Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. An apparatus (100) for collecting a biological sample from a cavity of human body comprising:
an elongated solid body (110), wherein the elongated solid body (110) comprises a first section (104) and a second section (108);
an absorbing pad (102) surface bounded at a tip of the first section (104), wherein the absorbing pad (102) partially covers the first section (104);
an annular groove (106) positioned over the elongated solid body (110), wherein the annular groove (106) is positioned at the interface of the first section (104) and the second section (108), characterised in that
the annular groove (106) is located at predetermined distance from the tip of the first section (104), wherein the annular groove (106) enabled with a predefined groove angle and a predefined root radius configured to break the elongated solid body (110) at the annular groove (106) with brittle fracture upon application of shear force.

2. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity of human body is at least one of a nostril, and a throat.

3. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated solid body (110) is made of a plastic material, wood, or a metal.

4. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tail end of second section (108) comprises a knurl surface configured to hold the tail end firmly.

5. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the absorbing pad (102) is made of a material selected from the group of a cotton, a wool, a polyester, a polyurethane foam, or based on an artificial fiber.

6. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated solid body (110) comprises a length in range of 149 to 151 mm.

7. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first section (104) comprises a diameter in range of 1.20 to 1.22 mm and a length in range of 39 to 40 mm.

8. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second section (108) comprises a diameter in range of 2.50 to 2.52 mm and a length in range of 110 to 111 mm.

9. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular groove (106) is at the predetermined distance from the tip of the first section (104), wherein the predetermined distance is in range of 39 to 40 mm.

10. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the groove angle of the annular groove (106) is in range of 44 to 46 degree.

11. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the root radius of the annular groove (106) is in range of 0.24 to 0.26 mm.

12. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip of the first section (104) surface bounded to the absorbing pad (102) having diameter in range of 2.05 to 2.07 mm and a nose radius in the range of 1.00 to 1.02 mm.

13. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a proportion of length of the first section (104) to length of the second section (108) is 2:5.5.

14. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first section (104) bounded by the absorbing pad (102) may be capable of being left out in a capsule once broken at the at the annular groove (106) with brittle fracture upon application of shear force.

Dated this 07th day of January 2022
, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
AN APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE

APPLICANT:
MYLAB DISCOVERY SOLUTIONS PRIVATE LIMITED
An Indian entity having address as:
PLOT NO 99-B, LONAVALA INDUSTRIAL CO-OPERATIVE ESTATE LTD,
NANGARGAON, LONAVALA, PUNE – 410401
MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

The following specification describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
The present application does not claim priority from any other patent application.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to a field of a detection kit system. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to an apparatus for collecting a biological sample from a cavity of human body.

BACKGROUND
Nowadays, mankind is facing a major challenge of pathogen infection. As pathogen related activity restrictions, diagnostic testing is extremely critical. Identification of people infected with pathogen will help to guide treatment of those individuals and indicate who needs to be isolated, and have their contacts traced and quarantined, to prevent the further spread of the disease.

The major hurdle in diagnostic testing is limited laboratory testing facilities. Early detection of the pathogen requires huge amount of testing facilities. Further, the laboratory testing is time consuming as well as it requires skilled personnel to detect the pathogen infection.

However, a self-test kit detects the pathogen infection and overcomes the above-mentioned problem. Use of self-test kit has many advantages such as detection of presence of pathogen in a short time without any assistance of skilled personnel. Further, during the use of self-test kit the main challenge is collecting a biological sample from a cavity of human body without causing any injury to the user or contamination in the sample. It is well known that unless special precautions are taken, a given biological sample may inadvertently become contaminated during the collection process and/or during transfer of the collected sample to a growing medium or the like. Once thus contaminated, the worth of the sample for antigens detection and for further diagnostic purposes may be greatly reduced or even eliminated.

Another challenge faced by the detection kit systems is a secured disposal of the apparatus for collection of a biological sample and avoiding contamination of biological material to the external environment of the detection kit. Generally, there are high chances that the said apparatus for collection of a biological sample is disposed of along with the common waste and thereby may stand as a reason for infection. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement of an easy to dispose apparatus which does not affect the external environment by way of contamination or infection, if disposed in the common waste.

Thus, there is a long-standing need of an apparatus for collection of biological samples which solves above mentioned problems. The present disclosure describes about an economic, easy to use apparatus for collecting a biological sample from human body in a secured manner.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce the concepts related to an apparatus for collection of a biological sample and the concepts are further described in the detail description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor it is intended to use in determining or limiting the scope of claimed subject matter.

In one implementation, the apparatus for collecting a biological sample from a cavity of human body is disclosed. Further, the apparatus for collecting the biological sample from the cavity of human body comprises an elongated solid body, an absorbing pad, and an annular groove. The elongated solid body further comprises a first section and a second section. The absorbing pad is surface bounded at a tip of the first section of the elongated solid body. The absorbing pad partially covers the first section. The annular groove is positioned over the elongated solid body. The annular groove is positioned at the interface of the first section and the second section. The annular groove is located at predetermined distance from a front end of the elongated solid body. Furthermore, the annular groove enabled with a predefined groove angle and a predefined root radius configured to break the elongated solid body gently at the annular groove with brittle fracture upon application of shear force.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the Figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the Figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer like features and components.

Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus for collecting a biological sample from a cavity of human body, in accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.

Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of an annular groove of the apparatus for collecting a biological sample, in accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.

Figure 3 illustrates a method for collecting a biological sample, in accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.

Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of an absorbing pad surface bounded at a tip of the first section and the annular groove may be positioned at the interface of the first section and the second section, in accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment” in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

The present disclosure relates an apparatus for collecting a biological sample from a cavity of human body. The apparatus comprises an elongated solid body, an absorbing pad, and an annular groove.

Now referring to figure 1, the apparatus for collecting the biological sample from the cavity of human body is illustrated, in accordance with the embodiment of the present subject matter. Further, the apparatus (100) for collecting the biological sample from the cavity of human body may comprise an elongated solid body (110), an absorbing pad (102), and an annular groove (106). The elongated solid body (110) may comprise a first section (104) and a second section (108). The absorbing pad (102) is surface bounded at a tip of the first section (104). The absorbing pad (102) partially covers the first section (104). The annular groove (106) may be positioned over the elongated solid body (108). Further, the annular groove (106) may be positioned at the interface of the first section (104) and the second section (108). The annular groove (106) may be located at predetermined distance from a front end of the elongated solid body (110). In one embodiment, the elongated solid body (110) may be made of a plastic material, wood, or a metal. In preferred embodiment the elongated solid body (110) is made of the plastic material.

In one embodiment, the cavity of human body may be a nasal cavity, nostril, pharynges or a throat. In preferred embodiment, the cavity of human body is the nostrils. The biological sample may be a microbiological swab or a bacterial swab.

The size of the apparatus (100) should be such that the device is suitable for being introduced in a narrow passage of the body an anterior nasal passage. Therefore, the elongated solid body (110) preferably has the shape of a thin stick or rod. Further, the elongated solid body (110) may be a hollow cylindrical body. In preferred embodiment, the elongated solid body (110) is the thin stick. In one embodiment the elongated solid body (110) may comprise length in range of 149 to 151 mm. In preferred embodiment the length of the elongated solid body (110) is 150mm.

Further, the elongated solid body (110) may be divided into set of sections. In preferred embodiment the elongated solid body (110) is divided into the first section (104) and the second section (108). The annular groove (106) may be positioned at the interface of the first section (104) and the second section (108).

In one embodiment, the first section (104) may comprise a diameter in range of 1.20 to 1.22 mm and a length in range of 39 to 40 mm. In preferred embodiment the diameter of the first section (104) is 1.21 mm and the length of the first section (104) is 39.96 mm.

In one embodiment, the second section (108) may comprise a diameter in range of 2.50 to 2.52 mm and a length in range of 110 to 111 mm. In preferred embodiment the diameter of the second section (108) is 2.51 mm and the length of the first section (104) is 110.04 mm.

In one embodiment, a proportion of length of the first section (104) to length of the second section (108) is 2 :5.5. A tail end of the second section (108) may comprise a knurl surface configured to hold the tail end firmly.

In one embodiment, the absorbing pad (102) surface bounded at a tip of the first section (104). The absorbing pad (102) partially covers the first section (104). In one embodiment the tip of the first section (104) enabled with the absorbing pad (102) having a diameter in range of 2.05 to 2.07 mm and a nose radius in the range of 1.00 to 1.02 mm. In preferred embodiment, the diameter, and the nose radius of the tip of the first section (104) enabled with the absorbing pad (102) is 2.06 mm and a nose radius is 1.01mm.

In one embodiment, the absorbing pad (102) may be made of a material selected from the group of: cotton, wool, polyester, polyurethane foam or based on artificial fiber. In preferred embodiment, the absorbing pad (102) is made of a material cotton. Further, the absorbing pad (102) may posses a property of a porosity. The porosity of the absorbing pad (102) may enhance the capillary action phenomenon which may ensure maximum collection of the biological samples from the cavity of human body. Further, the absorbing pad (102) may chemically neutral.

Now referring to figure 2, an exploded view (200) of the annular groove of the apparatus for collecting the biological sample is illustrated, in accordance with the embodiment of the present subject matter. The annular groove (106) positioned over the elongated solid body (108). The annular groove (106) is positioned at the interface of the first section (104) and the second section (108). The annular groove (106) may comprise a slant face (204) and a root (202).

In one embodiment the slant face (204) may tilted from a horizontal line with an angle called as a groove angle. Further, the first section (104) and the second section (108) may meet at interface at the root (202). Further, the root (202) may have radius called as a root radius. The annular groove (106) enabled with the groove angle and the root radius configured to break the elongated solid body (110) at the annular groove (106) with brittle fracture upon application of shear force. The annular groove (106) is at predetermined distance from the tip of the elongated solid body (110).

In one embodiment, the first section (104) bounded by the absorbing pad (102) may be capable of being left out in a capsule once broken at the at the annular groove (106) with brittle fracture upon application of shear force. The capsule may be a closed capsule, or a tube with a closure (not shown in figure) as a part the detection kit.

In one embodiment, the predetermined distance may in range of 39 to 40 mm. In preferred embodiment, the predetermined distance is 39.96 mm. In one embodiment, the groove angle of the annular groove (106) may in range of 44 to 46 degree. In preferred embodiment, the groove angle of the annular groove (106) is 45 degrees. In one embodiment, the root radius of the annular groove may in range of 0.24 to 0.26 mm. In preferred embodiment, the root radius of the annular groove is 0.25 mm.

Now referring to Figure 4, a perspective view of an absorbing pad (102) surface bounded at a tip of the first section (104) and the annular groove (106) (depicted as a zoomed portion) may be positioned at the interface of the first section (104) and the second section (108), in accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.

Now referring to figure 3, a method (300) for collecting a biological sample is illustrated, in accordance with the embodiment of the present subject matter. The method (300) may comprise various step.

At step (302), the apparatus (100) may hold in a hand. The apparatus (100) may comprise an elongated solid body (110). The elongated solid body (110) may comprise a first section (104) and a second section (108). A tail end of the section (108) may hold in the hand firmly. The tail end of second section (108) may comprise a knurl surface configured to hold the tail end firmly.

At step (304), a tip of the apparatus (100) may be inserted into the cavity of human body. An absorbing pad (102) surface bounded at a tip of the first section (104). The absorbing pad (102) partially covers the first section (104).
At step (306), a tip of the apparatus (100) may roll inside the cavity of human body. The tip of the apparatus (100) may roll 10 times inside the cavity of human body. The tip of the apparatus (100) may roll properly to ensure the collection of the biological sample from the cavity of human body without any contamination of a blood.

At step (308), the apparatus (100) may pinch at the annular groove (106). The annular groove (106) enabled over the elongated solid body (110). The annular groove (106) is enabled at the interface of the first section (104) and the second section (108). The annular groove (106) is located at predetermined distance from a front end of the elongated solid body (110). The annular groove (106) enabled with the predefined groove angle and the predefined root radius configured to break the elongated solid body (110) at the annular groove (106) with brittle fracture upon application of shear force.

In one embodiment, the breaking and separating of the first section (104) and the second section (108) at the annular groove (106) may be carried out in closed capsule (not shown in figure) as a part the detection kit. The swab sample collected at the tip of the first section (104) may be then immersed in the tube for further detection. The tube comprising the first section (104) may then be disposed of in the common waste without causing any contamination or infection.

The embodiments illustrated above, especially related to the apparatus for collecting the biological sample provide following advantages:
• The apparatus is easy for self-use.
• The apparatus is brittle in nature only at a breaking point hence breaks easily avoiding the contamination of the biological sample.
• The apparatus is thin, flexible, and soft in nature that ensures easy collection of the biological sample from the nostrils without itching and discomfort to the user.

Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.

The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that certain modifications could come within the scope of this disclosure.

The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs or the description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.