Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Sampling nonliquid body material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-11-06
Hindenburg, Max (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Sampling nonliquid body material
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312395
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the collection and transportation of cell cultures or specimens and more particularly to the collection and transportation of buccal cell cultures in an appropriate manner to maintain sterility before use, insure proper environmental conditions for the culture, and redress confusion among cultures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For a variety of reasons, different cell samples are taken from a selected area of a patient's body and transported to a laboratory facility for subsequent testing and identification. The testing may be related to diagnosis and treatment of illness or DNA research for, among other things, paternity or transplant matching. In the most common use, individual cotton-tipped swabs are prepackaged within paper envelopes. When taking a cell culture or specimen, the swab is removed from the envelope and applied or rubbed against the selected tissue area. The sample is then returned to the envelope and transported to the testing facility. For example, conventionally, buccal samples are collected by abrading the buccal lining with either a cotton-tipped swab, a disposable toothbrush or with one of a number of commercial collection devices. Then, the samples are transported to the testing facility in generic envelopes, plastic bags or plastic storage tubes.
There are several problems with the above-identified method of cell collection. First, conventional transportation devices do not maintain maximum sterility either before or after culture collection. In addition to the unprofessional appearance, unwanted contamination may result from inadvertent handling of the swab while placing it within the transport device. A collection swab should be able to obtain samples from tight areas without introduction of additional contaminants that would provide inaccurate testing results. The sample should then be transported from the collection site to the testing facility without damage or contamination. Additional problems with conventional transport devices include removal and loss of specimen onto the device and inadequate storage of the sample to maintain its effectiveness.
For DNA sampling, the samples must be allowed to sufficiently dry to prevent fungal and bacterial contamination. Thus, conventional devices are manipulated to accommodate drying. Envelopes and bags remain open and unsealed resulting in loss or contamination. Plastic tubes may be drilled or perforated, but the tip is still subjected to contamination.
The cotton swab, itself, is also inefficient and imperfect in collecting the culture. The design of the cotton swab does not allow for the natural variations that occur when taking the sample, such as the concentration and virility of the affected cells in the area for collection. Also, the use of natural fibers, cotton-tipped swab on a wooden stem, present additional contaminants that may be released onto sample surfaces.
Lastly, there is no assurance that the collector swab and the paper envelope are coordinated. In other words, without any pre-designated label, the paper envelope and swab may become separated. Conventional sampling devices are difficult to label effectively and consistently. In a worse-case scenario, cells may be collected from two separate samples and returned to respective envelopes. Some of the specimen may wipe off onto the envelope. Thereafter, the collector swabs may become separated from their respective envelopes and switched resulting in contaminated and effectively useless culture specimens.
There remains a need in the art for a cost-effective cell collection and transport apparatus that overcomes the above-stated problems.
SUMMARY
The present invention overcomes the short-comings of the prior art with an improved cell collection and transport apparatus. The apparatus generally comprises: (1) a polystyrene shaft; (2) a dental foam swab affixed to one end of the shaft; and (3) a polypropylene cap affixed to the other end of the shaft. The cap is matingly engageable with a polypropylene tube proportioned to house the shaft and swab. For buccal cell collection, the foam swab preferably is formed in the shape of a multi-pointed star. If cells are collected for DNA testing, preferably approximately 75% of the surface area of the cap should be vented for proper drying and extraction of the DNA. A tamper-evident seal is affixed about the line of engagement between the cap and tube; and coordinated labels are affixed to the cap and tube.
In this manner, the present invention provides a cost-effective collection and transport apparatus that minimizes contamination, minimizes mix-up between the collection member and the transport member and efficiently collects and protects collected cells.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3776220 (1973-12-01), Monaghan
patent: 3890204 (1975-06-01), Avery
patent: 4150950 (1979-04-01), Takeguchi et al.
patent: 4175008 (1979-11-01), White
patent: 4211323 (1980-07-01), Olsen
patent: 4260570 (1981-04-01), Ravel
patent: 4409988 (1983-10-01), Greenspan
patent: 4472357 (1984-09-01), Levy et al.
patent: 4586604 (1986-05-01), Alter
patent: 5084005 (1992-01-01), Kachigian
patent: 5085633 (1992-02-01), Hanifl et al.
patent: 5101970 (1992-04-01), Turner
patent: 5211286 (1993-05-01), Turner
patent: 5695930 (1997-12-01), Weinstein et al.
patent: 5735808 (1998-04-01), Delgado et al.
patent: 5736325 (1998-04-01), Manowitz et al.
patent: 5830154 (1998-11-01), Goldstein et al.
patent: 5856102 (1999-01-01), Bierke-Nelson et al.
Photos of Micro Diagnostics, Inc. Swab Kit; date unknown but believed to be prior art.
Belcher Kathleen M.
Tripp Patricia D.
Hindenburg Max
Innovative Genetic Technology
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC
LandOfFree
Cell collection and transport does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cell collection and transport, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cell collection and transport will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2582237