Mechanically actuated vacuum controlled fluid collection

Abstract

A mechanically-actuated vacuum-controlled fluid collection system includes a mechanically-actuated vacuum controller (MA VC) to draw fluid into a chamber through the opening to the chamber. The system may include a releasable seal to seal the opening, and the MAVC may include a spring-loaded plunger to create a vacuum within the chamber when sealed. The system includes multiple fluid chambers, and may further include a single actuator or multiple corresponding actuators. The system may be configured to add a pre-loadable reagent to fluid drawn into the one or more chambers, and may be configured to add the reagent in proportion to a volume of the fluid. The system may be controllable to release collected fluid to another device, such as for assay and/or transport. The system may be configured to draw a liquid biological sample such as urine, and may include a fluid interface to draw fluid from a biological sample container.

1 . A fluid collection device, comprising:
 a housing having a fluid chamber configured to receive and retain a fluid and an opening to the fluid chamber;   a fixed volume vacuum controller to draw in a fixed, predetermined volume of the fluid into the fluid chamber through the opening;   the fixed volume vacuum controller being further configured to thereby store the fixed, predetermined volume of fluid in the fluid chamber, as the fixed, predetermined volume of fluid is drawn through the opening and into the fluid chamber by the fixed volume vacuum controller; and   the fluid chamber further configured to hold the fixed, predetermined volume of fluid for transport within the device.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 volume indicia, disposed adjacent the fluid chamber. 
 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 a compressible element, configured to apply a mechanical force to activate the fixed volume vacuum controller. 
 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  additionally comprising:
 a push-button actuator, configured to actuate the compressible element. 
 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 a push-button based mechanical actuator, configured to actuate the fixed volume vacuum controller. 
 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a plunger disposed at least partially within the fluid chamber; and 
 wherein the push-button based mechanical actuator has an opening through which a plunger passes when the push button is triggered. 
 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a fluid stopper, disposed within or on the housing, configured to releasably seal the opening to the fluid chamber for transport of the fixed, predetermined amount of fluid. 
 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the fixed volume vacuum controller is configured to draw in and retain multiple fixed, predetermined volumes of fluid into the fluid chamber sequentially or in parallel. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the fluid chamber comprises multiple sealable fluid chambers to receive a collection of mixed fluid and reagent samples. 
     
     
         10 . A fluid collection device comprising:
 a housing having a fluid chamber, configured to receive and retain a fluid, and having an opening to the fluid chamber;   a fixed volume vacuum controller configured to draw in a fixed, predetermined volume of the fluid into the fluid chamber through the opening;   the fixed volume vacuum controller being further configured to thereby mix the fixed, predetermined volume of fluid with a reagent in the fluid chamber, as the fixed, predetermined volume of fluid is drawn through the opening and into the fluid chamber by the fixed volume vacuum controller;   a compressible element, configured to apply a mechanical force to activate the fixed volume vacuum controller;   a sample port, disposed in the housing, and configured to provide fluid access to the sample chamber from outside the housing; and   the sample port being further configured to mechanically attach to an element outside the housing enabling the transfer of fluid between the fluid collection device and the element.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the sample port further comprises one or more of a pierce-able membrane and rubber septum disposed over the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10  additionally comprising:
 a trigger, configured to release the compressible element to apply mechanical force when the trigger is moved from a first position to a second position. 
 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the trigger further has an opening through which the compressible element passes. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10  additionally comprising:
 a reagent chamber, the reagent chamber disposed within the housing, and preloaded with a fixed, predetermined amount of a reagent prior to activation of the mechanically-actuated, non-adjustable vacuum controller. 
 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the reagent chamber is configured to hold a fixed, predetermined amount of a liquid reagent. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the fixed volume vacuum controller is configured to add reagent in proportion to volumes of multiple portions of fluid drawn in through the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the reagent chamber is preloaded with a liquid reagent. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the reagent chamber is preloaded with a dry reagent. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the fixed, predetermined amount of fluid is only accessible by opening the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 14  wherein mixed fixed, predetermined amounts of fluid and reagent stored within the fluid chamber are only accessible by opening the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the sample port is further configured to interface with an element that comprises a diagnostic or transport system. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 10  further including:
 a mechanical actuator to actuate the fixed volume vacuum controller; 
 wherein a portion of the mechanical actuator extends through a surface of the housing to permit a user to actuate the mechanically-actuated vacuum controller; and 
 wherein the reagent and the mechanically-actuated vacuum controller are pre-disposed within the housing, inaccessible to the user. 
 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the fixed volume vacuum controller further comprises:
 a plunger configured to create a vacuum within the fluid chamber; and 
 a mechanical actuator to actuate the plunger; 
 wherein the mechanical actuator is connected to the plunger to control a position of the plunger; 
 wherein the part of the housing, or the part disposed within the housing, thereby controls movement of the plunger to only move by a fixed, non-adjustable, predetermined distance within the fluid chamber; and 
 wherein the mechanical actuator is predisposed within the housing, inaccessible to a user of the device.