises the plug (4). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is sized and shaped such that the releasing element can be actuated with the same hand which holds the device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the collection element (1) has a cylindrical or spherical shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the collection element (1) is pivot-mounted. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the collection element (1) is of an elastic material to compensate the unevenness of a surface from which the sample is to be collected. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the collection element (1) is of a non-absorbent material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the collection element (1) is sized and shaped to fit in a sample collection tube and/or a sample processing tube. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the collection element (1) is coated with adhesive. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is an adhesive based on rubber, resin, silicone, acrylate, methacrylate or a composition thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive has an adhesive strength adjusted to enable low-friction motion on the surface from which the sample is to be collected. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the collection element (1) and/or the adhesive is wrapped to protect the adhesive. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein the wrap is waxed paper, silicone paper, a foil and/or a combination thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element (5) and the releasing element (6) are reusable and/or wherein the collection element (1) is single-use. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A kit for collecting a biological and/or chemical sample directly from a surface exposing said sample material comprising the device according to claim 1 and a closable sample tube sized and shaped to accept the collection element (1). ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The kit according to claim 18 further comprising a packaging and a seal for sealing the packaging and/or sample tube, optionally wherein the packaging and/or the sample tube has means for labelling. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method for collecting a biological and/or a chemical sample directly from a surface exposing said sample material comprising contacting the biological sample with the collection element (1) of the device according to claim 1. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20 further comprising detaching the collection element (1) into a sample tube sized and shaped to accept the collection element (1). ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the detaching is effected by actuating the releasing element (6). ### Claim 23 (depends on 6) The device according to claim 6, wherein the collection element (1) has a cylindrical shape, wherein the cylindrical collection element (1) has an outer diameter between 5.5 mm and 6 mm. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The device according to claim 23, wherein the cylindrical collection element (1) has a length between 10 mm and 11 mm.