U.S. patent number 3,894,845 [Application Number 05/363,383] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-15 for urine collection and analysis device.
Invention is credited to Bernard McDonald.
United States Patent |
3,894,845 |
McDonald |
July 15, 1975 |
Urine collection and analysis device
Abstract
A device useful in medical laboratories for receiving urine and
performing analyses thereof is described. In a preferred embodiment
urine flows into portions on either side of a unitary housing. The
two side portions are interconnected by an overflow reservoir.
Urine first fills a plurality of upper compartments having
preselected volume and then overflows a weir into the reservoir. In
the other side portion a trough receives urine and wicks transfer a
limited quantity thereof to nutrient media. A special sample tube
in the second side portion collects urine for sedimentation
analysis. Excess urine overflows to the reservoir. A float in the
reservoir closes off the weirs when the reservoir is filled. A
slide in the first side portion is then removed to permit urine to
flow from the upper compartments to lower compartments each of
which contains an analysis reagent. An inner housing within the
second side portion with nutrient media is removable for
incubation. In another embodiment, urine is collected in a
compartment that can be closed off by a float. At any convenient
time thereafter a wall of the compartment can be ruptured to permit
the urine to flow into a second compartment where a test reagent
provides a urine analysis. In still another embodiment the patient
urinates into a receiving vessel having side apertures near its
bottom and mounted on a float. Initially, the urine flows from one
aperture to a region beneath the float. After the float rises to a
certain extent, the first aperture is occulted and urine overflows
through a second aperture into a sample chamber. Thus, a midstream
sample is obtained in the sample chamber.
Inventors: |
McDonald; Bernard (Malibu,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
23429998 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/363,383 |
Filed: |
May 24, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
422/430;
73/863.52; 600/575 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L
3/502 (20130101); A61B 10/007 (20130101); B01L
3/5085 (20130101); B01L 2300/0864 (20130101); B01L
2200/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
10/00 (20060101); B01L 9/00 (20060101); G01N
37/00 (20060101); A61b 010/00 (); G01n 001/10 ();
G01n 033/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;23/253R,259,292,23B
;73/421R ;128/2F |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Scovronek; Joseph
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Christie, Parker & Hale
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A laboratory device for urinalysis comprising:
a housing having an open top;
a plurality of sample compartments in the housing;
means for directing urine through the open top into the sample
compartments;
an overflow reservoir;
weir means for overflowing urine from the sample compartments to
the reservoir;
a float in the reservoir; and
means on the float for engaging the housing closing the open top of
the device and the weir means when the reservoir fills.
2. A laboratory device as defined in claim 1 wherein a top portion
of the float extends through a slot in the open top of the device;
and
the means for directing comprises a pan on the top of the float and
a flexible tube extending from the pan into one of the sample
compartments.
3. A laboratory device as defined in claim 2 wherein the housing
has a generaly U-shape with the overflow reservoir forming the
bight of the U, and wherein the sample compartments are in rows in
the legs of the U.
4. A laboratory device for urinalysis comprising:
a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion;
a plurality of open top compartments in the upper portion, each
compartment having a predetermined volume, the upper portions of
the compartments being in mutual fluid communication;
means for receiving urine in the upper portion for flow into said
compartments;
an overflow reservoir for receiving urine in excess of the amount
needed to fill said compartments;
overflow means between the upper portion and the reservoir;
a plurality of compartments in the lower portion of the housing in
one to one correlation with the compartments in the upper portion;
and
means for temporarily sealing the upper compartments from the
respective lower compartments and for permitting urine to flow
therebetween when desired.
5. A laboratory device as defined in claim 4 further comprising a
urinalysis reagent in each of the lower compartments.
6. A laboratory device as defined in claim 5 wherein the means for
sealing comprises a removable slide between the upper and lower
compartments.
7. A laboratory device for body fluid analysis comprising:
a housing;
means for collecting a body fluid sample and directing it into the
housing;
means in the housing for receiving the sample from the means for
collecting, subdividing the body fluid sample, and filling a
plurality of sub-sample compartments each having a predetermined
volume;
a reservoir for containing body fluid in excess of the total volume
of the sub-samples;
an analysis reagent in the compartments for at least a portion of
the sub-samples; and
means for contacting selected sub-samples and their respective
analysis reagents at a desired time after collection.
8. A laboratory device as defined in claim 7 further
comprising:
overflow means between the several compartments and between the
compartments and the reservoir for directing fluid in excess of the
amount needed to fill the compartments to the reservoir.
9. A collection and analysis device for body liquid analysis
comprising:
an open collection compartment for collecting a body liquid sample
from a patient;
a closed sample compartment attached to the collection compartment
and not in liquid communication therewith;
means for opening liquid communication between the collection
compartment and the sample compartment for transferring liquid
therebetween at a selected moment after sample collection
comprising a resiliently flexible wall on the sample compartment
and means for rupturing the wall comprising a sharp tip on the
flexible wall for perforating the wall between the compartments
upon flexing of the flexible wall; and
a body liquid analysis reagent in the sample compartment.
10. A urine collection device for recovering a midstream sample
comprising:
a collection compartment;
a receiving vessel fitted into the collection compartment;
a sample compartment adjacent the collection compartment and having
a liquid flow passage therebetween;
means for passing a urine stream from the receiving vessel to the
collection compartment comprising a first aperture at the lower
portion of the receiving vessel;
a second aperture in the lower portion of the receiving vessel;
and
means in the collection compartment for inhibiting urine flow from
the receiving vessel to the collection compartment and for
diverting urine flow from the receiving vessel to the sample
compartment in response to liquid level in the collection
compartment comprising a float on the bottom of the receiving
vessel for floating the receiving vessel on urine in the collection
compartment and aligning the second aperture with the passage.
11. A midstream sampling device as defined in claim 10 further
comprising stop means in the collection compartment for limiting
the extent of rise of the float, and wherein the means for
inhibiting and diverting further comprises a wall portion adjacent
the stop means for occulting the first aperture.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Analysis of urine is one of the most commonly used medical
techniques since the chemistry of a patient's urine reflects so
many physiological conditions. The techniques for collection and
analysis are archaic to say the least. The usual technique is to
have the patient provide a urine sample in a bottle or cup and this
vessel is delivered to the laboratory. Open cups or bottles are
susceptible to spillage and it is surprising how inept people are
in placing caps on bottles.
When the sample reaches the laboratory it may sit around for some
time before the technician gets around to performing the required
analyses. For many chemical tests this is of no great concern since
the urine does not change rapidly. When tests are to be made for
microorganisms, however, it is desirable to commence culture growth
promptly so that the viability of organism is assured. It is
impossible to say how many culture tests are reported negative
simply because the technicians have unduly delayed the commencement
of growth. Samples for other tests (sugar, albumin, pH, etc.) are
taken by pipetting an aliquot of the urine into a test vessel. Such
techniques are time consuming and relatively unpleasant.
It is therefore desirable to provide a technique for obtaining
urine samples with minimum chance for spillage between collection
and the laboratory and where tests can be performed quickly and
accurately with minimum time and mess.
For some tests, particularly for microorganism culture, it is
desirable to obtain what is known as a midstream sample. The
initial flow or urine may be contaminated with microorganisms from
the external urethra and the initial portion of the steam is
discarded. After this flushing action the balance of the stream may
be collected for analysis. Previously this has been accomplished by
having the patient urinate into more than one container or simply
discard the first part of the stream and then urinate into the
sample container. In children and elderly patients, such a
technique is often unsatisfactory.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is, therefore, provided in practice of this invention
according to a presently preferred embodiment, a urine collection
and analysis device in the form of a unitary housing having a
plurality of sample compartments in the housing. Urine is directed
into the sample compartments and overflows into a reservoir when
the compartments are filled. A float in the reservoir closes it off
when it is filled and preferably stops flow of urine into the
sample compartments at the same time. The sample compartments hold
samples of selected volume which are subsequently discharged into
reagent containing analysis compartments within the housing, wicks
also lead to compartments with nutrient media for microorganism
culture. This portion can be removed and placed in a controlled
temperature oven as soon as received in the laboratory.
DRAWINGS
These and other features and advantages of the present invention
will be appreciated as the same becomes better understood by
reference to the following detailed description when considered in
connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a urine collection and analysis
device constructed according to principles of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a transverse cross section of the device;
FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway view of the device when filled with a
removable portion having means for growing organism cultures
exploded therefrom;
FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the device having sample collection
and analysis compartments;
FIG. 5 illustrates a centrifuge tube removed from the collection
device and a test slide useful with it;
FIG. 6 illustrates a float for a collapsible embodiment of urine
collection and analysis device;
FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of urine collection and
analysis device;
FIG. 8 is a cross section transverse to the view of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a transverse cross section through a urine collection and
analysis device particularly suited for obtaining a midstream
sample; and
FIG. 10 illustrates a float and receiving vessel for the device of
FIG. 9.
DESCRIPTION
In the illustration of a presently preferred embodiment shown in
perspective in FIG. 1 a portion has been cut away to show some of
the interior. This laboratory device for urine collection and
analysis comprises a plastic housing 10 on top of which a shallow
pan 11 is placed. The pan 11 is formed of thin plastic or water
resistant treated paper and is sufficiently flexible that it can be
safely flushed down a toilet if desired. Flexible tubes 12 lead
from the bottom portion of the pan into the interior of the housing
10.
The housing has a generally U-shape in transverse cross section as
is also seen in FIG. 2. The device has two depending side portions
13 and 14 interconnected by an overflow reservoir 16. One of the
side portions 13 is also illustrated in FIG. 4 as if it were a
separate article; that is the reservoir portion 16 and other side
portion 14 have been removed for purposes of illustration. The top
portion of the housing 10 is partly closed by horizontally
extending sheets 17 extending part way inwardly from each edge to
leave a longitudinal slot 18 across the top of the device. A
T-shaped float 19 of very lightweight material, such as polystyrene
foam fits in the central overflow reservoir with the upstanding leg
21 of the float 19 fitting through the slot 18 in the top of the
device. Since the float fits rather closely within the reservoir,
holes 22 are provided through the crossbar of the T so that urine
can flow therethrough. The pan 11 is on top of the leg 21 of the
float and is preferably lightly secured thereto by an adhesive to
keep it from being accidently dislodged, but still removable when
desired.
The interior of side portion 13 is open along its length below the
top sheet 17 so that urine can flow to any portion. An overflow
weir or slot 23 communicates between the side portion 13 and the
central reservoir 16. When the pan 11 is in place one of the tubes
12 extends over the weir 23 and into the side portion so that urine
flows directly thereto from the pan.
The side portion 13 of the housing is subdivided into a plurality
of funnel-shaped upper compartments 24. It will be noted in FIG. 4
that the volumes of the several compartments may be different so
that the volume of fluid contained in each differs. The tops of the
several compartments 24 are below the height of the weir 23 so that
when urine flows into the side portion 13 it flows into the several
upper compartments 24 until all are filled before it overflows the
weir into the central reservoir.
The side portion 13 also has a plurality of lower compartments 26
in one to one correlation with the upper compartments 24. A
removable slide 27 temporarily seals the lower compartments from
the respective upper compartments. Each of the lower compartments
26 contains a suitable reagent (not shown) preferably in dry form
for performing a urine analysis, such as for example, for the
presence of blood in the urine, pH, ketone content, density, or the
like.
One of the lower compartments 26 contains a plurality of small
plastic spheres 30 having different densities or specific
gravities. All the spheres of one density have a selected color,
thus for example a few spheres having a specific gravity of 1.010
may be red in color and all those having a density of 1.015 may be
orange. A range of sphere densities are included corresponding to
the normal range of urine density (i.e., from about 1.001 to
1.035). A significant clinical factor in urine analysis can be the
specific gravity which should be in excess of about 1.015 in the
usual fasting specimen. The techician can readily note the density
of the urine by observing which of the plastic spheres float and
which sink.
Sugar determination is another important analysis and a number of
powders, tablets and tapes are available for this test. Urine pH
may be determined with ordinary litmus paper or a variety of
proprietary pH indicators. Similarly protein content, ketone
content, blood or other constituents of the urine can be readily
checked in the lower compartments by including suitable reagents
which are commercially available.
When the device is used urine collects in the upper compartments 24
in a predetermined volume. When the laboratory technician is ready
to perform an analysis, the slide 27 is removed as illustrated in
FIG. 3, which permits the urine in the upper compartments 24 to
flow down into the lower compartments 26 where the analysis
reagents are stored. The differing volumes of the upper
compartments 24 provides a suitable volume for the analysis
performed in the respective lower compartment.
At least the lower portion of the side 13 is transparent so that
the color effects occurring upon urine analysis can be observed by
the technician. If desired one wall of the side portion can be
provided with a suitable white background or color chart so that
the color comparison for analysis is readily made. It will be noted
that the analysis is performed in the vessel in which the urine is
originally collected, thereby obviating any need to transfer the
urine in the laboratory. A substantial number of routine tests can
be performed quickly and easily with high reliability with such a
device.
The other side portion 14 of the laboratory device has a removable
inner housing or cassette 28 which can be withdrawn after urine is
collected as illustrated in FIG. 3. This inner housing 28 also has
a plurality of compartments which are in fluid communication with
each other at their upper portion. In the first compartment
adjacent an overflow weir 34 there is a removable sedimentation
tube 29 further described hereinafter. The second compartment in
the inner housing 28 has an upper portion 31 and a lower portion 32
separated by a rigid membrane 33. A capillary siphon 35 extends
between the upper compartment 31 and lower compartment 32 for
transferring a small amount of urine therebetween. The lower
compartment 32 is partly filled with sterile nutrient broth for
growing microorganisms and the capillary siphon transfers a proper
quantity of urine from the upper compartment to the lower
compartment to fill the space over the nutrient broth and
innoculate the broth for microorganisms growth. Use of a capillary
siphon prevents spillage of the broth before the device is
used.
The balance of the compartments in the side portion 14 have a
shallow trough over their top with a height above that of the weir
34 leading from the first compartment into the central reservoir. A
permeable wick 36 lies in the trough and has an end in the upper
compartment 31. Permeable threads 37 from the wick extend down into
the additional compartments 38 of the side portion. Each of these
compartments 38 has a solid nutrient medium 39 such as a
conventional agar slant for growth of microorganisms. On such a
solid nutrient substrate the small quantity of urine is required
for innoculation, is delivered by the threads 37 of the wick
36.
Thus when the device is used urine flows into the side portion 14,
filling the sedimentation tube 29 and upper compartment 31 before
overflowing the weir 34 into the central reservoir 16. A small
portion of the urine is transferred to the agar slants 39 in the
several compartments 38 by the wick 36 and a limited quantity is
transferred to the lower compartment 32 by way of the capillary
siphon 35. When the side portion 14 is thus filled, the inner
housing 28 is removed for use in the laboratory. The sedimentation
tube 29 is removed and the balance of the inner housing is placed
in an incubation oven at 37.degree.C for optimum growth of
microorganisms. By using several nutrient media in the agar slants
selectivity of growth of microorganisms can be obtained so that
several cultures can be made simultaneously. It will be noted that
the nutrient media is automatically innoculated in the collection
device and the only handling by the technician is to remove the
sedimentation tube 29 and place the inner housing 28 in the
incubation oven.
The laboratory device serves for collection of urine as well as
analysis. Urine is received in the pan 11 and flows through the
tubes 12 into the side portions 13 and 14 of the housing. When
these respective side portions fill, excess urine overflows the
weirs 23 and 34 into the central overflow reservoir 16. This causes
the float 19 to rise, gradually lifting the pan and withdrawing the
tubes 12 from the filled side portions and permitting flow directly
into the reservoir until it is filled.
At this time the pan is simply pulled off and discarded. The float
rises against the upper sheets 17 thereby closing off the holes 22
through the float. The sides of the float also close off the weirs
23 and 34. A pair of slides 41 are mounted in dovetail slots in the
top portion of the device so that when the float has reached its
upper extent, the slides can be pinched together to penetrate the
sides of the polystyrene foam float and lock it in its uppermost
position thereby inhibiting spillage of urine from the reservoir as
the device is taken to the laboratory.
In the laboratory, the technician removes the slide 27 from the
side portion 13 and observes color changes in the lower
compartments 26 for almost instant analysis of the urine. The inner
housing 28 is removed from the other side portion 14 and the
sedimentation tube lifted out. Thereupon the balance of the inner
housing is placed in the incubation oven for conventional growth of
microorganisms. Since no transfer of urine from the collection
device is required in the laboratory, the analyses can be performed
very promptly and economically. It will also be noted that
innoculation of the nutrient media occurs while the urine is still
fresh, significantly reducing mortality of microorganisms. Further,
the steps needed in the laboratory are minimal and the cultures are
usually transferred to the incubation chamber much more promptly
than with prior laboratory techniques. The excess quantity of urine
in the reservoir 16 is ordinarily simply discarded with the device
after analyses have been performed. It is available however in case
specialized tests are required. A small amount of preservative for
the urine may be provided in the reservoir when the unit is
built.
The removable sedimentation tube 29 is a rigid member of
conventional size and external shape for fitting in a conventional
centrifuge. One side of the tube 29 has a reentrant groove 42
extending most of the way down the outside of the tube. An internal
tube 43 dips into the very bottom portion of the sedimentation tube
29 and communicates with a flexible tube 44 on the outside of the
sedimentation tube. Duuring urine collection and centrifuging the
flexible tube 44 reposes in the elongated reentrant groove 42 in
the side of the sedimentation tube. Upon centrifuging, heavy
portions of the urine collect in the bottom of the sedimentation
tube and it is these portions that are of interest for microscopic
examination, the balance of the urine in the upper portions of the
sedimentation tube are of no additional interest.
After centrifuging the sediment in the bottom is transferred to a
microscope slide such as special slide 46 illustrated in FIG. 5.
The flexible tube 44 is removed from the groove 42 and bent down so
that a small amount of the liquid in the sedimentation tube,
including the heavy portions at the bottom, are siphoned out to be
examined microscopically.
Typically in the past the fluid to be examined has been spread
manually across a rectangle of glass or transparent plastic using
another microscope slide as a spreader. A dye may be applied for
staining portions of the fluid to be examined and an adhesive such
as balsam oil is added. This is then covered by a cover slip before
microscopic examination. In the special slide 46 illustrated in
FIG. 5, dyeing and uniform spreading is automatically achieved. A
fluid, such as the urine collected in the above described device,
is placed in a compartment 47 at one end of the transparent slide
46. A porous material such as blotting paper containing a soluble
dye resides in the bottom portion of the compartment 47. The fluid
extracts a portion of the dye from the porous material 48 upon
contact therewith. Preservatives or other reagents that may react
with the fluid may be contained in the porous body. The fluid then
flows into a narrow slit or capillary passage 49 extending along
the slide by normal capillary action and no additional handling is
required before microscopic examination.
It will be noted that the layer of the fluid is thus made uniformly
thin and is self staining, both of which contribute to minimal
handling and risk of contamination of the fluid being examined. If
desired, such a slide can be used by merely dipping the free end
into a fluid so that the flat passage is wetted, and the fluid is
drawn in by capillary action.
Preferably the entire collection device and microscope slide as
hereinabove described are packaged together with a common serial
number on all portions. In this way identification of the serial
number with a patient permits the several parts to be separated in
the course of laboratory examination without loss of correlation
with the patient. This saves the additional step of applying
identification labels to the various samples as they go separate
routes through a laboratory.
The above described device is relatively bulky and the packaging
can be minimized by making it partially collapsible. This can be
effected by making the end and bottom walls of the central overflow
reservoir collapsible so that when pressure is exerted on them the
two side portions 13 and 14 can be pressed together. The walls of
the overflow reservoir should, however, be stiff enough that
collapsing will not occur during an ordinary laboratory handling.
Such can be achieved, for example, by making the walls and floor of
the overflow reservoir with accordian-like pleats which may be
collapsed under force but spring back to an open position when
removed from a surrounding sterile wrapping.
The float in the reservoir must also be made collapsible in the
same direction if the device is to be packaged in a partially
collapsed condition. FIG. 6 illustrates, in cut-away perspective, a
suitable float for a collapsible embodiment. As previously
mentioned, the float has a generally T-shaped cross-section with an
upstanding leg 51 and a cross-bar 52 that, during use, is in a
generally horizontal position. The float illustrated in FIG. 6 is
formed as a hollow body of water impermeable resilient plastic that
is collapsible but springs back to the configuration illustrated in
FIG. 6 when collapsing forces are removed. Exhaust vents 53 at the
top permit air to escape when it is collapsed and re-enter when the
float springs back to its expanded condition. The air vents 53 are
preferably near the edges so that they are not obstructed when the
urine collection pan is placed on top. Preferably in this
embodiment, the collection pan is provided with an adhesive on its
bottom for sticking to the top of the float after expanding.
The edges of the cross bar 52 of the T are provided with scallops,
flutes, or grooves 54 which permit flow of urine past the cross bar
of the float in the same manner as the holes 22 in the previously
described embodiment. If desired, the collapsible T-shaped float
can be closed at the top and open across part or all of the bottom.
The trapped "bubble" of air in the expanded float serves to give it
buoyancy.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate in side view and vertical cross-section,
respectively, another embodiment of urine collection and analysis
device constructed according to principles of this invention. Such
a device is particularly useful where a patient or attendant for
the patient routinely runs screening analyses on urine without
visiting a physician or laboratory. Such a device may be used right
in a diabetic patient's home, for example.
The collection device is in the form of a rectangular vessel
forming a collection compartment 56 in which urine is collected,
preferably directly from the patient. A float 57 is in the main
compartment and is preferably made of an inexpensive foamed plastic
or the like or may be a collapsible float of the same general type
as hereinabove described and illustrated in FIG. 6. A plurality of
scallops or flutes 58 are provided around the periphery of the
float so that urine can flow around it into the compartment beneath
the float. When the compartment is filled or nearly filled, the
float is adjacent the top of the compartment and top end walls 59
block off the scallops around the edge of the float so that urine
will not readily spill. The float can be latched in this uppermost
position by inserting a tapered pin 61 through a transverse hole 62
through the crown portion 63 of the float. Preferably, the pin 61
is connected to the balance of the device by a flexible strap 64
which prevents it from becoming misplaced.
A separate sample compartment 66 is formed on one wall of the main
compartment 56. A urine analysis test strip 67 is packaged in the
second compartment. Such analysis test strips having a plurality of
test regions 68 along the length are commercially available from
the Ames Company, a division of Miles Laboratories, Elkhart,
Indiana. The test strip is paper impregnated with reagents in a
manner somewhat analagous to litmus paper. Each separate region 68
of the test strip is impregnated with a reagent sensitive to a
different condition of the urine to be tested and observation of a
number of different conditions can be obtained quite rapidly. A
plurality of such side compartments can be formed on the side of
the main compartment with each side compartment provided with a
different reagent for performing routine urine analyses, if
desired.
When one is ready to start the analysis, the upper portion of the
side sample compartment 66 is squeezed, pressing a pair of tapered
spikes or tips 69 through a deliberately weakened portion 71 of the
wall into the collection compartment 56. The walls of the sample
compartment are sufficiently flexible to permit such deflection and
spring back to the position illustrated when released. The spikes
69 leave holes as the wall springs back and urine from the
collection compartment runs into the sample compartment for contact
with the test strip 67.
Such a device, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, preserves the
principles of minimum chance for spillage or contamination but is a
simpler, more compact, and less expensive unit than hereinabove
described and illustrated. Such a device is particularly desirable
for use in a physician's office where only the simplest screening
tests are performed and the testing tapes have sufficient
sensitivity. It is also helpful for diabetic patients or the like
to routinely check their own urine at home. In this situation, the
patient may depend on another member of the household to carry out
the test and a substantial time may elapse between the time of
collecting the sample and the urinalysis. The urine simply remains
in the collection compartment until the side wall is ruptured by
the spikes. It is important to maintain the test strip away from
the urine until analysis is desired since the color changes that
occur in the test strip are noted within a minute or less after
first contact with the urine.
FIG. 9 illustrates in vertical cross-section another embodiment of
urine collection and analysis device particularly suitable for
obtaining a midstream sample. In this device, the first portion of
the urine stream which may contain contaminating microorganisms
from the urethra is diverted into one compartment and the following
portion of the stream is collected as the sample to be
analyzed.
The midstream sampling device has a rectangular plastic container
73 opened at its upper end and a special float is mounted within
the container. The float has a buoyant porous plastic base 74
which, as better seen in the perspective view of the float in FIg.
10, has flutes or scallops 76 on its sides for letting urine pass.
An open top receiving vessel or receptacle is mounted on the
buoyant base 74 in a manner such that one face 78 of the combined
receptacle and float is flat. The receiving vessel is set back from
the other three faces of the float to form an upwardly facing
shoulder 79 around three sides. Openings 81 are provided in three
faces of the vessel above the shoulder 79. A fourth opening 82 is
provided through the wall of the vessel at its lower end on the
flat face 78. A flared lip 83 is provided at the upper open end of
the vessel. If desired, the float may be a chamber with closed top
and open bottom to obtain buoyancy from a trapped bubble of
air.
The collection container has an internally enlarged portion 84 near
its upper portion on three sides, forming a downwardly facing
shoulder 86 opposed to the upwardly facing shoulder 79 on the
float. The fourth side of the collection compartment opposite the
flat face 78 of the combined vessel and float is also flat so that
there is a relatively close fit therebetween. A passage 87 is
provided through the wall of the compartment 73 on this face so
that urine may flow from the collection container into a sample
compartment 88 on one side thereof. The sample compartment 88 is
indicated in FIG. 9 only as an open receptacle, however, it will be
understood that this may be a microorganism module similar to the
removable cassette-like module 28 hereinabove described and
illustrated. If desired, the sample chamber 88 can simply be
detached for recovering the urine therein for analysis. A cutter 89
is mounted on the collection vessel 73 in a dovetail groove (not
shown) for severing the sample container 88 and prying it away from
the collection compartment. The urine therein can then be handled
in the usual manner.
To use the sample collection device illustrated in FIG. 9, the
patient urinates into the open upper end of the receiving vessel 77
and the urine passes through the apertures 81 and over the flutes
76 to collect in the region of the collection compartment beneath
the float 74. Since the opening 82 is in close proximity to the
wall of the container 73, only a small amount of urine flows
therethrough. Urine from a first part of the stream therefore
collects beneath the float and causes it to buoyed upwardly. This
continues until the shoulder 79 on the float engages the shoulder
86 within the collection chamber. At this point, the apertures 81
are rather close to and occulted by the enlarged portion 84 within
the container and little, if any, urine flows therethrough. The
opening 82 on the flat face 78 of the float has now been elevated
to a point opposite the passage 87 into the sample compartment 88
and most of the urine, which is free of any contamination of the
first portion of the stream, flows into the sample chamber. Any
excess of urine simply collects in the receiving vessel at an
elevation above the opening 87.
After the sample has thus been obtained, the cutter 89 can be
brought down, severing the sample chamber from the balance of the
container. The cutter not only removes the sample chamber but also
closes off the passage 87 thereby minimizing spillage of urine
during sample removal. The collection container is then discarded
and the urine in the sample chamber 88 is transferred to an
incubation oven for microorganism analysis either by a subsequent
transfer or by incubation directly in the sample chamber.
Although limited embodiments of urine collection and analysis
device have been described and illustrated herein, many
modifications and variations will be apparent to one skilled in the
art. Thus, for example, instead of collecting urine directly from a
patient in such devices, some embodiments may be used in the
laboratory by decanting a specimen previously collected. This
enables filling of several compartments substantially
simultaneously so that numerous analyses and cultures can be
commenced in a single operation rather than several distinct steps.
Many other modifications and variations will be apparent to one
skilled in the art and it is therefore to be understood that within
the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced
otherwise than as specifically described.
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