CA2086653A1 - Multifunction collecting device for body fluids - Google Patents
Multifunction collecting device for body fluidsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2086653A1 CA2086653A1 CA002086653A CA2086653A CA2086653A1 CA 2086653 A1 CA2086653 A1 CA 2086653A1 CA 002086653 A CA002086653 A CA 002086653A CA 2086653 A CA2086653 A CA 2086653A CA 2086653 A1 CA2086653 A1 CA 2086653A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- blood
- retaining
- cavity
- additive
- compartments
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B10/00—Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements
- A61B10/0045—Devices for taking samples of body liquids
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/15—Devices for taking samples of blood
- A61B5/150007—Details
- A61B5/150015—Source of blood
- A61B5/150045—Source of blood for blood from vagina, placenta, colon or mouth
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/15—Devices for taking samples of blood
- A61B5/150007—Details
- A61B5/150206—Construction or design features not otherwise provided for; manufacturing or production; packages; sterilisation of piercing element, piercing device or sampling device
- A61B5/150251—Collection chamber divided into at least two compartments, e.g. for division of samples
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
- A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
- A61F13/20—Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor
- A61F13/2002—Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor characterised by the use
- A61F13/202—Catamenial tampons
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S604/00—Surgery
- Y10S604/904—Tampons
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Methods and devices for collecting at least two separate samples of a body fluid (e.g., blood) simultaneously. The device is introduced into a body of a living being whose blood is to be analyzed at a preexisting accessible cavity of the body which at least temporarily contains blood of the living being. The device has an interior having first and second hollow retaining compartments capable of receiving and holding the blood which is present in the cavity when the entire device is introduced into and remains wholly within the cavity. After the device is removed from the body cavity, blood is removed from the first and second hollow retaining compartments, such that the blood can be simultaneously separately collected and prepared for subsequent separate and different analyses. The first and second hollow retaining compartments are adapted to collect blood having similar characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second retaining compartments each contain an absorbent medium such as a sponge. In a further preferred embodiment, the first and second retaining compartments further include an additive selected from the group consisting of a fixative, a preservative, nutrients, red cell stabilizers, an antibacterial, a germicide, an agglutinin, a surfactant, a detergent, an antibiotic, an additive to prevent hemolysis, and monoclonal antibodies, the additive within the first hollow retaining compartment being different from the additive within the second retaining compartment.
Methods and devices for collecting at least two separate samples of a body fluid (e.g., blood) simultaneously. The device is introduced into a body of a living being whose blood is to be analyzed at a preexisting accessible cavity of the body which at least temporarily contains blood of the living being. The device has an interior having first and second hollow retaining compartments capable of receiving and holding the blood which is present in the cavity when the entire device is introduced into and remains wholly within the cavity. After the device is removed from the body cavity, blood is removed from the first and second hollow retaining compartments, such that the blood can be simultaneously separately collected and prepared for subsequent separate and different analyses. The first and second hollow retaining compartments are adapted to collect blood having similar characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second retaining compartments each contain an absorbent medium such as a sponge. In a further preferred embodiment, the first and second retaining compartments further include an additive selected from the group consisting of a fixative, a preservative, nutrients, red cell stabilizers, an antibacterial, a germicide, an agglutinin, a surfactant, a detergent, an antibiotic, an additive to prevent hemolysis, and monoclonal antibodies, the additive within the first hollow retaining compartment being different from the additive within the second retaining compartment.
Description
~3~3 ~ULTIFUNCTIO~ CO~kE~TIN~ DEy-IcE FOR 80DY F~UID~
BAC~ROU~D_OF TH~ INVB~TION
The present invention relates to methods and devices for collecting body fluids such as blood so that the fluid can thereafter be subjected tQ two or more separate analyses.
It is well known that in order to test tlhe condition o~ a living being such as a human being or other animal, ~ome of the blood is removed from the living being and ls analy~ed ln a number of different way~. In many currently used method~, this blood is removed from the living being by undesirable methods.
For example, it is known to prick the tip of a finger, an earlobe, or the like, and in addition, it i~ known to extract blood from an artery with a suitable syringe. These known procedures are highly disadvantageous sinae an essential part thereo~ inYolves wounding the body, creating pain and a certain amount of trauma and requiring not only operations under conditions of high standards of hygiene and sterllity to avoid infection but also unavoidable discomfort which follows durlng ~; healing of the wound required for extraction of blood.
Significant improvement for collecting body fluid~ are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,232,673, 4,036,214, 4,317,454, 3,958,561 and 3,867,924 (Re. 29,061~, all of which are hereby incorporated by referencé. In these patents, a deYice which is capable of receiving and holdi~g blood is introduced into the interior of a body cavity where blood is present, and after the device remains in the body cavity for a sufflcient amount o~ time to receive a suitable amo~n~ of blood, the dev~ce i5 removed and the blood removed therewlth is ~e3ted. Such devices may be incorporated lnto a tampon ~ntrocluced lnto the vagina for collecting blsod durlng the menstrual cycle.
~MK~RY OF T~B IN~E~TI0~
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and device which may be used for collection of a body ~luid such ~10 as blood such that the body fluid may be easily separated into two or more separate samples and subjected to two or more different analyses.
It is a further ob;ect of the invention to provide a method and device according to which it is possible to extract and analyze blood without wounding the living being in any way (and thereby without requiring any healing procedure~ in connection therewith) for the purpose o~ obtaining two or more separate bloo~ samples for different analyses.
It is a further object o~ the present inventlon to provide a :~ 20 device which can be used at any part of the body of a li~ng creature where blood is present for the purposs of extracting two or more separate samples of this blood ~o that it can then be ; subjected to different analyses.
It is a further object o~ the presen~ invention to provide a method and device of the above type which creates no di~comfort whatsoever, thus rendering it possible to achieve painle~s blood extraction without any possibility of infection in connection : with the extraction of the blood for two or more dif~erent analy~es.
According to the present invention, a device whi~h is capable of receiving and holding blood is introduced into the interlor o~ a cavity of a body of a living creature, thi~ aavlty ~eing one in which blood is in any event present. The dev~ce i~
removed from the cavity after the device has remained ther~ln for ~ a period of time sufficient to recelve ~nd hold blood~ whlch i~
: thus removed w~th the device. The dev~ca i8 then separ~ted ~nto separate compartments such that the blood in each of the~e compartments can then be sub~ected to d~fferent analyses.
The above device of the invent~on include~ an outer holder which is formed with an entrance means through wh~ch bl~od can flow into the interior of the holder, and wlthin the interior of the holder are two or more separate compartment~ cap~bl~ of retaining and holding the blood.: Accord~ng to a particular feature o~ the invention, thls device may be incorporated into a tampon inserted $nto the vagina during the menstrual cycla.
In certain embodiments of the present lnvention, each o~ the compartments may be impregnated ~ith or conta~n a dif~erent substance for faailitating the later analysls of the blood ~; contained therein. Such substances include, for example, a flxative, a preservative, nutrients, red cell stabilizers, an ~i antibacterial, a germicide, an agglutinin (for clotting the red cells), a surfactant, a detergent, an additive to prevent hemolysis ~such as dextran), an antibiotic (to klll certain microorganisms collected in a body fluid sample in which there i~
no particular interest), and monoclonal ~ntibodie~ ~.g., to detect the HIV virus~, etc. The term "microorganism~" for purposes o~ the present invention is deemed to include bacteria, fungi, and vixuses.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device is a tampon which is assembled to collect men~e~0 After removal from the vagina, the device is separable into two or more parts hav$ng separate compartments, each with a sponge or absorbent containing the menses. The parts may then ba placed, ~or example, in a preservative and/or ~ixative ~ol~tion contained z~6653 in vials, whlch are then sent to a laboratory ~or analysl~ by standard proc~dures, or by an automated analysi~ syste~.
In a preferred embodiment, the analysi~ is conducted by means of the automatad analysis system disclos~ed in U.S. Patent ;5 No. 4,0~6,359, hereby incorporated by reference~ The device of the present invention provldes a mean~ by which analy~is of the menses may be accomplished simultaneously to detect va~lnal cancer, sexually tran~mitted diseases, hepatitis B, AIDS, and other possible disease indications.
BRIEF DE8C~IPTION OF TH~ DRA~ING~
The following drawings are illustrative of embodiments of the inventlon and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims.
: 15 FIG. 1 is a schematic section elevation of one pos~lbl~
~ embodiment of an apparatus for carrying out a method according to ; the lnvention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary illustratinn of the embodiment o~
FIG. 1:
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional lllustration of a section of the embodiment of FIG. l after the embodiment of FIG. 1 has been separated into separate compartments;
~IG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining compartments of the embodiment of Fig. 1 showing the rataining ;25 means:
FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of another pos~ible embodiment of an apparatus for carrying out a method according to the invention; and FIG. 6 is yet another schem~tla illustration of a po~slbla embodiment o~ an apparatus for carrying out a method acaording to the invention.
D~TAI~D DE~CRIPTIO~ ..
In accordance w~ th th~ inventlon, any internal body cavity where blood is encountered may be used for the purpose~ of the present invention. Thls cavity may be the vagina or any other cavity such a~ a ~inus pas6age~ the lnterior of the mouth, the pas~age leading from the ear, tha anal canal, or ths like.
Within this cavity there is inserted in ac~ordance with the invention a device which is small enough to bs comfor~ably received in the body cavity and retai~ed therein wh~le at the same time beinq large enough to receive and hold an amount of blood sufficient for subseguent analy~is.
Turning now to the embodiment depicted in FigO 1, the device 1 compri~es a cap portion 2 and a body portion 3. The wall 6 can be made of any material which is compatlble with the human body such as any one of a number of different metals and any one of 8 : number of different plastics which will not ~often or melt at ; body te~perature. Thus, it is possible to use for thi~ purpose polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, poly~tyrene, atc.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a fir~t hollow retaining compartment ~ is located within the device 1, which reta~ning means is capable of retaining the blood which flows into the interior of the holder 1 through entrance 10. A second separate hollow retain~ng compartment 9 is also located within the device 1. Retaining compartment 9 is structurally identical to retaining compartment 8 in the embodiment of Fig. 1. However,.
the separate retaining compartment~ 8 and 9 may be structurally different from each other if desired. Retaining compartments 8 and 9 are separated by wall 1~ in Fig. 1.
Retaining compartments 8 and 9 ln the embodiment depicted in Fig. 1 have the form of a elongated tubQ divided into t~o ~ections which is open at one end so as to b~ provided with an 2 ~ 3 entrance means 10 through which the blood may flow freely into the intexlor o~ the device.
~n Fig. 2, it ls seen that in the embodiment ~hown in Fig.
1, the cap portion 2 can be sepaxated from the body portion 3 o~
the device 1. The cap portion 2 and the body portion 3 include mat~ng flanges 4,5 where they are ~oined toyether and where they are releasably retained in connection with each other by ~riction or by the use o~ a sultable adhesive if desired. Alternat~vely, the cap portion 2 can be screwed onto the body portion 3.
lo Flg. 3 is a longitud~nal ~ectional illu~tration of a section o~ the embodiment of FIG. 1 a~ter the embodiment of FIG. 1 has been ~parated into ~eparate compartments and the blGod which ha~
been collected in separate compartments 8 and 9 i8 to be tested.
As can be seen, cap portion 2 of the device separates lnto cap halves 2A and 2B, while body portion 3 separates into body halves 3A (which in this embodiment includes compartment 9) and 3B
(which in this embodiment includes compartment 8). In the ; embodiment dep~cted in Fig. 3, separating wall 13 comprise~ a fir6t wall part 13A and a second wall part 13B.
Body halves 3A and 3B are shown in Fig. 3 as being connectable by a projection 15 on section 3A, which ~its into reces6 16 on section 3B. cap halves 2A and 2B can be likewi~e connected. Alternatively, any manner o~ connecting cap halves 2A
and 2B, and body halves 3A and 3B, may he used.
As ~hown in Pig. 4, the retaining compartments 8 and 9 preferably include in their interior a retaining means 20 which i5 also compatible with the interior of a human belng, in this embodiment a ~ponge. The retaining means may be in the ~orm of a compressed body of ~ilamentary mater~al ~uch as cotton wadding, or a sponge.
Instead of a sponge, another absorbent material may be u~ed as the retaining means. Lilcewise, instead o~ cotton waddlng, it i~
possible to use a filamentary materials ~uch a~ a compressed body o~ fine gold wire, since gold is known to be compat~ble with human being~. Evan though a metallic wire filament which does not have absorbent properties may be utilized, the surface tension in the blood will cause the blood to be retained at the interstices formed in the interlor of the body of compreseed wire, and in addition, it is to be noted that it is pos~ible to use combinations of ~ilamentary material such a~ gold wire and cotton, for example. Other filamentary materials may be used to form the retaining means, 6uch a~, for example, fine monofilaments of plastic. Thus, any plastic compatible with the human body such as nylon, polyesters, and the like, is readily availablQ in fine ~ilamentary form in wh~ch it can b0 compressed into a body held ~n the device 1 and Eorming the separate retaininq compartments 8 and 9.
The device of the invention need not take the specific ~orm shown in Figs. 1-3. For example, Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the devlce of the present invention, whiah may be made of any of the materials used for the embod~ment shown in P~gs~ 1-3. In this embodiment, the device 30 comprises two body halves 31 and 32~ which are connected to each other during use via protrusions 38 and corresponding recesses 39. ~ach body halve ~1, 32 is further divided into upper body halves 31A, 32A and lower body halves 31B and 32B, respectively. The upper body halves each have a retaining compartment 36, 37 which includes a retaining means as described above for Fig~ 3. The lowar body halves ~lB, 32B, attached to the upper body halves 31A, 32A in any ; manner known ln the art, comprises tampons, as are conventio~ally used by female human being during the menstrual cycle. Thus, tampon sections 31B, 32B are introduced into the vagina durin~
the menstrual cycle, and a string 33 extends from at least one o~
~2~8~53 tampon ~ection~ 31B, 32B such that the devlce 30 can be removed ~rom the body cavity.
In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 6, the devlce 40 compri~ets a lower body portlon 41 which compri~es a tampon. The tampon i8 attached to an upper cap portion 42 via a screw arrangement 47. In Fig. 6, the upper cap port.Lon 42 16 shown partially unscrewed from the lower body portion 41.
The upper cap portion 42 o~ the amhodiment depi~ted in Fig.
6 i~ divided into two detachable halves 42A and 42B. Each ~lo detachable half 42A, 42B lncludes a retaining compartment (not ~hown) having a retalning means ~not shown) as described ahove, The body fluid, e.g. blood, enters the retaining compartment~ vla entrance 45. A string 33 extends from the lower body portion 41 compri~ing a tampon, ~uch that the devioe 30 can be removed.
In practicing the method o~ the lnvention, the devlce of the invention ls inserted into ~ body cavity where blood w~ll be encountered. Thus, as pointed out above, the tampon is introduced into the vagina during the menstrual cycls. However~
~ it is po~6ible to introduce any of the deviaes of Figs. 1-6 into ;~20 a cavity such as the anal canal in an individual who is suffering from hemorrhoids, for example. Also, where there ls bleeding of the gums in the mouth of a human being or bleeding in the mouth from any 60urce, it is possible to situate the device in the inter~or of the mouth, wedged between the gums and lips, for , .
~:~25 example. It ~g possi~le to ~ntroduce the device o~ the invention ; into the ear where bleeding ls encountered in the e~r. It i~
also possible to introduce the device into a nostril whera bleeding i~ encountered or into a ~inus where bleeding is encountered. Thus, wherever blood is encountered in a ~ody cavity, either as the result o~ natural ~unctioning o~ a haalthy human being, as would be the aase with the tampon, or a~ tha result o~ an illness, and opera~ion, or the like in any body ;~8~6~
;, cavity, it i~ pos~ible to use the device of the lnvention. Thus, ~, ln accordance with the metllod o~ the invention the device of the invention i~ inserted in to the body cavity and i~ permltted to : remain at the body cavity for a period of time ~h~ch i8 suffîcient to enable blood to ~low freely into the interior of ~ the holder o~ the device and to be retained by the retaining ; mean~ therein. Thereafter, tha devlse is removed from the ; interior o~ the body cavity and the blood in the devlce can be tested in any conventional manner. For example, the two sections ! 10 8 and 9 o~ device 1 of Fig. 1 are removed from each other and the ~; ;retaining mean~ may be used to smear ~lldes wh~ch can be examined under the microscope and it can be compre~sed in any ~uitable way 50 as to cause the liquid blood to be compres~ed out of the ` retaining means and received in;any suitable container to which 15 additional material~ are added ror te~tin~ purpo~es, a~ is well known. For example, the blood which is ~queezed ~rom the retaining means may be received in a test tube which has in it a known reagent, and such test tubes are then capable of beiny placed in blood analyzing machines such as well known machines which optically analyze the blood.
For purposes o~ the present invention, the term "accessible"
as used with reference to a cavity o~ the body i~ intended to mean a body cavity to which access may be had without re~uiring any procedure~ such as piercing a part of the body with a ~eedle, for example. Thus, an "acaessible cavity" is intended to mean a body cavity the interior of which is accessible becau~e of the nature of the cavity, ~uch cavities being, for example, the vagina, the mouth, the ear, the nose, the rectum, and the liké, all of which are accessible without puncturing or otherwise wounding the body and all of wh1ch may at tlmes have internal bleeding which provide~ a sourae o~ blood which may be used with the present invention. In addition, however, the term "acce6slble" i8 lntended to cover body cavities which become accessible for rea~ons other than collection o~ blood. For exampls, any lnterior part of the body whlch becom~ accesaible due to woundlng of the body by accident or due to suryical procedures are also considered to be "acce~sible'~ in the sense aalled for by the clal~s inasmuch as such cavitie~ also are sources o~ blcod which can be col~ected and te~ted although these cavities do not become accessible for the purpose o~ obtaining samples o~ blood for te~ting purposes.
It is apparent, therefore, that with the present lnvention, in order to test the blood of an lndividual, it i6 not neces~ary to wound the individual, and instead, it becomes pos~ible to utilize blood which iB in any event present at a body cavit~ for the purpose of blood testing.
An important aspect of the present invention is that, by virtue of the at laast two separate compartments provided, separate samples of body fluld may be removed for different analyses simultaneously and without wounding the subject.
In one preferred embodiment o~ the present invention, a suitable additive is included in the retaining compartment as a pre-treatment for the body fluid prior to analysis. Such additives may be ~ncluded in the retaining compartment by any means known in the art, including but not limited to being coated on the retaining mean~, or being embedded in the inner walls of the retaining compartment.
In one preferred embodiment, a blood preservative such as citric actd is incorporated into the retaining means.
The additive which may be contained in ths retaining compartment may also comprise a suitable nutrient for suspected microoryanisms, and it also may contain certain antibiotic~ for making certain that microorganisms in which there is no interest are killed so as not to disturb the viewing of the 5uspected ~8~3 microorganisms. For example, when it is suspected that certain microorganlsms are present in the body fl~ids, the device when inserted into the desired accessible cavity will contact body ~luids containing the microorganisms. These microorganisms will flow along with the body fluid into the retaining compartment and into the retaining means, e.g., a sponqe. Thi ~ponge will absorb the liquid containing the microorganigms.
The device of the present invention may ~e permitted to remain in the body cavity for as long as desired, e.g., 80 as to assure growth o~ microoxganisms directly in the body cavity.
After the desired time, the entire deviae can be removed ~ from the body cavity in any ~uitable way and inspected to ; determine the presence or absence of microorganisms. This inspection may be enhanced by opening the retaining compartment and introducing ~nto the sponge a suitable dye by way o~ a ~uitabl~ syringe, for example, so that with thi~ dye, the visibility of suspected microorganisms is greatly enhanced.
In another embodlment of the present lnvention, monoclonal antibodie~ may be ~ncluded in the retaining compartment, e.g. ~or use in the detection of the HIV virus, etc~ Thu~, by virtue of the present invention, the separate compartments ~ay contain different monoclonal antibodies ~or the simultaneous deteation of different antigens in the body.
However, it ls to be understood that, if desired, no ~ 25 nutrients or antibiotics need be located in the retaining ; compartment, since the absorbed fluids can be treated subsequent to the removal of the device from the body cavity if ~o de~ired.
It is preferred, however, to include the des~red additives in the retaining compartments ~eaause, for example, it is desirable to grow the microorganisms in the body cavity bacause the conditions prevailing therein are ideal for this purpose~
The examples provided above are not meant to be exclusive~
~lany other variation~ o~ the present inv~erltion would bQ obvious to those skilled in the art, and are contsmplated to be within the scope of the appended claims.
.
~ , .
.
i
BAC~ROU~D_OF TH~ INVB~TION
The present invention relates to methods and devices for collecting body fluids such as blood so that the fluid can thereafter be subjected tQ two or more separate analyses.
It is well known that in order to test tlhe condition o~ a living being such as a human being or other animal, ~ome of the blood is removed from the living being and ls analy~ed ln a number of different way~. In many currently used method~, this blood is removed from the living being by undesirable methods.
For example, it is known to prick the tip of a finger, an earlobe, or the like, and in addition, it i~ known to extract blood from an artery with a suitable syringe. These known procedures are highly disadvantageous sinae an essential part thereo~ inYolves wounding the body, creating pain and a certain amount of trauma and requiring not only operations under conditions of high standards of hygiene and sterllity to avoid infection but also unavoidable discomfort which follows durlng ~; healing of the wound required for extraction of blood.
Significant improvement for collecting body fluid~ are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,232,673, 4,036,214, 4,317,454, 3,958,561 and 3,867,924 (Re. 29,061~, all of which are hereby incorporated by referencé. In these patents, a deYice which is capable of receiving and holdi~g blood is introduced into the interior of a body cavity where blood is present, and after the device remains in the body cavity for a sufflcient amount o~ time to receive a suitable amo~n~ of blood, the dev~ce i5 removed and the blood removed therewlth is ~e3ted. Such devices may be incorporated lnto a tampon ~ntrocluced lnto the vagina for collecting blsod durlng the menstrual cycle.
~MK~RY OF T~B IN~E~TI0~
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and device which may be used for collection of a body ~luid such ~10 as blood such that the body fluid may be easily separated into two or more separate samples and subjected to two or more different analyses.
It is a further ob;ect of the invention to provide a method and device according to which it is possible to extract and analyze blood without wounding the living being in any way (and thereby without requiring any healing procedure~ in connection therewith) for the purpose o~ obtaining two or more separate bloo~ samples for different analyses.
It is a further object o~ the present inventlon to provide a :~ 20 device which can be used at any part of the body of a li~ng creature where blood is present for the purposs of extracting two or more separate samples of this blood ~o that it can then be ; subjected to different analyses.
It is a further object o~ the presen~ invention to provide a method and device of the above type which creates no di~comfort whatsoever, thus rendering it possible to achieve painle~s blood extraction without any possibility of infection in connection : with the extraction of the blood for two or more dif~erent analy~es.
According to the present invention, a device whi~h is capable of receiving and holding blood is introduced into the interlor o~ a cavity of a body of a living creature, thi~ aavlty ~eing one in which blood is in any event present. The dev~ce i~
removed from the cavity after the device has remained ther~ln for ~ a period of time sufficient to recelve ~nd hold blood~ whlch i~
: thus removed w~th the device. The dev~ca i8 then separ~ted ~nto separate compartments such that the blood in each of the~e compartments can then be sub~ected to d~fferent analyses.
The above device of the invent~on include~ an outer holder which is formed with an entrance means through wh~ch bl~od can flow into the interior of the holder, and wlthin the interior of the holder are two or more separate compartment~ cap~bl~ of retaining and holding the blood.: Accord~ng to a particular feature o~ the invention, thls device may be incorporated into a tampon inserted $nto the vagina during the menstrual cycla.
In certain embodiments of the present lnvention, each o~ the compartments may be impregnated ~ith or conta~n a dif~erent substance for faailitating the later analysls of the blood ~; contained therein. Such substances include, for example, a flxative, a preservative, nutrients, red cell stabilizers, an ~i antibacterial, a germicide, an agglutinin (for clotting the red cells), a surfactant, a detergent, an additive to prevent hemolysis ~such as dextran), an antibiotic (to klll certain microorganisms collected in a body fluid sample in which there i~
no particular interest), and monoclonal ~ntibodie~ ~.g., to detect the HIV virus~, etc. The term "microorganism~" for purposes o~ the present invention is deemed to include bacteria, fungi, and vixuses.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device is a tampon which is assembled to collect men~e~0 After removal from the vagina, the device is separable into two or more parts hav$ng separate compartments, each with a sponge or absorbent containing the menses. The parts may then ba placed, ~or example, in a preservative and/or ~ixative ~ol~tion contained z~6653 in vials, whlch are then sent to a laboratory ~or analysl~ by standard proc~dures, or by an automated analysi~ syste~.
In a preferred embodiment, the analysi~ is conducted by means of the automatad analysis system disclos~ed in U.S. Patent ;5 No. 4,0~6,359, hereby incorporated by reference~ The device of the present invention provldes a mean~ by which analy~is of the menses may be accomplished simultaneously to detect va~lnal cancer, sexually tran~mitted diseases, hepatitis B, AIDS, and other possible disease indications.
BRIEF DE8C~IPTION OF TH~ DRA~ING~
The following drawings are illustrative of embodiments of the inventlon and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims.
: 15 FIG. 1 is a schematic section elevation of one pos~lbl~
~ embodiment of an apparatus for carrying out a method according to ; the lnvention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary illustratinn of the embodiment o~
FIG. 1:
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional lllustration of a section of the embodiment of FIG. l after the embodiment of FIG. 1 has been separated into separate compartments;
~IG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining compartments of the embodiment of Fig. 1 showing the rataining ;25 means:
FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of another pos~ible embodiment of an apparatus for carrying out a method according to the invention; and FIG. 6 is yet another schem~tla illustration of a po~slbla embodiment o~ an apparatus for carrying out a method acaording to the invention.
D~TAI~D DE~CRIPTIO~ ..
In accordance w~ th th~ inventlon, any internal body cavity where blood is encountered may be used for the purpose~ of the present invention. Thls cavity may be the vagina or any other cavity such a~ a ~inus pas6age~ the lnterior of the mouth, the pas~age leading from the ear, tha anal canal, or ths like.
Within this cavity there is inserted in ac~ordance with the invention a device which is small enough to bs comfor~ably received in the body cavity and retai~ed therein wh~le at the same time beinq large enough to receive and hold an amount of blood sufficient for subseguent analy~is.
Turning now to the embodiment depicted in FigO 1, the device 1 compri~es a cap portion 2 and a body portion 3. The wall 6 can be made of any material which is compatlble with the human body such as any one of a number of different metals and any one of 8 : number of different plastics which will not ~often or melt at ; body te~perature. Thus, it is possible to use for thi~ purpose polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, poly~tyrene, atc.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a fir~t hollow retaining compartment ~ is located within the device 1, which reta~ning means is capable of retaining the blood which flows into the interior of the holder 1 through entrance 10. A second separate hollow retain~ng compartment 9 is also located within the device 1. Retaining compartment 9 is structurally identical to retaining compartment 8 in the embodiment of Fig. 1. However,.
the separate retaining compartment~ 8 and 9 may be structurally different from each other if desired. Retaining compartments 8 and 9 are separated by wall 1~ in Fig. 1.
Retaining compartments 8 and 9 ln the embodiment depicted in Fig. 1 have the form of a elongated tubQ divided into t~o ~ections which is open at one end so as to b~ provided with an 2 ~ 3 entrance means 10 through which the blood may flow freely into the intexlor o~ the device.
~n Fig. 2, it ls seen that in the embodiment ~hown in Fig.
1, the cap portion 2 can be sepaxated from the body portion 3 o~
the device 1. The cap portion 2 and the body portion 3 include mat~ng flanges 4,5 where they are ~oined toyether and where they are releasably retained in connection with each other by ~riction or by the use o~ a sultable adhesive if desired. Alternat~vely, the cap portion 2 can be screwed onto the body portion 3.
lo Flg. 3 is a longitud~nal ~ectional illu~tration of a section o~ the embodiment of FIG. 1 a~ter the embodiment of FIG. 1 has been ~parated into ~eparate compartments and the blGod which ha~
been collected in separate compartments 8 and 9 i8 to be tested.
As can be seen, cap portion 2 of the device separates lnto cap halves 2A and 2B, while body portion 3 separates into body halves 3A (which in this embodiment includes compartment 9) and 3B
(which in this embodiment includes compartment 8). In the ; embodiment dep~cted in Fig. 3, separating wall 13 comprise~ a fir6t wall part 13A and a second wall part 13B.
Body halves 3A and 3B are shown in Fig. 3 as being connectable by a projection 15 on section 3A, which ~its into reces6 16 on section 3B. cap halves 2A and 2B can be likewi~e connected. Alternatively, any manner o~ connecting cap halves 2A
and 2B, and body halves 3A and 3B, may he used.
As ~hown in Pig. 4, the retaining compartments 8 and 9 preferably include in their interior a retaining means 20 which i5 also compatible with the interior of a human belng, in this embodiment a ~ponge. The retaining means may be in the ~orm of a compressed body of ~ilamentary mater~al ~uch as cotton wadding, or a sponge.
Instead of a sponge, another absorbent material may be u~ed as the retaining means. Lilcewise, instead o~ cotton waddlng, it i~
possible to use a filamentary materials ~uch a~ a compressed body o~ fine gold wire, since gold is known to be compat~ble with human being~. Evan though a metallic wire filament which does not have absorbent properties may be utilized, the surface tension in the blood will cause the blood to be retained at the interstices formed in the interlor of the body of compreseed wire, and in addition, it is to be noted that it is pos~ible to use combinations of ~ilamentary material such a~ gold wire and cotton, for example. Other filamentary materials may be used to form the retaining means, 6uch a~, for example, fine monofilaments of plastic. Thus, any plastic compatible with the human body such as nylon, polyesters, and the like, is readily availablQ in fine ~ilamentary form in wh~ch it can b0 compressed into a body held ~n the device 1 and Eorming the separate retaininq compartments 8 and 9.
The device of the invention need not take the specific ~orm shown in Figs. 1-3. For example, Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the devlce of the present invention, whiah may be made of any of the materials used for the embod~ment shown in P~gs~ 1-3. In this embodiment, the device 30 comprises two body halves 31 and 32~ which are connected to each other during use via protrusions 38 and corresponding recesses 39. ~ach body halve ~1, 32 is further divided into upper body halves 31A, 32A and lower body halves 31B and 32B, respectively. The upper body halves each have a retaining compartment 36, 37 which includes a retaining means as described above for Fig~ 3. The lowar body halves ~lB, 32B, attached to the upper body halves 31A, 32A in any ; manner known ln the art, comprises tampons, as are conventio~ally used by female human being during the menstrual cycle. Thus, tampon sections 31B, 32B are introduced into the vagina durin~
the menstrual cycle, and a string 33 extends from at least one o~
~2~8~53 tampon ~ection~ 31B, 32B such that the devlce 30 can be removed ~rom the body cavity.
In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 6, the devlce 40 compri~ets a lower body portlon 41 which compri~es a tampon. The tampon i8 attached to an upper cap portion 42 via a screw arrangement 47. In Fig. 6, the upper cap port.Lon 42 16 shown partially unscrewed from the lower body portion 41.
The upper cap portion 42 o~ the amhodiment depi~ted in Fig.
6 i~ divided into two detachable halves 42A and 42B. Each ~lo detachable half 42A, 42B lncludes a retaining compartment (not ~hown) having a retalning means ~not shown) as described ahove, The body fluid, e.g. blood, enters the retaining compartment~ vla entrance 45. A string 33 extends from the lower body portion 41 compri~ing a tampon, ~uch that the devioe 30 can be removed.
In practicing the method o~ the lnvention, the devlce of the invention ls inserted into ~ body cavity where blood w~ll be encountered. Thus, as pointed out above, the tampon is introduced into the vagina during the menstrual cycls. However~
~ it is po~6ible to introduce any of the deviaes of Figs. 1-6 into ;~20 a cavity such as the anal canal in an individual who is suffering from hemorrhoids, for example. Also, where there ls bleeding of the gums in the mouth of a human being or bleeding in the mouth from any 60urce, it is possible to situate the device in the inter~or of the mouth, wedged between the gums and lips, for , .
~:~25 example. It ~g possi~le to ~ntroduce the device o~ the invention ; into the ear where bleeding ls encountered in the e~r. It i~
also possible to introduce the device into a nostril whera bleeding i~ encountered or into a ~inus where bleeding is encountered. Thus, wherever blood is encountered in a ~ody cavity, either as the result o~ natural ~unctioning o~ a haalthy human being, as would be the aase with the tampon, or a~ tha result o~ an illness, and opera~ion, or the like in any body ;~8~6~
;, cavity, it i~ pos~ible to use the device of the lnvention. Thus, ~, ln accordance with the metllod o~ the invention the device of the invention i~ inserted in to the body cavity and i~ permltted to : remain at the body cavity for a period of time ~h~ch i8 suffîcient to enable blood to ~low freely into the interior of ~ the holder o~ the device and to be retained by the retaining ; mean~ therein. Thereafter, tha devlse is removed from the ; interior o~ the body cavity and the blood in the devlce can be tested in any conventional manner. For example, the two sections ! 10 8 and 9 o~ device 1 of Fig. 1 are removed from each other and the ~; ;retaining mean~ may be used to smear ~lldes wh~ch can be examined under the microscope and it can be compre~sed in any ~uitable way 50 as to cause the liquid blood to be compres~ed out of the ` retaining means and received in;any suitable container to which 15 additional material~ are added ror te~tin~ purpo~es, a~ is well known. For example, the blood which is ~queezed ~rom the retaining means may be received in a test tube which has in it a known reagent, and such test tubes are then capable of beiny placed in blood analyzing machines such as well known machines which optically analyze the blood.
For purposes o~ the present invention, the term "accessible"
as used with reference to a cavity o~ the body i~ intended to mean a body cavity to which access may be had without re~uiring any procedure~ such as piercing a part of the body with a ~eedle, for example. Thus, an "acaessible cavity" is intended to mean a body cavity the interior of which is accessible becau~e of the nature of the cavity, ~uch cavities being, for example, the vagina, the mouth, the ear, the nose, the rectum, and the liké, all of which are accessible without puncturing or otherwise wounding the body and all of wh1ch may at tlmes have internal bleeding which provide~ a sourae o~ blood which may be used with the present invention. In addition, however, the term "acce6slble" i8 lntended to cover body cavities which become accessible for rea~ons other than collection o~ blood. For exampls, any lnterior part of the body whlch becom~ accesaible due to woundlng of the body by accident or due to suryical procedures are also considered to be "acce~sible'~ in the sense aalled for by the clal~s inasmuch as such cavitie~ also are sources o~ blcod which can be col~ected and te~ted although these cavities do not become accessible for the purpose o~ obtaining samples o~ blood for te~ting purposes.
It is apparent, therefore, that with the present lnvention, in order to test the blood of an lndividual, it i6 not neces~ary to wound the individual, and instead, it becomes pos~ible to utilize blood which iB in any event present at a body cavit~ for the purpose of blood testing.
An important aspect of the present invention is that, by virtue of the at laast two separate compartments provided, separate samples of body fluld may be removed for different analyses simultaneously and without wounding the subject.
In one preferred embodiment o~ the present invention, a suitable additive is included in the retaining compartment as a pre-treatment for the body fluid prior to analysis. Such additives may be ~ncluded in the retaining compartment by any means known in the art, including but not limited to being coated on the retaining mean~, or being embedded in the inner walls of the retaining compartment.
In one preferred embodiment, a blood preservative such as citric actd is incorporated into the retaining means.
The additive which may be contained in ths retaining compartment may also comprise a suitable nutrient for suspected microoryanisms, and it also may contain certain antibiotic~ for making certain that microorganisms in which there is no interest are killed so as not to disturb the viewing of the 5uspected ~8~3 microorganisms. For example, when it is suspected that certain microorganlsms are present in the body fl~ids, the device when inserted into the desired accessible cavity will contact body ~luids containing the microorganisms. These microorganisms will flow along with the body fluid into the retaining compartment and into the retaining means, e.g., a sponqe. Thi ~ponge will absorb the liquid containing the microorganigms.
The device of the present invention may ~e permitted to remain in the body cavity for as long as desired, e.g., 80 as to assure growth o~ microoxganisms directly in the body cavity.
After the desired time, the entire deviae can be removed ~ from the body cavity in any ~uitable way and inspected to ; determine the presence or absence of microorganisms. This inspection may be enhanced by opening the retaining compartment and introducing ~nto the sponge a suitable dye by way o~ a ~uitabl~ syringe, for example, so that with thi~ dye, the visibility of suspected microorganisms is greatly enhanced.
In another embodlment of the present lnvention, monoclonal antibodie~ may be ~ncluded in the retaining compartment, e.g. ~or use in the detection of the HIV virus, etc~ Thu~, by virtue of the present invention, the separate compartments ~ay contain different monoclonal antibodies ~or the simultaneous deteation of different antigens in the body.
However, it ls to be understood that, if desired, no ~ 25 nutrients or antibiotics need be located in the retaining ; compartment, since the absorbed fluids can be treated subsequent to the removal of the device from the body cavity if ~o de~ired.
It is preferred, however, to include the des~red additives in the retaining compartments ~eaause, for example, it is desirable to grow the microorganisms in the body cavity bacause the conditions prevailing therein are ideal for this purpose~
The examples provided above are not meant to be exclusive~
~lany other variation~ o~ the present inv~erltion would bQ obvious to those skilled in the art, and are contsmplated to be within the scope of the appended claims.
.
~ , .
.
i
Claims (9)
1. A device for collecting a body fluid in a body cavity, comprising an exterior portion, interior portion, said interior portion comprising a first hollow retaining compartment for collecting a sample of body fluid when the device is situated in a body cavity, and a second hollow retaining compartment for collecting a second sample of body fluid when the device is situated in a body cavity, said second hollow retaining compartments being adapted to collect blood having similar characteristics as that collected in said first hollow retaining compartment, passage means connecting said first and second hollow retaining compartments to said exterior portion of said device, and retaining means situated in each of said first and second retaining compartments, at least a portion of the body fluid collected in said first and second retaining compartments being retained on said retaining means, such that body fluid can be simultaneously separately collected and prepared for subsequent separate and different analyses of the collected body fluid from each of said first and second retaining compartments.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first additive included in said first retaining compartment as a pre-treatment for the collected body fluid prior to removal of said device from the body cavity, and a second additive included in said second retaining compartment as a pre-treatment for the body fluid collected in said second retaining compartment prior to removal of said device from the body cavity, said second additive being different from said first additive.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein said device further comprises a cap portion and a lower portion, said first and second hollow retaining compartments being located within said cap portion, said cap portion being removable from said lower portion and including means for opening said first and second hollow retaining compartments after said device has been removed from the body cavity and body fluid has been collected.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein said lower portion of said device comprises tampon means.
5. The device of claim 3, wherein said first and second additives are selected from the group consisting of a fixative, a preservative, nutrients, red cell stabilizers, an antibacterial, a germicide, an agglutinin, a surfactant, a detergent, an antibiotic, an additive to prevent hemolysis, and monoclonal antibodies, said first and second additives being different from each other.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein said first additive or said second additive comprises a preservative or a fixative.
7. The device of claim 5, wherein said retaining means comprises an absorbent medium.
8. In a method for collecting and analyzing the blood of a living being, the steps of introducing into a body of a living being whose blood is to be analyzed, at a preexisting accessible cavity of the body which at least temporarily contains blood of the living being, a device having an interior having first and second hollow retaining compartments each having retaining means therein capable of receiving and holding blood which is present in the cavity when the entire device is introduced into and remains wholly within the cavity, said device being introduced into said cavity at a time which will assure presence of the device in the cavity when blood is present therein, removing the device from the body cavity after the device has remained therein for a period of time sufficient to receive and hold blood of the living being, so that blood is removed with the device, said second hollow retaining compartment being adapted to collect blood having similar characteristics as that collected in said first hollow retaining compartment, providing said retaining means within said first and second hollow retaining compartments prior to introduction of the device into the body cavity with an additive selected from the group consisting of a fixative, a preservative, nutrients, red cell stabilizers, an antibacterial, a germicide, an agglutinin, a surfactant, a detergent, an antibiotic, an additive to prevent hemolysis, and monoclonal antibodies, the additive within said first hollow retaining compartment being different from the additive within said second retaining compartment, subjecting at least part of the blood contained within said first hollow retaining compartment to a first analysis, and subjecting at least part of the blood contained within said second hollow retaining compartment to a second analysis different than said first analysis.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a portion of said device as a tampon means.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/818,637 US5247941A (en) | 1992-01-06 | 1992-01-06 | Multifunction collecting device for body fluids |
| US818,637 | 1992-01-06 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2086653A1 true CA2086653A1 (en) | 1993-07-07 |
Family
ID=25226020
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002086653A Abandoned CA2086653A1 (en) | 1992-01-06 | 1993-01-04 | Multifunction collecting device for body fluids |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (2) | US5247941A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0555109A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP3338494B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2086653A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (18)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2724552B1 (en) * | 1994-09-19 | 1997-04-25 | Chaffringeon Bernard | SINGLE-USE DEVICE FOR COLLECTING, AND POSSIBLY ANALYZING, A BODY LIQUID |
| WO1996009545A1 (en) * | 1994-09-22 | 1996-03-28 | Bernard Chaffringeon | Single-use device for detecting or analyzing a body fluid |
| GB2349573B (en) * | 1996-05-17 | 2000-12-27 | A Fem Medical Corp | Method for collecting vaginal fluid and exfoliated vaginal cells for diagnostic purposes |
| US5971942A (en) * | 1996-12-03 | 1999-10-26 | Gu; Howard H. | Intestinal fluid sampler |
| US6423883B1 (en) | 1999-07-13 | 2002-07-23 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Liquid reception medium with liquid activated mechanical mass transport means |
| US6583722B2 (en) | 2000-12-12 | 2003-06-24 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Wetness signaling device |
| US6603403B2 (en) | 2000-12-12 | 2003-08-05 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Remote, wetness signaling system |
| GR1004154B (en) * | 2001-05-21 | 2003-02-20 | Method of determining endometrial status by tests applied on endometrial menstruation tissue (period tissue) | |
| US7294138B2 (en) * | 2004-06-28 | 2007-11-13 | Shippert Ronald D | Nose pack method and apparatus |
| EP1954197A2 (en) * | 2005-11-22 | 2008-08-13 | Stichting Top Institute Food and Nutrition | Sampling device for in vivo sampling of liquids from the gastrointestinal tract, process for the production thereof and mould or mask for use in the production process |
| US20110270127A1 (en) * | 2006-09-18 | 2011-11-03 | Shany Vered | Biological Fluid Receptacle |
| US8157747B2 (en) * | 2008-02-15 | 2012-04-17 | Lary Research & Development, Llc | Single-use indicator for a surgical instrument and a surgical instrument incorporating same |
| US8604267B2 (en) * | 2008-06-09 | 2013-12-10 | Merrie K. East | Disposable nose pack for nosebleeds |
| US20130006148A1 (en) * | 2010-03-15 | 2013-01-03 | Takahito Matumura | Vacuum blood collection tube, blood collection unit and device for discriminating test methods |
| JP2017529199A (en) * | 2014-08-12 | 2017-10-05 | ネクストジェン ジェイン， インコーポレイテッド | System and method for monitoring health based on collected body fluid |
| US20160073937A1 (en) * | 2014-09-11 | 2016-03-17 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Blood sampling system for improving draw success and reducing hemolysis |
| US9993371B2 (en) * | 2015-06-11 | 2018-06-12 | Werner Kasper | Device for absorption and controlled discharge of liquid excretions |
| WO2018106931A1 (en) | 2016-12-07 | 2018-06-14 | Progenity Inc. | Gastrointestinal tract detection methods, devices and systems |
Family Cites Families (20)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH337989A (en) * | 1957-04-09 | 1959-04-30 | Perrenoud Jean Pierre Dr | Capsule |
| US3559646A (en) * | 1968-08-16 | 1971-02-02 | Joseph Mullan | Tampon |
| US3865548A (en) * | 1972-06-13 | 1975-02-11 | Einstein Coll Med | Analytical apparatus and process |
| US3835835A (en) * | 1972-11-07 | 1974-09-17 | Richardson Merrell Inc | Two compartment locking sampling syringe |
| US4036214A (en) * | 1975-04-14 | 1977-07-19 | Louis Bucalo | Fluid-collecting and microorganism-detecting devices |
| US3934575A (en) * | 1973-02-05 | 1976-01-27 | Louis Bucalo | Tampon device to test for micro-organisms |
| US4232673A (en) * | 1975-08-11 | 1980-11-11 | Louis Bucalo | Method for collecting and processing body fluids |
| US3867924A (en) * | 1973-02-05 | 1975-02-25 | Microbyx Corp | Internal blood collection |
| US3998211A (en) * | 1974-08-23 | 1976-12-21 | Louis Bucalo | Structures for growing cultures within human and animal bodies |
| US3924607A (en) * | 1973-02-05 | 1975-12-09 | Louis Bucalo | Device for testing for the presence of micro-organisms |
| US3864213A (en) * | 1973-02-05 | 1975-02-04 | Microbyx Corp | Culturing method |
| US4186730A (en) * | 1974-08-23 | 1980-02-05 | Louis Bucalo | Methods for collecting body fluids |
| US4172446A (en) * | 1974-12-20 | 1979-10-30 | Louis Bucalo | Apparatus for collecting body fluids |
| US4091802A (en) * | 1976-02-17 | 1978-05-30 | Eastman Kodak Company | Vented liquid collection device |
| US4042337A (en) * | 1977-02-17 | 1977-08-16 | Griffith Donald P | Urine collection device |
| US4317454A (en) * | 1977-08-04 | 1982-03-02 | Louis Bucalo | Methods and devices for obtaining specimens and for signalling when the specimen has been collected |
| US4150089A (en) * | 1977-09-06 | 1979-04-17 | Linet Michael S | Multi-chamber test tube |
| US4351338A (en) * | 1980-05-21 | 1982-09-28 | Pierre Langlois | Vaginal tampon |
| US5003988A (en) * | 1989-06-21 | 1991-04-02 | La Mina Ltd. | Modular multiple fluid sample preparation assembly |
| US5002540A (en) * | 1989-05-22 | 1991-03-26 | Warren Kirschbaum | Intravaginal device and method for delivering a medicament |
-
1992
- 1992-01-06 US US07/818,637 patent/US5247941A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1993
- 1993-01-04 CA CA002086653A patent/CA2086653A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-01-06 JP JP01583493A patent/JP3338494B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-01-06 EP EP93400017A patent/EP0555109A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1993-04-13 US US08/047,583 patent/US5327897A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0555109A2 (en) | 1993-08-11 |
| EP0555109A3 (en) | 1995-08-09 |
| JPH067328A (en) | 1994-01-18 |
| US5327897A (en) | 1994-07-12 |
| US5247941A (en) | 1993-09-28 |
| JP3338494B2 (en) | 2002-10-28 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |