Occult blood testing apparatus with features for enhancing ease of use

Abstract

A self-contained system for testing for the presence of occult blood in a specimen has been provided with features enhancing its ease of use. The system includes a housing holding a test matrix and a container for releasing a developing medium onto the test matrix. The housing includes a base portion encasing both the container and the test matrix, and a moveable cover for selectively covering and uncovering the base. The cover is provided with a tab which can be manipulated with a finger of one hand, and the base is provided with tabs which can be grasped easily with one or two other fingers of the same hand, thus allowing the cover to be easily opened and closed with one hand. Other ease-of-use features include an applicator with a tip configured for optimized retrieval and even spreading of the specimen on the test matrix, and indicia imprinted at various positions on the housing designating both the location and order in which the different steps of the testing procedure are to be performed

1 . An applicator for collecting a spreadable specimen and spreading the specimen on a test matrix, the applicator comprising: 
 a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user; and    a distal portion including a distal tip having conical side edges and a distal tip surface between the conical side edges and configured for optimized collection and spreading of the specimen on the test matrix.    
     
     
         2 . (canceled)  
     
     
         3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . The applicator according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 the distal portion includes a shoulder portion extending beyond the distal tip conical side edges.    
     
     
         5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal tip surface is textured.  
     
     
         7 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one coupling element on at least one of the handle portion and the distal portion for coupling the distal portion to the handle portion.  
     
     
         8 . The applicator according to  claim 1  wherein the handle portion and the distal portion are substantially identical in size and form and are configured to be engageable with one another.  
     
     
         9 . A system for testing for the presence of an anomalous substance in a specimen, the system comprising: 
 a test matrix having a specimen placement area on one side;    a housing holding the test matrix, the housing including a base and a moveable lid couplable with the base and structured and positionable between an open position exposing the specimen placement area and a closed position covering the specimen placement area;    the housing structured such that the lid can be single-handedly manipulated between the open position and the closed position.    
     
     
         10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the housing further comprises a grip region extending from the base.  
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the grip region comprises two tabs extending from opposite corners of an edge of the base.  
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11  wherein 
 the housing is configured to be conveniently held in one hand; and    the housing further comprises at least one tab extending from the lid and configured to be manipulated by one finger of a human hand while the grip region is grasped by at least one other finger of the hand.    
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the housing is configured to be conveniently held in one hand; and    the housing further comprises at least one tab extending from the lid and configured to be manipulated by the index finger of a human hand and two tabs extending from the base and configured to be simultaneously manipulated by the thumb and another finger of the hand.    
     
     
         15 . (canceled)  
     
     
         16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . A self-contained system for testing for the presence of an anomalous substance in a specimen, the system comprising: 
 a test matrix having a specimen placement area on one side;    a housing holding the test matrix, the housing including a base having an opening aligned with the specimen placement area of the test matrix and a moveable lid engageable with the base and structured and positionable between an open position exposing the specimen placement area and a closed position covering the specimen placement area; and    instructions on the housing indicating an order in which a series of steps to is to be performed during testing for the presence of an anomalous substance in a specimen.    
     
     
         19 . The self-contained system according to  claim 18 , wherein the instructions comprise a plurality of indicia sets, wherein each indicia set corresponds to a different step in the series and is located at a place on the housing where the corresponding step is to be performed.  
     
     
         20 . The self-contained system according to  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the housing comprises a base portion having an opening aligned with the specimen placement area, and a cover mounted for movement between an open position exposing the specimen placement area and a closed position covering the specimen placement area; and    the instructions include at least one indicia set on the cover for designating at least one step to be carried out with the cover closed, and at least one indicia set on the base for designating at least one step to be carried out with the cover open.    
     
     
         21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . The self-contained system according to  claim 18 , wherein the system further includes a container holding a developing medium, wherein the container is encased by the housing and positioned and structured to be broken to release the developing medium onto the test matrix.  
     
     
         23 . The self-contained system according to  claim 22 , wherein the instructions include at least one indicia set on the housing aligned with the container for indicating when, where, and how to break the container.  
     
     
         24 . The self contained system according to  claim 18  further comprising an applicator structured to facilitate application of a spreadable specimen to the specimen placement area, the applicator including 
 a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user,    a distal portion including a distal tip configured for collecting and spreading a specimen on the test matrix, and    at least one coupling element on at least one of the handle portion and the distal portion for securing the handle portion to the distal portion.    
     
     
         25 - 30 . (canceled)  
     
     
         31 . The self-contained system according to  claim 18  further comprising 
 an applicator having a distal end for applying a spreadable specimen onto the specimen placement area, the applicator having a configuration enabling mating engagement of the applicator distal end with the opening for promoting uniform application of a spreadable specimen applied to the specimen placement area.    
     
     
         32 . The self-contained system according to  claim 31  wherein the distal end of the applicator is configured to maintain a clearance between the distal tip and the test matrix when the applicator is matingly engaged with the opening.  
     
     
         33 . The self-contained system according to  claim 31  wherein the distal tip includes conical side edges.  
     
     
         34 . The self-contained system according to  claim 33  wherein the distal portion includes a shoulder portion extending beyond the distal tip conical side edges.