Patent Application
20100099127
This invention relates in general to obtaining biological samples for testing purposes and in particular to enabling verification of biological sample test results.
Various devices have been employed to collect and store biological samples from people for various purposes such as testing for diseases and for drugs. In some situations, test results obtained from a stored biological sample may be challenged based the contention that incriminating material arose from improper testing procedure, rather than from the test subject.
Currently, when the results of a drug test are challenged, a testing service can obtain another biological sample (such as, saliva, blood, or other substance) from the test subject, transport the newly obtained sample to a testing lab, and repeat the analysis of the sample. If the second analysis confirms the results of the first analysis, the matter may be considered resolved.
However, the process of repeating the steps of obtaining a further biological sample, transporting the sample to a lab, and examining the additional sample is time consuming and expensive. Accordingly, an improved method for verifying the results of drug tests is needed.
According to one aspect, the invention is directed to an apparatus for holding a biological sample comprising a sample collection medium; a medium holder for holding the sample collection medium; and a container for housing the holder, the container including a medium storage device for collecting the sample collection medium, wherein the medium storage device is operable to retain a first portion of the sample collection medium, upon removal of second portion of the sample collection medium through manipulation of the holder.
Other aspects, features, advantages, etc. will become apparent to one skilled in the art when the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention herein is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
For the purposes of illustrating the various aspects of the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms that are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to phrases such as “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of phrases such as “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.
Container 200 may be made of plastic and may be a substantially hollow tube of circular cross section. Container 200 may serve as a container for biological samples, such as saliva, blood, tissue, or other biological material, and is therefore preferably configured to be suitably insulated against contamination from materials outside container 200. Container 200 may include medium storage device 202 which may include a substantially planar sheet of plastic having a U-shaped cutout (or other suitable cutout shape) therein, as shown in
Medium holder 300 is preferably made of plastic, though other materials may be employed. Holder 300 may include a cap 302, and an interface portion 304, which may be threaded. Holder 300 may further include gripping mechanism 320 which is preferably configured for securely holding a sample collection medium 400. Holder 300 may further include a sample adequacy indicator 330 that is preferably operable to indicate when collection medium 400 has received a sufficient quantity of testing material, such as, for instance, saliva, blood, or other testing material for testing to be properly performed on the material.
Sample collection medium 400 may include disassembly mechanism 410 which may facilitate the separation of medium 400 into portions 400-a and 400-b, and/or still further portions. Disassembly mechanism may be a perforation. However, mechanisms other than perforations may be employed for this purpose. Medium 400 may be made of cotton, cloth, and/or other materials suitable for receiving and storing fluid or tissue samples for storage in container 200 and subsequent testing.
A preferred embodiment of present invention is preferably operable to a single biological sample, such as saliva, taken from a test subject and received onto a sample collection medium 400 to be divided into two or more sample collection media portions and stored in separate containers. The above process preferably enables multiple redundant testing operations on an original sample to be conducted without having to acquire a new biological sample from the test subject.
In a preferred embodiment, a sample of biological material, such as saliva, may be obtained and absorbed into, or stored on, sample collection medium 400. Holder 300 may be used to grasp collection medium 400 and place the same within container 200-1. More specifically, holder 300 may be used to insert sample collection medium into a medium storage device 202 within container 200.
After having separated portion 400-a and 400-b, holder 300 may be completely removed from container 200-1 and inserted into container 200-2. Portion 400-b of sample collection medium 400 may then be lodged within medium storage device 202 of container 200-2, and holder 300 may thereafter be removed from container 200-2.
Thus, at the conclusion of the insertion operations for the two portions of sample collection medium 400, two separate portions 400-a and 400-b of a single original sample collection medium 400 are securely stored in two separate respective containers 200-1 and 200-2. This approach makes redundant testing material available without having to the repeat the steps of acquiring biological material from a test subject, and transporting the biological material to a test location.
In the foregoing, the medium storage device 202 is disclosed as including a U-shaped cutout for securing one portion 400-a of the sample collection medium 400, as the holder 300 and another portion 400-b of the medium are removed from container 200-1. However, the present invention is not limited to using the U-shaped cutout as a means for securing portion 400-a of collection medium 400. In other embodiments, alternative structures could be employed for this purpose, including but not limited to cutouts having a square or rectangular shape.
Moreover, devices employing spring loading could be used to help secure a first portion 400-a of the sample collection medium 400 as a second portion 400-b of the sample collection medium is removed. In one embodiment, spring-biased elements could be included within medium storage device 202, and sample collection medium 400 could be partially inserted between the spring-biased parts when initially inserting medium 400 into container 200-1. In other embodiments, a grasping mechanism could be employed, in which an operator moves a switch, knob, or other control device to securely lodge a first portion 400-a of sample collection medium 400 within medium storage device 202.
Still another embodiment depicts a spring like member 402 which leaves a tiny space 401 into which the sample collection medium is inserted. When the medium is pulled, member 402 causes the sample collection medium to get stuck, and tear at the weakest point. By perforating or otherwise weakening the sample collection medium at the proper place, the medium can be divided cut where needed.
In another embodiment, the present invention can be used with a sample collection device that has an adequacy indicator, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,148. (“The '148 patent”). The '148 patent is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
In the foregoing, disassembly mechanism 410 of sample collection medium 400 is disclosed as optionally including a perforation for facilitating the separation of portion 400-a from portion 400-b of sample collection medium 400. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Other disassembly mechanisms may be employed in place of, or in addition to, a perforation.
Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
