Patent Application
20190125314
This disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for sampling liquids for analysis of the liquids, including urine.
Liquid handling for analysis of the liquid may require tedious use of multiple devices to collect a sample of the liquid and then load the sample into an analytical device. In some situations, the liquid may be hazardous to handle.
Additional problems exist when the liquid is a bodily fluid. For example, collecting a urine sample for analysis is often inconvenient. Urine collection often involves urinating into a receptacle, such as a cup, and may result in unsanitary urine spills and drips. Some types of urinalyses require a user to urinate on a test strip or a specific part of a device. Controlling the urine stream to contact only a test strip or part of a device is often difficult and results in urine splashing onto unwanted areas. A device and method of collecting a urine sample that is easy and without risk of urine spills or drips is needed.
In addition, many types of urinalysis assays are not adapted for use outside the clinic setting. Consequently, a device and method of performing complex analysis of urine samples in the home or elsewhere outside of the clinic setting is needed.
We disclose an apparatus which captures liquid samples for analysis. The apparatus includes a mount with a sample conduit which traverse the mount from a top side to a bottom side of the mount. The sample conduit may include a first channel which is in fluid communication with a second channel. Two ferrules may be disposed within the mount, one on each side of the sample conduit. Each of the two ferrules may include a first end which extends into the sample conduit defining the second channel. The width of the second channel may be less than the width of the first channel. The varying widths between the first and second channels serve to prevent liquid from escaping the sample conduit after entering but prior to analysis.
The mount may have an elongated shape with a longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the top side of the mount may slope upward forming a mound-shaped elevation which is elongated along the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the apex of the mound-shaped elevation is rounded while in others it is flattened forming substantially a triangular prism. In other embodiments, the top side of the mount slopes downward forming a dip into which liquid may flow.
The ferrules may be positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis. An optical cable may be inserted into a second end of each of the ferrules. These optical cables may be in connection with an analytical device, for example, a spectrometer, which may perform optical measurements of the liquid sample. The optical cables may include a single optical fiber or a plurality of optical fibers each of which may carry a different wavelength of light.
In each of the embodiments of the mount, the sample conduit may include a vertical slit. The vertical slit may run perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and through an apex of the mound-shaped elevation. The vertical slit may also run through the lowest point in a mount which includes a top side that slopes downward. A narrow slit may be useful to create a narrow path for light to pass through the sample during spectroscopic analysis.
Some embodiments include a temperature sensor which may be in thermal communication with the sample conduit. The temperature sensor may detect the temperature within the sample conduit.
Some embodiments include a heating device which may be in thermal communication with the sample conduit and with an electronics board. When the temperature sensor collects a temperature reading within the sample conduit which is below that which is desired for optimal optical readings, the electronics board may signal the heating device to actuate and heat the liquid in the sample conduit.
In some embodiments, the liquid sample capture apparatus includes a liquid-conveyance shell disposed adjacent to the top side of the mount. Liquid may travel along the liquid-conveyance shell toward the disclosed apparatus and direct the liquid toward the sample conduit. In an example, the liquid-conveyance shell is a wall of a toilet bowl. A user may urinate into the toilet bowl and the urine may flow down the wall of the toilet bowl towards the device.
The liquid-conveyance shell may include a third channel which traverses a thickness of the liquid-conveyance shell. The third channel may be in fluid communication with the sample conduit forming an extended sample conduit. The width of the third channel may be equal to or greater than the width of the first channel.
The apparatus may include a mounting mechanism, for example one or more bolts, which may attach the apparatus to a surface which is in contact with a liquid to be collected and analyzed. In an example, the apparatus may be attached to a wall of a toilet bowl.
Some embodiments may include an evacuation inlet which may be in fluid communication with the sample conduit. The evacuation inlet may be disposed within a fourth channel which is in fluid communication with the sample conduit. Gaseous or liquid materials may be injected into the sample conduit through the evacuation inlet to cleanse or dry the sample conduit between uses.
Definitions
The following terms and phrases have the meanings indicated below, unless otherwise provided herein. This disclosure may employ other terms and phrases not expressly defined herein. Such other terms and phrases shall have the meanings that they would possess within the context of this disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art. In some instances, a term or phrase may be defined in the singular or plural. In such instances, it is understood that any term in the singular may include its plural counterpart and vice versa, unless expressly indicated to the contrary.
As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, reference to “a substituent” encompasses a single substituent as well as two or more substituents, and the like.
As used herein, “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” or “including” are meant to introduce examples that further clarify more general subject matter. Unless otherwise expressly indicated, such examples are provided only as an aid for understanding embodiments illustrated in the present disclosure, and are not meant to be limiting in any fashion. Nor do these phrases indicate any kind of preference for the disclosed embodiment.
Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
We disclose an apparatus for capturing liquid samples for analysis. The apparatus may include a mount with a top side and a bottom side. The mount may include a sample conduit which traverses the mount from the top side to the bottom side of the mount. In some embodiments, the sample conduit is elongated and comprises a vertical slit. The mount may be an elongated structure which is longest at its longitudinal axis and the vertical slit may run perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the inner walls of the slit may be coated with a hydrophobic material which may make cleaning the slit between uses easier.
In some embodiments, a compliant, fluid-tight seal surrounds an opening leading into the sample conduit. This seal may inhibit liquid from being diverted from entering the channel and, instead, encourage the liquid to pool along the top side of the mount. As will be described in more detail, the sample conduit captures and holds a liquid sample during analysis. Consequently, the seal assists the liquid sample in entering the sample conduit for analysis.
In some embodiments, the mount may be constructed all, or partly, from aluminum. In other embodiments, the mount may be steel, stainless steel, and other metals and alloys know in the art. In some embodiments, the mount may be constructed all, or partly, from poly(methyl methacrylate), polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, and other synthetic polymers and co-polymers known in the art.
The mount may include an elevated top side which may slope upward to form an elongated, mound-shaped elevation. In some embodiments, the mound-shaped elevation may be substantially flattened at the apex forming a triangular pyramid. The sample conduit may be in the form of a vertical slit which may bisect the apex of a mound-shaped elevation which is substantially rounded at the apex or it may bisect the mound-shaped elevation at a point where it is substantially flattened.
In another embodiment, the top side of the mount may slope downward forming a dip into which liquid may flow. The sample conduit may be at the lowest region of the dip. In this embodiment, the mount may be elongated, and the sample conduit may bisect the mount at a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Liquid may flow along the downward slope and into the sample conduit.
Two ferrules may be inserted into the mount. In embodiments in which the mount is elongated, the ferrules may be positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mount. In this embodiment, each ferrule may include a first end which extends into the sample conduit. The section of the sample conduit that is above the first ends of the ferrules, hereinafter, the “first channel,” may be defined by the mount. This section of the sample conduit that is between the ends of the ferrules, hereinafter, the “second channel,” may have a width which is narrower than that of the first conduit. This narrowing of the sample conduit may inhibit captured liquid from subsequently exiting the sample conduit prior to analysis.
In some embodiments, each of the two ferrules is in communication with an optical cable. The optical cables may be inserted into a second end of each ferrule which is opposite the first end. The optical cables may be in connection with an analytical device which may include a spectrometer. The spectrometer may detect absorption or transmission of one or more of the following: ultraviolet light, infrared light, near infrared light, or visible light.
Optical readings are often temperature sensitive. For at least this reason, some embodiments of the apparatus may include a temperature sensor which is in thermal communication with the sample conduit. The temperature sensor may be in communication with an electronics board which may control the temperature sensor. Some embodiments may include a heating device which may be in thermal communication with the sample conduit. When the temperature sensor collects a temperature reading within the sample conduit which is below that which is desired for optimal optical readings, the electronics board may signal the heating device to actuate and heat the liquid in the sample conduit. In an example, the liquid may be urine and the desired temperature for optical reading may be normal body temperature (approximately 37° C.).
In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an attachment mechanism. In an example, the attachment mechanism may be one or more screws or bolts. In an example, the attachment mechanism may be four bolts.
The liquid sample capture apparatus may be attached to a liquid-conveyance shell through the attachment mechanism. The liquid sample capture apparatus may be mounted onto the liquid-conveyance shell such that the top of the mount is adjacent to the liquid-conveyance shell. A third channel may traverse a thickness of the liquid-conveyance shell. The third channel may be in fluid communication with the sample conduit, for example, by being aligned with the first channel. In doing so, an extended sample conduit may be formed. The width of the third channel may be greater than or equal to the width of the first channel.
In some embodiments, the liquid-conveyance shell comprises a wall of a toilet bowl. The liquid sample may be urine which a user may deposit into the toilet bowl. The urine may flow down the wall of the toilet bowl and a sample of the urine may flow into the disclosed liquid sample capture apparatus. The urine sample may be analyzed using optical techniques as disclosed herein.
In some embodiments, the liquid sample capture apparatus may include an evacuation inlet. The evacuation inlet may be disposed within a fourth channel which is an extension of the sample conduit. Accordingly, the fourth channel may be in fluid communication with the sample conduit. In some embodiments, the fourth channel may lead into the second channel. In some embodiments the width of the fourth channel may be greater than the width of the second channel.
Liquids, which may include water, cleaning fluid, or disinfectants such as isopropanol, may be injected into the sample conduit through the evacuation inlet. This action may be performed to clean the sample conduit between samples. In addition or alternatively, air or other gaseous materials may be injected into the sample conduit to dry the sample conduit between uses. This action may be performed to blow out any residual liquid, including a cleansing liquid or liquid sample, to prepare the sample conduit for a background optical measurement. In addition, drying the sample conduit before collecting a liquid sample may prevent bubbles from forming on the sides of the sample conduit which may negatively impact the optical measurements. Furthermore, one or more reagents may be injected into the sample conduit through the evacuation inlet. These reagents may participate in a chemical reaction which may be used to detect a specific substance or analyte in the liquid sample
Referring now to the drawings,
The embodiment of
Mount 110 is adjacent to toilet bowl wall 310. Note that toilet bowl wall 310 continues along the upward curve of the mound-shaped elevation in mount 110 forming a mound-shaped elevation in a region of toilet bowl wall 310. This mound-shaped elevation may act as a dam to detain urine so that the urine may enter sample conduit 140.
Tube casing 170 extends downward from sample conduit 140 as originally presented in
Additionally, the embodiment of
Electronics board 430 is also in electrical communication with heater 410. If the temperature of the liquid is below the desired temperature, electronics board 430 actuates heater 410 to elevate the temperature of the liquid. In an example, the liquid may be urine and the desired temperature may be body temperature (approximately 37° C.). In this embodiment, electronics board 430 is secured by bolt 440.
Urine may be deposited into a toilet that includes toilet bowl wall 310 and flow down toilet bowl wall 310 into fourth channel 510. The urine may then continue to pass through sample conduit 140 as illustrated in
While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described above, it is to be understood that the disclosure provided is not limited to the precise configuration, steps, and components disclosed. Various modifications, changes, and variations apparent to those of skill in the art may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the methods and systems disclosed, with the aid of the present disclosure.
Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can use the preceding description to utilize the present disclosure to its fullest extent. The examples and embodiments disclosed herein are to be construed as merely illustrative and exemplary and not a limitation of the scope of the present disclosure in any way. It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the disclosure herein.
This application is a continuation in part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/383,187 filed on Dec. 19, 2016 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15383187 | Dec 2016 | US |
| Child | 16233090 | US |
