Screening device for analysis of bodily fluids

Abstract

A screening device for testing bodily fluids for the presence of certain constituents. The device can include a planar front face through which all of the test strips are viewed. The device also includes an inclined surface that directs the fluid under test to test strips with more efficiency, and partitions the fluid that is directed to a given test strip to better assure that the test strip receives an adequate amount of bodily fluid for a valid analysis. In one embodiment, the device includes a three-dimensional gasket that creates a pressurized environment upon insertion of the sampling stem for improved diffusion of the bodily fluid into the test strips.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for testing a sample of bodily fluid, comprising:
 a cup including a plurality of sides extending upward from a containment bottom, said plurality of sides and said containment bottom defining a cavity, said containment bottom including an inclined surface that intersects each of said plurality of sides, said inclined surface intersecting a first side of said plurality of sides along a junction line, said junction line being located at a lowermost extremity of said cavity when the cup is in an upright position, said inclined surface and said first side defining an acute angle therebetween, said plurality of sides defining an upper perimeter of said cup, said containment bottom including a pedestal portion that extends upwards from said inclined surface, said pedestal portion including a top face having a perimeter that is substantially normal to said insertion axis;   a holder disposed in said cavity of said cup, said holder including a front face adjacent said first side of said cup, said front face including a plurality of parallel ribs that define a plurality of parallel elongate channels, said plurality of parallel elongate channels each defining a channel axis that extends substantially perpendicular to said junction line, each of said plurality of parallel elongate channels being adapted to hold a corresponding test strip so that a detection end of said corresponding test strip is proximate said junction line; and   a sampling stem having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said distal portion including a sampling swab, wherein said distal portion of said sampling stem being adapted for squeezing engagement with said containment bottom of said cup.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said top face of said pedestal portion includes a securing structure for inhibiting at least part of said swab portion of said sampling stem from sliding laterally relative to said insertion axis. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said pedestal portion is substantially centered about said insertion axis. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said holder further comprises:
 a cap portion joined to said upper perimeter of said cup, said cap portion defining an access port, said front face of said holder depending from said cap portion; and   a through passage structure defining a through passage that passes through said holder, said through passage structure including a proximal end and a distal end concentric about an insertion axis, said proximal end of said through passage structure including said access port of said cap portion,   wherein said sampling stem is configured for insertion through said through passage for engagement with said containment bottom of said cup.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said cap portion of said holder and said sampling stem include complementary structures for securing said sampling stem in a fixed position along said insertion axis relative to said cap portion. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said complementary structures comprise a female threaded structure proximate said access port of said cap portion of said holder and a male threaded portion proximate said proximal portion of said sampling stem. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a three-dimensional gasket disposed within said cavity of said cup between said holder and said containment bottom of said cup, said three-dimensional gasket including:
 a diaphragm portion that includes structure defining an aperture that passes therethrough; and   a perimeter portion depending from said diaphragm portion, said perimeter portion including a lower face that engages said containment bottom of said cup, said diaphragm portion and said perimeter portion cooperating with said containment bottom of said cup to define a chamber accessible through said aperture.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a passage extension structure surrounding said aperture of said three-dimensional gasket and extending upward from said diaphragm portion to define an extended passage, said extended passage being substantially concentric with said through passage, said extended passage being adapted to receive said distal portion of said sampling stem.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said passage extension structure of said three dimensional gasket is in contact with said through passage structure of said holder. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said perimeter portion includes a front portion having an outer face and an inner face, said outer face being in contact with said first face of said cup, said inner face including a plurality of riblets that extend into said chamber, each of said plurality of riblets being in substantial alignment with a corresponding one of said plurality of ribs of said front face of said holder, said plurality of riblets defining a plurality of channel extensions on said inner face of said front portion, each of the channel extensions being in substantial alignment with a corresponding one of said plurality of channels of said front face of said holder, each of the channel extensions being accessible from said corresponding one of said plurality of channels. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of riblets depend from said diaphragm portion. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said diaphragm portion of said three dimensional gasket follows substantially the same contour as said inclined surface of said containment bottom of said cup. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said pedestal portion extends upwards into said extension passage of said three dimensional gasket. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of test strips, each having a detection end for detection of a designated constituent, each of the test strips being disposed in a corresponding one of said plurality of channels with said detection end extending into the channel extension of said corresponding one of said plurality of channels. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said first side is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of sides of said cup further define a lower perimeter extending below said containment bottom of said chamber, said lower perimeter defining a plane that is substantially orthogonal to said first side. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said inclined surface is substantially planar. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said proximal portion of said sampling stem includes a knob. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said distal portion of said sampling stem includes a collar for contacting an inner surface of said extended passage of said three dimensional gasket. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said collar captures a proximal end of said sampling swab. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sampling swab comprises a sponge. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said front face of said holder and said first side of said cup are substantially planar.