BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention may be more readily understood by consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a segmented collection swab system in accordance with the present invention showing back-to-back detachable swabs each having a handle, skewer, kebobbed pads and a cap;
FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view showing a skewer and a plurality of absorbent pads assembled on the skewer in a kebobbed manner;
FIG. 3 is an illustration utilizing one part of the two back-to-back detachable collecting system as shown in FIG. 1 for the collection of Genomic DNA samples from crime scene locations, vaginal secretion in sexual assault cases and, buccal cavity (not shown). After sampling with the first part of the collector, the kebobbed discs are capped with a vented cap, and, the same collection procedure is repeated using the second part of the collector device. The two identical parts of the collection system are the disengaged or separated at the mid line joint. Each capped specimen collector system is then transported to the lab and/or archiving facility;
FIG. 4 is an illustration of the dispensing or deposition of absorbent pads from the skewer following collection of specimen thereof and depositing into a test tube, both the skewer and the test tube being identifiable by barcodes;
FIG. 5 is an illustration of the separation of absorbent pads from the skewer using a fork;
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment with the skewer and kebobs disposed within a vented enclosure along with removable enclosure caps for sealing the enclosure;
FIG. 7 is an illustration showing the coupling of a reagent vial with the enclosure in order to draw reagent into the enclosure to inter-react with the absorbent specimen pads while on the skewer to preserve the specimens thereon when thereafter analyzed in a time sensitive procedure;
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of yet another embodiment of the present invention in which a handle includes a tube for insertion into the enclosure between the skewer and the enclosure to provide a compact system;
FIG. 9 is an illustration of the system shown in FIG. 8 with the handle removed from the interior of the enclosure and coupled with a plunger for extending the skewer and pads exterior to the enclosure and withdrawal of the skewer into the enclosure as shown in FIG. 9; and
FIG. 10 is yet another embodiment of the present invention further providing a cork screw mechanism for withdrawing the skewer within the handle supporting the skewer in order to force pads from the skewer as the skewer is withdrawn into the handle by rotation thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a segmented collective swab system 10 in accordance with the present invention which generally includes a skewer 12 and a plurality of absorbent pads, or discs, 16 with only a few being referenced by numbers, the number of pads 16 being any desired number.
Spacers 22 may be disposed between the absorbent pads 16 in order to enhance exposure of the pads 16 to DNA tissue adherence and trapping at a specimen collecting site. This is achieved by providing spacers 22 with diameters less than the diameter of the adjacent pads 16.
In order to enhance cellular shedding and sample concentration, each of the pads 16 may have soft and non-traumatic serrated perimeters 24 (FIG. 2).
The skewer 12 is supported by a handle 28 and a sleeve 32 may be disposed on the skewer 12 for sliding the pads 16 off the skewer 12 as will be hereinafter described in greater detail.
A vented cap 34 may be provided for protection of the pads 16 prior to and after collection of specimens. The cap also serves as a convenient protective transport enclosure for the collector device. The vented perforation at the top of the cap is to enhance rapid disc drying process during the transporting period.
The handle 28 may be removably coupled with a second handle 28A in a back-to-back relationship by a pin 35. Corresponding elements are indicated by the suffix A. This embodiment enables the collection of two sets of specimens, as hereinabove noted, one obtain for testing and another for archival purposes, which is legally required as stored evidence for future court application.
A removable fixture 36 is disposed on the skewer 12 for holding the pads 16 and spacers 22 on the skewer before and during the rubbing collection process.
The fixture 36 may be a separate removable pin lodged in a skewer end 38 or it may be integrally formed in a skewer end 38 for subsequent removal by a clipper or scissors (not shown) to enable disc separation of the pads 16 and spacers 22 from the skewer 12 during dispensing process.
It should be appreciated that the system 10 provides for genomic analysis sampling device which is for forensic genotyping such as bone marrow donor genotyping, veterinary genotyping, paternity identification, immigration profiling, sex offender profiling, as well as for use in natural disasters and battlefield identification.
When used for paternity identification, i.e. clinical genotyping, the pads 16 as well as the handle 28 may be color-coded thus preselecting each of the device for use with a father, mother, and children. A flat surface 40 may be provided for applying a bar code to insure sampling integrity.
FIG. 3 illustrates the system 10 as it may be inserted into a mouth 52 for obtaining a buccal DNA sample (not shown). FIG. 3 is merely illustrative of one mode of sample collection. The serrated collection pads 16 may be rubbed or stroked within the buccal cavity (not shown) in order to ensure high concentration of shed cells and optimal trapping of DNA specimen on each of the pads 16.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, after collection of specimens, the pads 16 on the skewer may be transported to the lab. At the lab the fixture 36 is removed by severing same or twisting the fixture 36 off the skewer 12 and sliding the sleeve 32 toward the skewer end 38. This mechanism will dispend the disc 16 into a test tube 56.
Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a dispensing fork 58 may be utilized to individually separate the pads 16 for deposition in individual test tubes 56. It should be appreciated any number of pads 16 may be removed at one time.
In addition, or in the alternative, to the color-coding hereinabove noted with regard to paternity identification, the handle 28 may be provided with a barcode 62 corresponding to a barcode disposed on the corresponding test tube 56.
With reference to FIG. 6, an enclosure 42 may be provided which receives the skewer 12 pads 16 and spacers 22 along with a skewer piston 44 and sealed within the elongate enclosure 42 by the enclosure caps 46, 48. This enclosed system is suitable for providing uncontaminated conditions both before use of the system and following the use of the system in collecting a specimen.
In FIG. 7, the plunger handle 50 is removably engageable with the skewer piston 44 and enables manual sliding of the skewer 12 within the enclosure.
If desired, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the sample pads 16 may be treated, preserved or reacted with a reagent 66 from a reagent vial 68 couplable to an end 70 of the enclosure 42 by movement of the piston 44 with a skewer and pads 16 by the plunger handle 50 either by submerging the sample pads 16, 18 into the reagent 16 or drawing a reagent from the coupled reagent vial 68 via the plunger handle 50 as indicated by the arrow 72.
An alternative segmented collector swab system 76 is illustrated in cross section in FIGS. 8 and 9 with identical or substantially similar component indicated by common reference characters set forth in description of system 10.
In FIG. 8, this system 76, a handle 78 includes a cap 80 for sealing the elongate enclosure 42 and also includes a tube 86 storable within the elongate enclosure 42 between the skewer 12 and an inside 86 of the enclosure 42. As illustrated in FIG. 8, this provides for compact storage of the system 76.
In use, as shown in FIG. 9, the tube 86 is removed from the elongate enclosure 42 and coupled to plunger 88 to enable manual sliding the skewer 12 and the assembled pads 16 between a position interior of the enclosure 42 and a position exterior to the enclosure 42 following coupling of the tube 86 to the plunger 88 as shown in FIG. 10.
Another dispensing embodiment system 92 in accordance with the present invention as shown in FIG. 10 with common reference characters indicating identical or substantive similar components as hereinabove described in connection with the system 76. In this embodiment, a handle 94 supports a threaded skewer 98 with an end 114 protruding from the handle 94. Absorbent pads 16 and spacers 22 are assembled on the protruding end 100 in a manner as described in connection with the system 10 shown in FIG. 1.
The system 92 includes a cork and screw mechanism 102 with threads 104 on a skewer 98 and screw threads 106 on an inside 108 of the handle 94 thereby enabling withdrawal of the protruding end 100 into the handle 94 by rotation of the handle 94 as indicated by the arrow 112 in order to force off the pads 16 from the skewer 98.
It should be appreciated any mechanism (not shown) may be utilized to withdraw the skewer 98 into the handle to force the pads 16 of the skewer.
A method in accordance with the present invention includes exposing skewer kebobbed pads to a specimen collection location as illustrated in FIG. 3 and rubbing the pads against the sites to shed, attract and transfer DNA specimens thereon.
Subsequent withdrawal of the skewer with pads 16, 18 thereon the pads are removed from the skewer 12 to provide a multiplicity specimen containing pads 16.
Although there has been hereinabove described a specific segmented collection swab system and method in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080058676
