Biomaterial collection apparatus and assemblies

Abstract

Apparatus and assemblies for automated sterile collection of urine and other biomaterials for medical testing, law enforcement testing, etc. Individual sample collection cartridges include an inflatable collection conduit and an inflatable collection vessel. The collection vessel can be sealed in multiple locations in a chronologically sequential manner to segregate an initial or “dirty” portion of a urine stream.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . An assembly, comprising:
 a main body;   a plug connected to the main body, the plug being adapted to plug a port of a toilet bowl;   a retainer connected to the main body, the retainer being configured to retain a cartridge holding a urine collection vessel; and   a controller operatively coupled to the main body and configured to cause the main body to move to:
 plug the port with the plug; 
 unplug the plug from the port; and 
 when the port is unplugged, position the cartridge such that the urine collection vessel can receive urine through the port. 
   
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the main body to move in a first direction, and to cause the plug to move in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the main body includes an air inlet configured to mate with a pump. 
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 32 , further comprising the pump, the pump including a hose mated to the air inlet. 
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 30 , further comprising a stack of the cartridges, wherein the controller is configured to cause the main body to move to the stack to receive one of the cartridges from the stack in the retainer. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the retainer defines a basket configured to receive the cartridge. 
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the basket includes retaining members configured to resiliently snap around an outer shell of the cartridge. 
     
     
         37 . The assembly of  claim 30 , further comprising a leg extending from the main body and supporting the plug. 
     
     
         38 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the plug includes an annular rib. 
     
     
         39 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the main body includes guides receiving rods that support the main body during movement of the main body. 
     
     
         40 . The assembly of  claim 30 , further comprising a cartridge received in the retainer, the cartridge including a vessel for collecting urine. 
     
     
         41 . The assembly of  claim 40 , wherein the cartridge includes a funnel for directing the urine into the vessel. 
     
     
         42 . The assembly of  claim 40 ,
 wherein the main body includes an air inlet configured to mate with a pump; and   wherein the cartridge defines an air inlet aligned with the air inlet of the main body.   
     
     
         43 . The assembly of  claim 30 , further comprising the toilet bowl, wherein the main body is positioned below the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         44 . An assembly, comprising:
 a main body;   a plug adapted to plug a port of a toilet bowl;   a leg extending from the main body and supporting the plug;   a retainer connected to the main body, the retainer being configured to retain a cartridge holding a urine collection vessel; and   a controller operatively coupled to the main body and configured to cause the main body to move in a first direction and to cause the plug to move in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction to:
 plug the port with the plug; 
 unplug the plug from the port; and 
 when the port is unplugged, position the cartridge such that the urine collection vessel can receive urine through the port, 
   
       wherein the main body includes an air inlet configured to mate with a pump. 
     
     
         45 . The assembly of  claim 44 , further comprising the toilet bowl, wherein the main body is positioned below the toilet bowl.