US5268148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Saliva sampling device and sample adequacy system
Assignee: Saliva Diagnostic Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1992-02-19
•
Granted: 1993-12-07
•
Expires: 2012-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A saliva sampling device includes a collection container, a saliva collector and a sample container. The sample container is inserted into the collection container and becomes fluidly coupled thereto by inserting the saliva collector into sample container and pressing it therein. This allows a sample of saliva to be collected, separated from the saliva collector and retained within the collection container for testing. The saliva collector includes a piston fitting closely within the sample container and a porous mass which may be compressed by the piston in the sample container to extract the sample of saliva for distribution to the collection container. A buffering solution may be retained within the sample container for mixing with the sample of saliva. The saliva sampling device may include a sample container, a saliva collector and at least one reagent container which may be used with a rotatable cylinder to mix a buffered sample of saliva with at least one reagent solution for conducting a laboratory test on site. The saliva sampling device may also include at least two sample containers and at least two saliva collectors which may be used with a cylinder to mix a buffered sample of saliva with at least one reagent solution for conducting a laboratory test on site. This allows at least two people to be tested with the same saliva sampling device.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene H. Seymour
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:01
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/0045; A61B10/0051; A61B10/0096; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/06; B01L2300/0681; B01L2300/08; B01L2300/0861; B01L2300/0867; B01L2400/00; B01L2400/04; B01L2400/0475; B01L2400/0478; B01L3/5029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A saliva sampling device comprising: a. a collection container having a first opening; b. a sample container having an inner wall surface, a second opening, a first end spaced from said second opening and a passageway through said first end, said first end being sized to fit within said first opening of said collection container; c. a selective closure in said passageway; d. a saliva collector sized to fit through said second opening, said saliva collector including a piston closely fitting within said inner wall surface of said sample container to seal therebetween, a piece of filter paper being fixed to said piston and a rigid handle extending to said passageawy so that when said saliva collector is inserted into said sample container to a sample removal position said piece of filter paper is squeezed at said passageway; and e. a retaining ridge disposed on said inner wall surface whereby said retaining ridge secures said piston within said sample container at said sample removal position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A saliva sampling device comprising: a. a collection container having a first opening; b. a sample container having an inner wall surface, a second opening, a first end spaced from said second opening and a passageway through said first end, said first end being sized to fit within said first opening of said collection container; c. a selective closure in said passageway; d. a saliva collector sized to fit through said second opening, said saliva collector including a piston closely fitting within said inner wall surface of said sample container to seal therebetween, a piece of filter paper being fixed to said piston and a rigid handle extending to said passageawy so that when said saliva collector is inserted into said sample container to a sample removal position said piece of filter paper is squeezed at said passageway; and e. a retaining ridge disposed on said inner wall surface whereby said retaining ridge secures said piston within said sample container at said sample removal position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
A saliva sampling device according to claim 1 said saliva collector includes an indicator activated by a preselected amount of the received sample of saliva and disposed in said piston of said sample collector and apart from said piece of filter paper so that said indicator does not interfere with the collection of a sample of saliva, said indicator being coupled to said piece of filter paper so that when said sample collector is inserted into a test subject's mouth saliva fluidly couples said piece of filter paper to said indicator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A saliva sampling device according to claim 2 said sample container comprises a filtering system including a rubber o-ring and a piece of filtering material, said filtering system disposed adjacent to said selective closure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A saliva sampling device according to claim 2 wherein said indicator comprises a chemical reagent which reacts with saliva by changing the color of said chemical reagent from a first color to a second color and which treats a portion of said piece of filter paper whereby, when said saliva collector has collected an adequate amount, the saliva will reach said chemical reagent and change the color of said chemical reagent from said first color to said second color.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A saliva sampling device according to claim 4 wherein said piston has a hole and said indicator further comprises a plastic lens which is disposed in said hole of said piston over said chemical reagent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A saliva sampling device according to claim 2 wherein said indicator comprises a compressed sponge which expands which it comes in contact with saliva and which is disposed in a portion of said piece of filter paper whereby, when said saliva sampling device has collected an adequate sample, the saliva will reach said compressed sponge and expand it.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A saliva sampling device according to claim 5, said piston has a hole and said indicator further comprises a plastic lens which is disposed in said hole of said piston over said compressed sponge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A saliva sampling device according to claim 2 wherein said indicator comprises an expandable polymeric bead which expands which it comes in contact with saliva and which is disposed in a portion of said piece of filter paper whereby, when said saliva sampling device has collected an adequate sample, the saliva will reach said polymeric bead and expand it.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A saliva sampling device according to claim 8, said piston has a hole and said indicator further comprises a plastic lens which is disposed in said hole of said piston over said polymeric bead.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
161 words
A saliva sampling device comprising: a. a collection container having a first opening; b. a sample container having a second opening, a first end spaced from said second opening and a passageway through said first end of said sample container, said first end of said sample container being sized to fit within said first opening of said collection container; c. a closure element blocking said passageway; d. an actuator element extending from one of said closure element and said collection container to contact and interfere with the other of said closure element and said collection container upon insertion of said sample container in said collection container to displace said closure element and open said passageway; and e. a saliva collector sized to fit through said second opening of said sample container, said saliva collector including a porous mass coupled to a rigid handle for squeezing said porous mass at said passageway when said porous mass is inserted into said sample container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
161 words
A saliva sampling device comprising: a. a collection container having a first opening; b. a sample container having a second opening, a first end spaced from said second opening and a passageway through said first end of said sample container, said first end of said sample container being sized to fit within said first opening of said collection container; c. a closure element blocking said passageway; d. an actuator element extending from one of said closure element and said collection container to contact and interfere with the other of said closure element and said collection container upon insertion of said sample container in said collection container to displace said closure element and open said passageway; and e. a saliva collector sized to fit through said second opening of said sample container, said saliva collector including a porous mass coupled to a rigid handle for squeezing said porous mass at said passageway when said porous mass is inserted into said sample container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A saliva sampling device according to claim 10 wherein said actuator element extends from said closure element outwardly of said sample container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3449081A
Cited
US3783104A
Cited
US3832141A
Cited
US3966558A
Cited
US4014322A
Cited
US4209488A
Cited
US4268270A
Cited
US4312950A
Cited
US4418702A
Cited
US4387725A
Cited
US4444193A
Cited
US4791060A
Cited
US4635488A
Cited
US4624929A
Cited
US4865813A
Cited
US4770853A
Cited
US4859603A
Cited
US5079142A
Cited
US4833087A
Cited
JPS63293440A
Cited
US4895808A
Cited
US5000193A
Cited
US5084245A
Cited
US4961432A
Cited
US5135873A
Cited
US5103836A
Cited
US5100261A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-12-06 | 1997-06-07 | 1997-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-06 | 2001-06-07 | 2001-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-06 | 2005-06-07 | 2005-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |