AU780173B2 - Sampling device - Google Patents

Description

WO 02/15791 PCT/IB01/01529 1 SAMPLING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for obtaining urine or stool samples, more particularly, but not exclusively, human urine or stool samples.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Urine samples are frequently required for medical analysis. It is, however, often difficult and messy task to obtain such samples. This is particularly so for women as it is generally difficult to urinate into a sample bottle without urinating on the hand holding the bottle. For this reason many medical practices sell protective glove to patients from whom a urine sample is required. This is not only expensive but also does little to alleviate embarrassment.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a sampling device which will at least partially alleviate some of the abovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention there is provided a sampling device comprising CONFIRMATION COPY 004763004 2 a sampling receptacle having an open upper end; and a handle having a proximate end detachably secured to the receptacle, the handle extending upwardly and away from the open upper end of the receptacle and having a distal end shaped and configured to be detachably connected to a toilet bowl assembly.

Preferably the distal end of the handle includes a hook formation adapted to engage with the toilet bowl assembly. The distal end of the handle may be shaped and configured to engage around the toilet seat of the toilet bowl assembly.

The sampling device preferably includes a closure adapted to close the open upper end of the receptacle. The receptacle and the closure may each have corresponding screw threads to enable the closure to screw onto and seal with the receptacle. The closure and receptacle and handle may be configured such that operatively screwing the closure onto the receptacle will contact the handle and detach the handle from the receptacle. The receptacle and the handle may be moulded from a plastics material.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a handle adapted to 15 facilitate obtaining a human waste sample, the handle having a first end adapted to be detachably secured to an open topped receptacle, and a second end adapted to engage a toilet bowl assembly, the handle being shaped and configured such that when the second end is operatively engaged with the toilet bowl assembly, an open topped receptacle secured to the first end will be supported generally centrally within the bowl of the toilet bowl assembly with the open top of the receptacle facing upwardly.

Preferably the first end comprises a pair of resiliently flexible jaws adapted to clamp around a receptacle. The second end may comprise a hook formation adapted to engage around the seat of the toilet bowl assembly BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described, by way of preferred embodiments, with reference to the drawings in which.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of a sampling device; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of a sampling device; and Figure 4 is an exploded view of a further embodiment.

The embodiments are not to be considered as limiting the scope of this invention.

WO 02/15791 PCTIIB01/01529 3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The first embodiment of a sampling device is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and has a receptacle with a handle extending therefrom.

The receptacle is cylindrical in shape having an open top and an outwardly convex bottom A skirt extends operatively downwardly from the side of the receptacle over the bottom to provide an annular base on which the receptacle can stand.

Screw threading extends part-way along the outer surface of the receptacle from the top The handle is elongate and is releasably secured at one end (10) to the receptacle The handle extends operatively upwardly at an incline from the end (10) with the free end (11) extending parallel to the end The handle (3) is thus substantially crank shaped.

The end (10) of the handle is bifurcated having a pair of arms (12) shaped to extend part way about the circumference of the receptacle A lug (13) projects inwardly from each arm (12) near the free end thereof with a further lug (14) extending from the handle centrally of the arms (12).

The end (11) of the arm has an extension (15) which provides a substantially U-shape to the end of the handle in side elevation. The handle is also moulded from a transparent plastics material.

In use, the receptacle is inserted between the arms (12) of the handle until WO 02/15791 PCTIBOI/01529 4 the lugs (13, 14) clip into complementary sockets (not shown) in the wall of the receptacle In this condition the receptacle is firmly held by the handle The handle can then be secured to the front of the seat of a toilet (partly indicated in Figure 1) by sliding the end (11) of the arm over the rim of the seat with the receptacle positioned within the toilet bowl.

With the receptacle positioned within the toilet bowl a sample can easily be taken without the patient having to hold the receptacle Any spillage will simply run into the toilet.

When finished either the patient or an assistant can screw a closure (16) onto the receptacle to seal the contents and to prevent spillage therefrom. When the closure (16) reaches its seated position on the receptacle it displaces the arms (12) downwardly and the lugs (13) out of engagement with the sockets. In this condition the receptacle is loosely held by the handle allowing it to be easily removed.

If further sample needs to be taken, instead of removing the handle from the toilet seat, a further receptacle and can simply be inserted between the arms (12).

The receptacle can be removed from the handle and carried by the closure (16) and the handle can be sterilised while in position in the toilet bowl.

Altemrnatively the U-shaped end of the handle can be gripped and the handle removed from this toilet seat The separate components can thus be handled without contamination from the sample. They may then be moved as necessary and hygienically disposed of or cleaned.

WO 02/15791 PCT/IB01/01529 A simple yet highly effective sampling device is thus provided. It will be appreciated, however, that many other embodiments of a sampling device exist which falls within the scope of the invention especially as regards the configuration of the receptacle and of the handle. For example, referring to Figure 3, the sampling device (30) could simply have a receptacle (31) with a cranked arm (32) extending integrally from the upper end thereof. In this embodiment, the free end of the arm (33) is shaped to be held and not secured to a toilet. The shape of the arm (32) makes it convenient to hold beneath a patient with the patient sitting on a toilet and thus allows a urine or stool sample to be collected without the patient being contaminated.

While it is preferred that the sampling device of the invention be molded from a plastics material it will be appreciated that any suitable material can be used. For example, in the embodiment in Figure 1 the handle could be manufactured from aluminum and the receptacle from the glass.

The embodiment in Figure 4 shows the receptacle attached to the handle (3) by means of a slide (20) formed on the end of the handle which fits into a retaining guide (21) provided on the receptacle Here the closure (16) is not used to release the receptacle from the handle but it will be appreciated that the two components can nevertheless be hygienically handled for separation holding only the end (15) of the handle and the closure (16).

The invention also provides that the sampling devices may be made sufficiently cheaply to be disposable products.

Claims (12)

1. A sampling device comprising: a sampling receptacle having an open upper end; and a handle having a proximate end detachably secured to the receptacle, the handle extending upwardly and away from the open upper end of the receptacle and having a distal end shaped and configured to be detachably connected to a toilet bowl assembly.

2. A sampling device according to claim I wherein the distal end of the handle includes a hook formation adapted to engage with the toilet bowl assembly.

3. A sampling device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the distal end of the handle is shaped and configured to engage around the toilet seat of the toilet bowl assembly.

4. A sampling device according to any preceding claim which includes a closure adapted to close the open upper end of the receptacle.

A sampling device accordingly to claim 4 wherein the receptacle and the closure each have corresponding screw threads to enable the closure to screw onto and seal with the receptacle.

6. A sampling device accordingly to claim 5 wherein the closure and receptacle and handle are configured such that operatively screwing the closure onto the receptacle will contact the handle and detach the handle from the receptacle. eo ee

7. A sampling device according to any preceding claim wherein the receptacle and the handle are moulded from a plastics material.

8. A handle adapted to facilitate obtaining a human waste sample, the handle having a first end adapted to be detachably secured to an open topped receptacle, and a second end adapted to engage a toilet bowl assembly, the handle being shaped and configured such that when the second end is operatively engaged with the toilet bowl assembly, an open topped receptacle secured to the first end will be supported generally centrally within the bowl of the toilet bowl assembly with the open top of the receptacle facing upwardly.

9. A handle according to claim 8 wherein the first end comprises a pair of resiliently flexible jaws adapted to clamp around a receptacle.

A handle according to either claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the second end comprises a hook formation adapted to engage around the seat of the toilet bowl assembly.

11. A sampling device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 004763004 7

12. A handle for a sampling device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. Dated 8 h day of December 2004 Freehills Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Patent Trade Mark Attorneys for the Applicant/s: Michael John Till