AU8431601A - Sampling device - Google Patents

Description

WO 02/15791 PCT/IBO1/01529 1 5 SAMPLING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for obtaining urine or stool samples, more 10 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 15 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. 20 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. 25 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention there is provided a sampling device comprising 30 CONFIRMATION COPY WO 02/15791 PCT/IBO1/01529 2 a sampling receptacle having a handle extending inclined upwardly and away from the open end thereof. 5 Further features of the invention provide for the handle to be cranked and to be removably secured to the receptacle; and for the handle to be securable at its free end to a toilet bowl assembly, preferably a toilet seat. Still further features of the invention provide for the receptacle to have a 10 removable closure; for the closure to be a screw on closure; and for the closure to displace the handle from the receptacle when secured thereto. Yet further features of the invention provide for the receptacle and handle to be moulded from a plastics material, preferably a transparent plastics material. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described, by way of preferred embodiments, with reference to the drawings in which: 20 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; 25 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. 30 WO 02/15791 PCT/IBO1/01529 3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The first embodiment of a sampling device (1) is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and has a receptacle (2) with a handle (3) extending therefrom. 5 The receptacle (2) is cylindrical in shape having an open top (4) and an outwardly convex bottom (5). A skirt (6) extends operatively downwardly from the side of the receptacle (2) over the bottom (5) to provide an annular base on which the receptacle (2) can stand. 10 Screw threading (7) extends part-way along the outer surface of the receptacle (2) from the top (4). The handle (3) is elongate and is releasably secured at one end (10) to the 15 receptacle (2). The handle (3) extends operatively upwardly at an incline from the end (10) with the free end (11) extending parallel to the end (10). The handle (3) is thus substantially crank shaped. The end (10) of the handle (3) is bifurcated having a pair of arms (12) shaped to 20 extend part way about the circumference of the receptacle (2). A lug (13) projects inwardly from each arm (12) near the free end thereof with a further lug (14) extending from the handle (3) centrally of the arms (12). The end (11) of the arm (3) has an extension (15) which provides a substantially 25 U-shape to the end of the handle in side elevation. The handle (3) is also moulded from a transparent plastics material. In use, the receptacle (2) is inserted between the arms (12) of the handle until 30 WO 02/15791 PCT/IBO1/01529 4 the lugs (13, 14) clip into complementary sockets (not shown) in the wall of the receptacle (2). In this condition the receptacle (2) is firmly held by the handle (3). The handle (3) 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 5 with the receptacle (2) positioned within the toilet bowl. With the receptacle (2) positioned within the toilet bowl a sample can easily be taken without the patient having to hold the receptacle (2). Any spillage will simply run into the toilet. 10 When finished either the patient or an assistant can screw a closure (16) onto the receptacle (2) to seal the contents and to prevent spillage therefrom. When the closure (16) reaches its seated position on the receptacle (2) it displaces the arms (12) downwardly and the lugs (13) out of engagement with the sockets. In 15 this condition the receptacle (2) is loosely held by the handle (3) allowing it to be easily removed. If further sample needs to be taken, instead of removing the handle (3) from the toilet seat, a further receptacle (2) and can simply be inserted between the arms 20 (12). The receptacle (2) can be removed from the handle (3) and carried by the closure (16) and the handle can be sterilised while in position in the toilet bowl. Alternatively the U-shaped end of the handle (3) can be gripped and the handle 25 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. 30 WO 02/15791 PCT/IBO1/01529 5 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 5 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 10 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 15 example, in the embodiment in Figure 1 the handle (3) could be manufactured from aluminum and the receptacle (2) from the glass. The embodiment in Figure 4 shows the receptacle (2) attached to the handle (3) by means of a slide (20) formed on the end of the handle (3) which fits into a 20 retaining guide (21) provided on the receptacle (2). Here the closure (16) is not used to release the receptacle (2) from the handle (3) but it will be appreciated that the two components can nevertheless be hygienically handled for separation holding only the end (15) of the handle (3) and the closure (16). 25 The invention also provides that the sampling devices may be made sufficiently cheaply to be disposable products. 30

Claims (9)

1. According to this invention there is provided a sampling device comprising a 5 sampling receptacle having a handle extending inclined upwardly and away from the open end of the receptacle.

2. A sampling device as claimed in claim 1 in which the handle is cranked and releasably secured to the receptacle. 10

3. A sampling device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the handle is shaped to be releasably secured to a toilet 2 bowl assembly.

4. A sampling device as claimed in claim 3 in which the handle is shaped to be 15 reasonably secured to a toilet seat.

5. A sampling device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the receptacle is provided with a removable closure. 20

6. A sampling device as claimed in claim 5 in which the closure is engaged on the receptacle by complementary screw thread engagement between the closure and the receptacle.

7. A sampling device as claimed in claim 6 in which the closure fully engaged is 25 shaped to release a handle clipped to the receptacle from the receptacle.

8. A sampling device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the components are molded in plastic material. 30 WO 02/15791 PCT/IBO1/01529 7

9. A sampling device substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. 5 10 15 20 25 30