DE102021115185A1 - Sampling system for taking a saliva sample yourself - Google Patents

Abstract

A sampling system (1) for the self-removal of a saliva sample (100) from a subject has an at least partially elongate handle (20) and a sample suction sponge (10) attached to a first longitudinal end (21) of the handle (20) for sucking up the saliva sample (100). . A sample receptacle (30) is designed to receive the sample suction sponge (10) fastened to the handle (20) through a receptacle opening (31).

Description

The invention relates to a sampling system for taking a saliva sample from a test person himself.

Saliva samples and/or cell samples can be taken from the mouth and/or throat of test subjects. These samples can be examined, in particular to determine whether the saliva sample and/or cell sample contains pathogens such as viruses and/or bacteria. Several different methods are known for taking a saliva sample.

Such a known method requires medically trained personnel as examiners, who insert a swab attached to a thin rod through the nose or through the mouth into the nasal, pharyngeal and/or oral cavity of the subject and take a smear there. This method is relatively expensive both in terms of time and personnel, since sampling is tied to medical professionals. The so-called deep nasopharyngeal swab (abbreviated to NRA) is based on the introduction of a sampling swab into the nasal cavity. The swab is pushed through the entire airway to the back wall of the throat and/or into the area of the base of the skull. This NRA is predominantly perceived by the test person as unpleasant and/or painful. This is considered a reason for a low willingness to test.

With a throat swab (abbreviated to RA), the swab is pushed into the back of the mouth and throat on both sides up to the soft palate. The sample is taken by rubbing the swab over the mucous membranes.

Sampling with NRA and RA can lead to pain, tearing and/or gagging or nausea. This decrease cannot be standardized. The quality of sampling depends on the tolerance of the subject and the expertise and/or practice of the examiner. Furthermore, this sampling poses a risk for the examiner due to possible defensive reactions on the part of the subject. There are isolated reports of bleeding being triggered due to a vascular injury. Furthermore, this method is relatively time-consuming since each examiner can only ever take one sample from a single subject at a time. Therefore, a high throughput decrease in large groups of the population requires considerable personnel capacities. For example, a maximum of 25 to about 30 samples can be taken per examiner and hour when taking samples to check for a corona infection.

Another sampling method is for the subject to independently collect the saliva sample and/or cell sample. A so-called gargle test is known for this purpose, for example, in which the subject gargles with a liquid which is intended to remove the saliva sample from the throat. However, the quality of this sampling strongly depends on the subject. Test persons for whom gargling with a mouthwash is part of their daily hygiene can usually gargle better and deeper in the throat than other people who gargle less frequently. Furthermore, children, elderly people, and/or people with a stimulus to cough and/or breathing difficulties often have problems with a sufficiently thorough gargling process. Aspiration of fluids into the lungs is a cause of inflammation. For this reason, the quality of the sampling is often poor with this method.

This procedure uses collection vessels into which the gargle sample is spit out after gargling. The sample from the collection vessel is then transferred to suitable sample vessels for further processing. Normally, no targeted extraction of oral mucosa cells can take place. Because of the spitting out and decanting, this previously known method is cumbersome and sometimes unhygienic. For this reason, this method for the actual further processing of the sample involves several steps and is therefore cumbersome.

The invention is based on the object of enabling sampling of a saliva sample and/or cell sample which has a reliably high and uniform quality, achieves comparable sample quantities and/or is suitable for testing a large number of test persons per unit of time.

This object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

One aspect relates to a sampling system for the self-removal of a saliva sample from a test subject, with a handle that is elongated at least in sections, a sample suction sponge attached to a first longitudinal end of the handle for sucking up the saliva sample, and a sample receptacle for receiving the sample suction sponge attached to the handle through a vessel opening.

The sampling system is designed in several parts and has at least the handle, the sample suction sponge and the sample receptacle. The grip means is at least partially elongate, ie it has a longitudinal axis and a first one viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis longitudinal end. The sample suction sponge is attached to this longitudinal end. Here, the sample suction sponge can be glued to the first longitudinal end, for example.

The sample absorbing sponge has an absorbing capacity for absorbing the saliva sample. For this purpose, it can be porous like a commercially available sponge and/or absorbent. In contrast to previously known swabs for taking a smear, the sample suction sponge is designed to be so absorbent that the saliva sample not only sticks to the outside of the swab, but is largely absorbed into the sample suction sponge. This can mean that at least more than 50%, preferably more than about 75%, of the saliva sample taken can be absorbed into the interior of the sample suction sponge. The sample suction sponge can be soft, since it does not have to be used to “scrape” a sample from the mucosa, but can be chewed and/or sucked, in the process soaking up the saliva sample. This soft design of the sample suction sponge makes sampling more comfortable for the test person.

The sample suction sponge is attached to the elongated handle in such a way that the subject can comfortably hold the handle in one hand and can control the sample suction sponge attached to it through the oral cavity. The handle means can increase the controllability of the sample suction sponge through the oral pharynx. Furthermore, the grip means can also increase the overall hygiene of the sampling process, since the sample suction sponge does not have to be held in place, but the test person only has to make physical contact with the grip means.

The size and porosity of the sponge determines the amount of absorbable liquid. The material of the sample sponge can have a low protein binding capacity in order to prevent non-specific adsorption of test material.

The handle means may be long enough to allow sampling from the posterior pharynx.

The sampling system is designed for taking the saliva sample yourself, i.e. the subject can take the sample himself. This means that additional specialist staff can be dispensed with. In particular, no trained specialist personnel are required as examiners who have to take a smear with a swab from the pharynx and/or nasal cavity.

Studies have shown that taking a sample with the sample suction sponge on the grip means that you use it yourself produces a sample result that is as good in terms of quality as a swab taken by trained medical staff. This provides a solution for taking a saliva and/or cell sample yourself, the sampling of which is of high quality. As a result, the sampling system according to the invention can make it possible to save both personnel costs and time, particularly when sampling a large number of subjects.

The sample receiving vessel is designed and provided to receive the sample suction sponge attached to the handle means through a vessel opening. After sucking up the saliva sample at the handle, the sample suction sponge can be introduced through the vessel opening into the interior of the sample receiving vessel with the sample suction sponge first, ie with the first longitudinal end of the handle first. The sample receptacle can be designed, for example, as a centrifugal tube and/or other sample tube. In the medical field, samples are usually collected in elongated tubes. The sample can be easily stored in these tubes and analyzed further, e.g. centrifuged.

In the case of the sampling described above in the conventional manner with a swab, the sample usually has to be dissolved out of the swab with a solvent. Only then is there sufficient liquid to analyze the sample. When using the sample suction sponge according to the invention, the addition of a solvent and/or another liquid can become superfluous. The addition of a solvent and/or another liquid can usually be dispensed with entirely, since the saliva sample absorbed in the sample suction sponge already contains sufficient liquid per se. For this purpose, the sample suction sponge can have sufficient absorption capacity to suck up sufficient saliva from the oral pharynx. This eliminates the additional step of dissolving the sample from a swab using additional liquid (as in the prior art method).

The sample suction sponge can either be centrifuged and/or squeezed out and/or wrung out inside the sample receptacle in order to release the saliva sample from the sample suction sponge. The sample receptacle can also be elongate, at least in sections, eg tubular, in order to hold at least the sample suction sponge and the first longitudinal end of the handle means in a receptacle interior record. In this case, the sample receiving vessel can in particular be designed so spacious that it can completely accommodate both the sample suction sponge and the handle means.

Compared to the previously known gargling tests for extracting a sample by gargling, the sampling system makes it possible to significantly improve hygiene when carrying out the test. A gargled solution does not first have to be poured into a spit-collecting container and from there into a sample container, but the sample suction sponge can be introduced directly from the oropharynx into the sample container. There is no need to pour over and/or add liquids.

Furthermore, tests have shown that the sampling system takes samples of saliva and/or cells that are of significantly higher quality than the gargle test. This is due in particular to the fact that the quality of the gargle varies greatly in different people, as described at the beginning. With the handle, however, the controllability of the test can be increased in such a way that high-quality sampling can be carried out relatively easily.

• - Kauen in der rechten Mundhälfte,
• - Kauen in der linken Mundhälfte,
• - Streichen über die linke Backentasche,
• - Streichen über die rechte Backentasche,
• - Streichen über den Gaumen,
• - Streichen unter der Zunge,
• - Streichen über die Zunge,
• - Berühren des Zäpfchens,
• - Streichen über den Rachenraum.

For example, the subject can be instructed by means of instructions provided in the form of images and/or comics to guide the sample suction sponge through the oropharynx in a predetermined manner. For example, the subject can be instructed to carry out at least one, preferably several, particularly preferably all of the following steps in succession with the sample suction sponge:

• - chewing in the right side of the mouth,
• - chewing in the left side of the mouth,
• - stroke over the left cheek pocket,
• - stroke over the right cheek pouch,
• - stroking the palate,
• - stroking under the tongue,
• - stroking the tongue,
• - touching the uvula,
• - Stroking over the pharynx.

One or more of the steps can be repeated. Such or similar instructions can be used to unify and/or standardize the quality of sampling.

Compared to previously known self-tests with swabs in the front of the nose, the sampling system significantly improves the quality of sampling. One of the reasons for this is that the sample suction sponge is designed to be soft enough for the test person to be able to pass it through the oropharynx without pain.

The sampling system can be sterilized and/or sterile.

The sampling system can be designed in such a way that the test person is given the sample receptacle as a multi-part kit with several component groups. The handle means with the sample suction sponge (without sample) can form a first component group and the sample container (possibly together with an ejection insert described below) can form a second component group of the sampling system. The test person can first take the component group with the sample suction sponge by the handle, carry out the test in which he takes a saliva sample and then insert the sample suction sponge into the sample receptacle. Additional aids such as liquids, spit-collecting containers or similar may be superfluous.

The sampling system thus enables the subject to take a sample of himself in a hygienic, high-quality and simple manner. Sampling is not stressful and enables uncomplicated self-sampling. The sampling can thus be parallelized, i.e. many people can take/give in their samples at the same time.

The generation of results is therefore only dependent on the test capacity of the laboratories and no longer on the availability of the examiners taking the samples. This enables material to be saved and diagnostic steps to be accelerated, with the secondary effect of increasing test capacities.

According to one embodiment, the handle is rod-shaped and the sample suction sponge is attached to a first rod end of the handle. The grip means may be similar to the stick on a classic swab for taking a swab. At the end of the rod, however, there is not a swab, but the sample suction sponge. The design of the handle means as a rod is particularly uncomplicated in terms of components and is also practical, since the sample suction sponge can be guided very easily and independently through the oral pharynx on a classic rod.

According to one embodiment, a second longitudinal end of the handle means, for example the opposite end of the rod, can be attached to a closure for closing the vessel opening of the sample receiving vessel. The second can Longitudinal end can be attached in particular to the inside of the closure, which faces the interior of the sample receiving vessel when the closure closes the vessel opening. For example, the closure can be designed as a cover of the sample receptacle, in particular as a screw cap which can be screwed onto a thread on the vessel opening of the sample receptacle. Such a screw connection can be closed very tightly, as a result of which the saliva sample that has been taken remains securely in the closed sample receptacle. The rotatable embodiment of the closure is preferred, since the rotational movement when closing the closure can be coupled to a squeezing and/or wringing movement of the sample suction sponge. As a result, when the closure is closed, the sample suction sponge can be squeezed out more or less automatically, with the saliva sample being squeezed out and/or released from the soaked sample suction sponge. The handle and thus indirectly the sample suction sponge are attached to the inside of the closure in such a way that the handle and/or the sample suction sponge are arranged inside the sample receiving vessel precisely when the closure closes the vessel opening.

As an alternative to the embodiment, the handle means can be designed separately from the closure and can be inserted into the sample receptacle as an independent component, e.g. pressed. Then, when the sample receptacle is closed, the handle can be pressed by the closure into the sample receptacle, e.g. up to a stop.

In general, the sample suction sponge can be designed to be compressible not only radially but also axially.

In a further development of this embodiment, the handle is detachably attached to the closure of the sample receiving vessel. In this case, the handle with the sample suction sponge can first be inserted at the closure into the sample receiving vessel, where the saliva sample is released from the sample suction sponge. The sample container can then be opened again and the handle with the sample suction sponge can be removed from the closure. The sample receptacle can then be closed again by means of the closure, so that the saliva sample that has been dissolved out is in the sample receptacle, but no longer the handle and/or the sample suction sponge. The handle and the sample suction sponge can be disposed of properly, while the sample container can be analyzed together with the saliva sample. The detachable fastening of the handle means on the closure can be realized, for example, by means of a predetermined breaking point and/or by means of a plug connection and/or by means of a screw connection and/or by means of a clamp connection.

In an additional or alternative development of the embodiment, the handle means is rotatably attached to the closure of the sample receiving vessel. The ability to rotate can make it possible for the closure to be screwed onto the vessel opening, with the handle means rotating with the sample suction sponge about its longitudinal axis in order to compensate for the screwing movement. This can be particularly useful if the sample suction sponge is not supposed to follow the rotary movement of the closure when the sample receiving vessel is closed, since otherwise, for example, the handle would be sheared off the closure. Furthermore, the rotatable mounting of the handle means on the closure can be combined with the detachable embodiment, for example via a ball bearing of the second longitudinal end of the handle means, which can be detached from the ball bearing with a sufficient pull.

In one embodiment, the closure can be attached to a longitudinal end of the handle means remote from the first longitudinal end of the handle means. When removing the saliva sample, the subject can thus hold the handle by the closure and/or the handle itself in order to guide the sample suction sponge through the oral pharynx.

According to one embodiment, the sample suction sponge is designed to be sufficiently absorbent to absorb a saliva sample of at least about 0.5 ml, in particular at least about 1 ml, preferably at least about 2 ml. This volume is sufficient for the saliva sample in the sample receptacle without adding an additional dilution solution to investigate. The sample suction sponge can have an absorption capacity that is greater than the aforementioned volumes. The sample suction sponge can also be designed in such a way that it not only sucks up the aforementioned volumes, but can also simply release them again when they are squeezed out. This clearly distinguishes it from a swab for taking a swab. Such a swab can usually only absorb a small amount of liquid, and mostly only externally. Furthermore, swabs for taking a swab can hardly be squeezed out, at most with the addition of an additional solvent. This is because swabs are usually wrapped very tightly around the end of the rod and therefore do not have any absorbent intermediate volumes between which the swab absorbs a sufficient quantity of liquid could. However, the sample suction sponge can have pores and/or such a loose winding density that it can have the required suction capacity. Since the sample is then to be removed from the sample suction sponge again, the sample suction sponge can not only have the aforementioned suction capacity, but also a corresponding wringing and/or squeezing capacity. The absorption capacity may be slightly higher than the wringing capacity.

The sample suction sponge can be made of a plastic, for example polyurethane and/or a natural sponge. Alternatively, the sample suction sponge can also be designed like a wad of cotton wool, ie it can consist of loosely wound and/or spaced cotton fibers and/or plastic fibers.

According to one embodiment, the sample suction sponge has a diameter perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip means of about 0.5 cm to about 3 cm. The sample suction sponge preferably has a diameter of about 1.2 cm to about 2 cm, particularly preferably about 1.4 cm. This diameter enables the sample suction sponge to be easily inserted into the oral pharynx as well as easily inserted into a commercially available small tube as a sample receptacle. Furthermore, this dimensioning also enables sufficient absorption capacity for sucking up the saliva sample.

The diameter has this dimensioning in the case of an embodiment of the sample suction sponge with an approximately circular cross section. If the sample suction sponge has a different shape, for example an at least partially angular and/or rounded and/or elliptical shape in cross section, the above diameter can have a maximum extent approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip means.

According to one embodiment, the sample suction sponge has a length parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip means of about 1 cm to about 4 cm. In particular, this length can be from about 1.5 cm to about 3 cm, preferably about 2 cm. This dimensioning allows, on the one hand, good introduction and control of the sample suction sponge through the oral pharynx and, on the other hand, also sufficient absorption capacity for sucking up the saliva sample from the oral pharynx. The aforementioned length can be a maximum length and/or extent of the sample suction sponge in the longitudinal axis of the grip means. The longitudinal axis of the handle and/or this longitudinal extension of the sample suction sponge can coincide with the cylinder axis of the tube if the sample suction sponge is arranged inside the sample receiving vessel, e.g. designed as a small tube.

According to one embodiment, the sample receptacle is tubular at least in sections, and/or the sample suction sponge is approximately cylindrical in shape at least in sections. In general, the sample receptacle and the sample suction sponge can be dimensioned in such a way that the sample suction sponge has external dimensions that correspond to the internal dimensions of the sample receptacle. The outside dimensions of the sample suction sponge can be matched to the inside dimensions of the sample receptacle. In particular, the sample suction sponge can be made slightly smaller than the sample receiving vessel, so that the sample suction sponge can be easily inserted into the sample receiving vessel. The tubular design of the sample receiving vessel forms a preferred exemplary embodiment, since medical samples in liquid form are usually stored and/or analyzed in small tubes. For example, the sample receiving vessel can be designed as a centrifuge vessel and/or as another analysis vessel.

According to one embodiment, the vessel opening and/or the sample receiving vessel has an inner dimension which is at least approximately 1 mm larger than an outer dimension of the sample suction sponge perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip means. The external dimensions of the sample suction sponge are preferably even at least approximately 2 mm and/or 3 mm smaller than the vessel opening and/or the internal dimensions of the sample receiving vessel. This clear difference enables the sample suction sponge to be introduced easily and hygienically through the vessel opening into the sample receiving vessel. This can improve hygiene when the sample is taken, since the sponge is not inadvertently pressed against an edge of the vessel opening when it is threaded through the vessel opening, with parts of the sample being able to reach the outside of the sample receiving vessel.

According to one embodiment, at least one constriction section is formed inside the sample receiving vessel, into which the sample suction sponge can only be inserted in a compressed state. When inserting the sample suction sponge into the constriction section, the saliva sample is pushed out of the sample suction sponge. The constriction section can have a diameter that is approximately 2-3 mm larger than the handle means in order to ensure that the handle means can be introduced securely into the constriction section to allow effective squeezing out of the sample suction sponge in the constriction section, and/or at the same time to ensure sufficient space for the compressed sponge material. The constriction section can be provided by a reduced inner diameter of the sample receiving vessel and/or by a push-out insert described below.

According to one embodiment, the sampling system has a squeezing insert, which is arranged at least in sections within the sample receiving vessel, for squeezing the saliva sample out of the sample suction sponge. The squeezing insert can be arranged inside the sample receptacle in such a way that the sample suction sponge can simply be pressed against the squeezing insert inside the sample receptacle. For this purpose, the ejector insert can, for example, be completely sunk into the sample receptacle or, for example, rest on the receptacle opening and only be partially inserted into the sample receptacle. The push-out insert can be designed, for example, as an obstacle inside the sample receiving vessel, for example as a grid and/or other structure with a push surface. The squeezing insert can be designed as a cartridge, for example a squeezing cartridge.

The squeezing insert can be adapted at least in sections to the inner dimensions of the sample receiving vessel and can be used to squeeze out the soaked sample suction sponge directly in the sample tube without direct contact with the sample material. The ejector insert may have a funnel which narrows from about 1mm to about 3mm wider than the diameter of the handle means. The constriction can be used to compress the sample suction sponge and release the liquid stored therein.

The ejector insert is designed as part of the sampling system and can be placed loosely in or on the sample receptacle. During the sample collection step, the handle means locked on the cap can be screwed into the tube. The funnel shape as a "threading aid" makes it easier to insert the sample suction sponge with the handle into the squeezing insert. The dimensions are selected in such a way that after the closure has been completely screwed on, the sample suction sponge protrudes a few millimeters (decompressed) at the lower end of the squeezing insert. This can lead to a safer simultaneous removability of the push-out insert together with the sample suction sponge when opening the sample receiving vessel.

Alternatively or additionally, an inner contour of the push-out insert can be designed in the form of a ring with grooved edges pointing downwards. After the squeezing process, the grooved edges can stabilize and/or hold the sample suction sponge in the squeezing insert, so that when the handle is removed, the squeezing insert can be pulled out together with the sample suction sponge.

According to a development, the squeezing insert is arranged in the sample receptacle in such a way that the sample suction sponge attached to the handle is pressed against the squeezing insert inside the sample receptacle when a closure closes the sample receptacle. The squeezing insert is thus arranged at least partially at the level of the sample suction sponge when the sample suction sponge is arranged on the handle inside the closed sample receptacle. The sample suction sponge is squeezed out almost automatically when the sample container is closed. The closure presses on the handle, which presses the sample suction sponge into the squeezing insert. This simplifies squeezing the saliva sample out of the sample suction sponge.

In an alternative embodiment, when the sample suction sponge is squeezed out, the squeezing insert rests on the vessel opening of the sample receiving vessel and cannot be inserted completely into the sample receiving vessel. Only a portion of the squeezing insert can be placed inside the sample receiving vessel, e.g., a constriction, in which the sample suction sponge can be squeezed out.

In an additional or alternative development, the squeezing insert has at least one grid-like and/or perforated surface for squeezing out the sample suction sponge. The grid-like and/or perforated surface can be formed, for example, between a lower area of the sample receiving vessel and the sample suction sponge, so that the liquid pressed out of the sample suction sponge can flow down through the grid and/or the perforated surface into the lower area of the vessel for collecting the saliva sample run out and collect e.g. in a conical bottom part of the sample receptacle. Alternatively or additionally, the surface can also be designed at least partially obliquely and/or on a side wall of the sample receptacle.

In general, the vessel opening can be formed at an upper end of the sample receiving vessel, in particular at an upper cylinder end of a tubular sample receiving vessel. This makes it possible for the squeezed-out saliva sample to collect at a lower end of the sample receiving vessel and thus, for example, at a maximum distance from the vessel opening.

In a further additional or alternative embodiment, the expression insert is dimensioned in such a way that it can be removed from the sample receiving vessel through the vessel opening. This makes it possible to take out not only the sample suction sponge and the gripping means but also the squeezing insert from the sample receiving vessel after the saliva sample is squeezed out of the sample suction sponge. Thus, only the saliva sample remains in the sample receiving vessel and no additional component of the sampling system that could impede the analysis.

In an alternative embodiment, both the squeezing insert and/or the handle and/or the sample suction sponge remain in the sample receptacle during the analysis, since they do not impede the analysis in this embodiment. However, these elements of the sampling system can be arranged in a first, e.g. upper, area of the vessel, while the sample can be arranged in a second, e.g. lower, area. This separation can be achieved, for example, by means of a grid and/or net and/or other separating device, in particular by means of the ejector insert, which cannot be pushed into the lowest part of the sample receptacle due to its dimensions.

According to an alternative or additional development of this embodiment, the sample receiving vessel has a narrowed sample receiving area on a vessel bottom. The ejection insert is arranged above and/or at a distance from the sample receptacle in the sample receptacle. For example, the sample receptacle can be narrowed in a lower area at the bottom of the receptacle in such a way that the push-out insert can no longer be pushed into the sample receptacle. This makes it possible to press the sample out of the sample absorption sponge at the squeezing insert in such a way that it can collect in the sample receptacle, e.g. in the lower part of the sample receptacle, for analysis and further processing. A bottom plate can be configured to reduce "sloshing" of the expressed saliva sample.

According to a further alternative or additional development of the embodiment, the push-out insert has a constriction with retaining means. The retaining means are designed to hold the compressed sample suction sponge in place in the constriction. As a result, the hold of the compressed sample suction sponge in the constriction can be improved and the squeezing insert can be removed more easily from the sample receiving vessel.

According to one embodiment, the sample receiving vessel is designed as a collecting vessel for pooling saliva samples and a closure has at least one insert receptacle in which a sample suction sponge attached to the handle can be squeezed out. The sampling system can have several sample suction sponges attached to handles, by means of which saliva samples can be taken from different subjects and pooled in the collection vessel, e.g. parallel to one another in several insert receptacles. The sampling system can have multiple expression inserts that can be placed in the insert receptacles. The collection vessel can have a volume of at least 30 ml, for example, preferably at least 40 ml, so that e.g. 20 different approximately 1.5 ml to approximately 2 ml saliva samples can be collected in it. Preferably, the collection vessel is designed to pool approximately 10 to 30 saliva samples.

One aspect relates to using the sampling system to take a saliva sample and/or cell sample from a test person himself. The test person inserts the sample suction sponge into his mouth and throat using the handle and sucks up a saliva sample. The sample suction sponge which has been soaked with the saliva sample is then inserted into the sample receiving vessel, specifically at the longitudinal end of the grip means.

In the context of this invention, the terms “substantially” and/or “approximately” can be used in such a way that they include a deviation of up to 5% from a numerical value following the term, a deviation of up to 5° from one to the Direction following the term and/or from an angle following the term.

Unless otherwise specified, terms such as above, below, above, below, lateral, etc. refer to the reference system of the earth in an operating position of the subject matter of the invention.

• 1 eine schematische Schnittansicht durch ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Probennahmesystems;
• 2A in einer schematischen Schnittansicht ein Einbringen eines Probensaugschwamms eines Probennahmesystems gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel in ein Probenaufnahmegefäß des Probennahmesystems;
• 2B in einer schematischen Schnittansicht ein Ausdrücken des Probensaugschwamms im Inneren des Probenaufnahmegefäßes;
• 2C eine schematische Schnittansicht durch das Probenaufnahmegefäß mit darin aufgenommener Salivaprobe;
• 3A eine schematische Ansicht eines Verschlusses des Probennahmesystems gemäß dem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 3B eine schematische Schnittansicht durch den Verschluss;
• 4A eine schematische Aufsicht auf einen Ausdrückeinsatz des Probennahmesystems gemäß dem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 4B eine schematische Schnittansicht durch den Ausdrückeinsatz;
• 4C eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht des Ausdrückeinsatzes;
• 5A in einer schematischen Schnittansicht ein Einbringen eines Probensaugschwamms eines Probennahmesystems gemäß einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel in ein Probenaufnahmegefäß des Probennahmesystems;
• 5B in einer schematischen Schnittansicht ein Ausdrücken des Probensaugschwamms im Inneren des Probenaufnahmegefäßes;
• 5C eine schematische Schnittansicht durch das Probenaufnahmegefäß mit darin aufgenommener Salivaprobe;
• 6A in einer schematischen Schnittansicht ein Einbringen eines Probensaugschwamms eines Probennahmesystems gemäß einem vierten Ausführungsbeispiel in ein Probenaufnahmegefäß des Probennahmesystems;
• 6B in einer schematischen Schnittansicht ein Ausdrücken des Probensaugschwamms im Inneren des Probenaufnahmegefäßes;
• 6C eine schematische Schnittansicht durch das Probenaufnahmegefäß mit darin aufgenommener Salivaprobe;
• 7A eine schematische Aufsicht auf einen Ausdrückeinsatz des Probennahmesystems gemäß dem vierten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 7B eine schematische Schnittansicht durch den Ausdrückeinsatz;
• 7C eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht des Ausdrückeinsatzes;
• 8A eine schematische Aufsicht auf einen Verschluss eines Probennahmesystems gemäß einem fünften Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 8B eine schematische und perspektivische Ansicht des Verschlusses; und
• 8C eine schematische und perspektivische Ansicht einer Einsatzaufnahme im Verschluss des Probennahmesystems gemäß dem fünften Ausführungsbeispiel.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in figures. Here, the same or similar reference numerals, the same or similar features of designate embodiments. Individual features shown in the figures can be implemented in other exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• 1 a schematic sectional view through a first embodiment of a sampling system;
• 2A in a schematic sectional view, an introduction of a sample suction sponge of a sampling system according to a second embodiment in a sample receptacle of the sampling system;
• 2 B in a schematic sectional view, an expression of the sample suction sponge inside the sample receiving vessel;
• 2C a schematic sectional view through the sample receiving vessel with saliva sample received therein;
• 3A a schematic view of a closure of the sampling system according to the second embodiment;
• 3B a schematic sectional view through the closure;
• 4A a schematic plan view of an expression insert of the sampling system according to the second embodiment;
• 4B a schematic sectional view through the expression insert;
• 4C a schematic, perspective view of the expression insert;
• 5A in a schematic sectional view, an introduction of a sample suction sponge of a sampling system according to a third exemplary embodiment in a sample receptacle of the sampling system;
• 5B in a schematic sectional view, an expression of the sample suction sponge inside the sample receiving vessel;
• 5C a schematic sectional view through the sample receiving vessel with saliva sample received therein;
• 6A in a schematic sectional view, an introduction of a sample suction sponge of a sampling system according to a fourth exemplary embodiment in a sample receptacle of the sampling system;
• 6B in a schematic sectional view, an expression of the sample suction sponge inside the sample receiving vessel;
• 6C a schematic sectional view through the sample receiving vessel with saliva sample received therein;
• 7A a schematic plan view of an expression insert of the sampling system according to the fourth embodiment;
• 7B a schematic sectional view through the expression insert;
• 7C a schematic, perspective view of the expression insert;
• 8A a schematic plan view of a closure of a sampling system according to a fifth embodiment;
• 8B a schematic and perspective view of the closure; and
• 8C a schematic and perspective view of an insert receptacle in the closure of the sampling system according to the fifth embodiment.

1 shows a schematic sectional view through a first exemplary embodiment of a sampling system 1. The sampling system 1 is designed in several parts and has a sample receiving vessel 30, a sample suction sponge 10, a handle 20 and optionally a closure 40.

In the embodiment shown, the sample suction sponge 10 forms a first component unit with the handle means 20 and the closure 40, while the sample receptacle 30 is designed separately therefrom as a further component unit.

The sample receiving vessel 30 is designed as a tube open on one side, which can be designed in particular to be transparent. The sample receptacle 30 can be made of glass and/or plastic. The sample receiving vessel 30 has a vessel opening 31 at its upper end. The vessel opening 31 is formed at a tube end of the cylindrical sample receiving vessel 30, e.g. on the cylinder cover. At this point, the pipe or tube of the sample receiving vessel 30 is designed to be open. Adjacent to and/or adjacent to the vessel opening 31, the sample receiving vessel 30 has a thread 32. The thread 32 is designed to be screwed to an internal thread 41 of the closure 40 .

A sample holder 33 is formed on a tube end remote from the vessel opening 31 , here at the lower end of the sample receiving vessel 30 . The sample receptacle 33 is formed on the bottom of the sample receptacle 30 . The sample receptacle 33 has a constriction and at least one internal dimensioning that is constricted compared to the overlying (eg, cylinder) diameter. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sample holder converges in a funnel shape towards the bottom. Above the sample holder 33 bis towards the upper end at the vessel opening 31, the sample receiving vessel 30 has a substantially constant, ie consistently large, inner tube diameter.

The sample suction sponge 10 is attached to a first longitudinal end 21 of the handle 20 . The handle means 20 can be designed, for example, as a rod and/or at least in sections in the shape of a rod. The handle means 20 extends along its longitudinal axis from the first longitudinal end 21 to a second longitudinal end 22.

The sample suction sponge 10 is fastened, e.g. glued, to the first longitudinal end 21 . The sample suction sponge 10 is permanently attached to the handle 20 . It can thereby be ensured that the sample suction sponge 10 does not unintentionally become detached from the grip means 20 when chewing and/or guiding the sample suction sponge 10 through the oral pharynx.

The sample suction sponge 10 can be made of foam and/or plastic, e.g. as a small polyurethane sponge. The sample suction sponge 10 can, for example, be cylindrical so that it fits well into the sample receptacle 30, which is also cylindrical.

The sample suction sponge 10 can have a capacity of at least 0.5 ml, preferably at least 1 ml, particularly preferably at least 2 ml, in particular about 3 ml of liquid. This means that the sample suction sponge 10 can suck up this volume of liquid, ie the saliva sample. When the sample suction sponge 10 is squeezed out normally, at least half of the volume sucked up, preferably at least about two thirds of the liquid sucked up, can be squeezed out of the sample suction sponge 10 .

In one embodiment, the sample suction sponge has a diameter of about 1.4 cm and a height in the longitudinal axis of the handle means 20 of about 2 cm. In this exemplary embodiment, the sample receiving vessel 30 can have a diameter of approximately 2 cm to 3 cm in order to allow the sample suction sponge 10 to be easily inserted through the vessel opening 31 into the interior of the sample receiving vessel 30 .

At the second longitudinal end 22, the handle means 20 can be detachably attached to the closure 40. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the handle means 20 is fastened to the inside of the cover of the closure 40 by means of a ball head lock. The handle means 20 is rotatably mounted around the pluggable ball head at the second longitudinal end 22 so that it is not unintentionally sheared off when the sample receptacle 30 is screwed on with the closure 40 . For this purpose, a spherical recess is formed on the inside of the closure together with a ball head neck. The ball head neck is designed as a hose-like and/or tubular extension at the entrance of the grip means receptacle 42 and can reduce and/or prevent tilting of the grip means 20 relative to the closure 40 during sampling.

The closure 40 can be designed as a screw cap. The screw cap 40 can be from about 1 cm to about 3 cm in height. It is preferably about 2 cm high. When the closure 40 is screwed onto the sample receptacle 30, the saturated sample suction sponge 10 can be squeezed out.

The sample receptacle 30 can have a foot 34 on the sample receptacle 33, which allows it to be placed in an upright position.

2A shows a sampling system 1 according to a second embodiment in a schematic sectional view when inserting the sample suction sponge 10 into the sample receiving vessel 30. The sample suction sponge 10 can already be saturated with a saliva sample. That in the 2A until 2C The sampling system 1 shown according to the second exemplary embodiment can be used in the same way as in 1 shown sampling system 1 may be formed according to the first embodiment. In addition to the in 1 Components shown, the sampling system 1 according to the second embodiment may have an expression insert 50. The ejection insert 50 is arranged in the interior of the sample receptacle 30, specifically above the sample receptacle 33.

The push-out insert 50 provides an obstacle in the interior of the sample receiving vessel 30 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the push-out insert 50 has a section with a narrowed inner diameter. When the sample receptacle 30 is closed, the sample suction sponge 10 is pressed into this section of the sample receptacle 30 with the narrowed inner diameter, on which the ejector insert 50 is arranged.

2 B shows a section through the closed sampling system 1, in which the sample suction sponge 10 is pressed onto and/or into the expression insert 50. The squeezing insert 50 presses the sample suction sponge 10 together in such a way that the liquid is squeezed out of the sample suction sponge 10 and runs off towards the bottom of the vessel. forms The saliva sample 100 is found in the sample receptacle 33 and collects at the bottom of the vessel. The squeezing of the sample suction sponge 10 can be supported and/or reinforced by the screwing movement when screwing the closure 40 on.

2C shows that after the in 2 B shown squeezing the sample suction sponge 10, the sample receptacle 30 can be opened again and the handle means 20 can be removed together with the sample suction sponge 10 and optionally the expression insert 50 from the sample receptacle 30. in the in 2C In the operating state shown, only the saliva sample 100 is arranged inside the sample receiving vessel 30, while the sample suction sponge 10, the grip means 20 and the expression insert 50 are removed from the interior. These can then be disposed of properly.

To remove the handle 20, it can simply be pulled out of the handle receptacle 42 in the longitudinal direction upwards. That's why it's in 2C the handle means receptacle 42 is shown empty and no longer filled from the second longitudinal end 22 of the handle means 20.

2 B shows that the sample suction sponge 10 can reach behind a lower end of the squeezing insert 50 when the sampling system 1 is completely closed. For this reason, when the sample suction sponge 10 is removed from the sample receiving vessel 30, the squeezing insert 50 can be pulled upwards out of the vessel opening 31 by the sample suction sponge 10. In other words, a non-positive and/or positive connection between the compressed sample suction sponge 10 in the narrowed squeezing section of the squeezing insert 50 and/or the mushroom-shaped gripping behind at the lower end of the squeezing insert 50 can be sufficient to push the squeezing insert 50 upwards together with the sample suction sponge 10 the sample receiving vessel 30 to take out. This enables the parts of the sampling system 1 to be disposed of to be removed from the sample receptacle 30 in a particularly simple and therefore hygienic manner.

In the 2C The saliva sample 100 shown in the sample receiving vessel 30 can thus be examined well, for example in a laboratory.

The sample receptacle 30 of the second exemplary embodiment can have an overall height of approximately 10 cm and/or an inner diameter of just under 3 cm, in particular approximately 2.75 cm. The sample well may have a height of about 1.5 cm measured from the bottom of foot 34.

3A shows a schematic view of the closure 40 of the sampling system 1 according to the first, second and/or third exemplary embodiment. The closure 40 can be in the form of a twist-lock closure and can be approximately 2 cm high. The closure 40 may be knurled on an exterior surface to facilitate screwing and/or unscrewing.

3B shows a longitudinal section through the closure 40. The internal thread 41 is designed in such a way that it can be screwed into engagement with the thread 32. FIG. The handle mount 42 is mounted on the inside of the lid in an approximately central position, centrally in the inner lid center. The grip means receptacle 42 is designed to be open on one side. A ball head neck 43 connects to this opening, which can reduce and/or prevent tilting of the elongate handle means 20 . The handle mount 42 serves to attach the handle 20 to the closure 40.

The second longitudinal end 22 of the handle means 20 can be designed as a spherical head end, which can be pressed into the handle means mount 42 . The sampling swab locked in this way can be rotated by the (pluggable) ball head so that it is not sheared off when screwing it on. The ball head neck 43 makes the handle means 20 "tilt-proof" and thereby facilitates maneuvering in the mouth/throat area. This is advantageous for the manufacturing process as the closure 40 and handle means 20 can be manufactured independently prior to assembly.

4A shows a schematic representation of the ejector insert 50 of the sampling system 1 according to the second embodiment in the longitudinal direction, ie in the cylinder direction of the cylindrical sample receptacle 30. The ejector insert 50 has an outer insert diameter 51 which is almost as large as the inner diameter of the sample receptacle 30.

4B shows the insert outside diameter 51 and the insert inside diameter 52 again in a side sectional view. The push-out insert 50 has an insertion opening 53 at the upper end. The insertion opening 53 narrows from an upper end, at which the insertion opening 53 is formed wider than the diameter of the sample suction sponge 10, to a narrowing 54 at which the ejection insert 50 is formed significantly narrower than the diameter of the sample suction sponge 10. In the closed state of the sampling system 1, which eg in 2 B As shown, the sample suction sponge 10 is located inside the constriction 54 at which the push-out insert 50 has the insert inside diameter 52 . In this operating position, the sample suction sponge 10 is squeezed out so that the liquid can run out of the sample suction sponge 10 .

The expression insert 50 is open at the lower end and has an insert opening 55 . The saliva sample can flow downwards out of the sample suction sponge 10 through this insertion opening 55 .

The push-out insert 50 can be manufactured as a single part and sunk into the sample receiving vessel 30 . The inner diameter of the insert 52 can be formed wider at the constriction 54 from about 1 mm to about 3 mm than the gripping means 20 at the first longitudinal end 21, which can be formed, for example, as a handle and/or rod. On the one hand, this makes it possible to safely insert the handle 20 into the ejector insert 50 . On the other hand, it enables the sample suction sponge 10 to be squeezed out effectively. The walls of the squeeze-out insert 50 can be perforated, grid-like and/or perforated in order to enable the sample suction sponge 10 to be squeezed out more easily.

4C shows the expression insert 50 again in a perspective view. The inner walls of the ejector insert 50, ie in particular the constriction 54, can be supported by one or more insert wings 56.

The push-out insert 50 can be arranged as a loose component inside the sample receiving vessel 30 . The narrowing of the inner diameter at the sample receptacle 33 can prevent the push-out insert 50 from slipping down to the bottom of the vessel. The ejector insert 50 is thus held at a distance from the vessel bottom inside the sample receiving vessel 30 . Furthermore, when the sampling system 1 is closed (cf. 2 B) the lower end of the sample suction sponge 10 can be arranged at a distance from the bottom of the vessel so that the saliva sample 100 can reliably collect there.

5A shows a sampling system 1 according to a third exemplary embodiment in a schematic sectional view when inserting the sample suction sponge 10 into the sample receptacle 30. The sample suction sponge 10 can already be soaked with a saliva sample. That in the 5A until 5C The sampling system 1 shown according to the third exemplary embodiment can be used in the same way as in 1 shown sampling system 1 may be formed according to the first embodiment. In addition to the in 1 The components shown, the sampling system 1 according to the third exemplary embodiment can have an expression insert 50'. Just like the ejection insert 50 of the second exemplary embodiment, the ejection insert 50 of the third exemplary embodiment is also arranged in the interior of the sample receptacle 30, specifically above the sample receptacle 33.

The second and the third exemplary embodiment can be designed essentially identically and differ only in the design of the respective push-out insert 50 or 50 ′ and/or the attachment of the handle 20 to the closure 40 .

The push-out insert 50' is very similar to that shown in FIGS 2A , 2 B and 4A until 4C Express insert 50 shown formed. Just like this, the push-out insert 50 ′ according to the third exemplary embodiment can also have an insertion opening 53 , a constriction 54 and/or insert wings 56 . Likewise, the push-out insert 50' according to the third exemplary embodiment can have a similar outer insert diameter 51 and inner insert diameter 52, cf. 4A and 4B .

In contrast to the squeeze-out insert 50 according to the second exemplary embodiment, however, the squeeze-out insert 50 ′ according to the third exemplary embodiment has at least one retaining means 57 on the constriction 50 . The retaining means 57 reduce or prevent the sample suction sponge 10 from being pulled out of the constriction 54.

The retaining means 57 can be designed as barbs and/or grooves and as protection against the sample suction sponge 10 being pulled out of the squeezing insert 50'. The retaining means 57 can be designed as extensions pointing radially inwards at least in sections on a wall of the constriction 54 . The retaining means 57 can be used in the compressed state of the sample suction sponge 10 (cf. 5B) be pressed into the sample suction sponge 10 and thereby increase the adhesion of the sample suction sponge 10 in the constriction 54 .

The retaining means 57 can increase the static friction between the sample suction sponge 10 and the squeezing insert 50'. They make it possible to form the lower end of the expression insert 50' in a closed manner, since the sample suction sponge 10 no longer has to reach behind the lower end (as, for example, according to the second exemplary embodiment, cf. 2 B) , to the Squeeze-out insert 50' can be removed from the sample receiving vessel 30 together with the sample suction sponge 10.

The closed lower end of the squeeze-out cartridge 50' may therefore have a bottom 59 of the cartridge. The insert base 59 can, for example, be grid-like and/or perforated. The insert floor 59 can hold back impurities and/or coarser components of the saliva sample 100 and thus improve the sample quality.

5B shows a section through the closed sampling system 1 according to the third exemplary embodiment, in which the sample suction sponge 10 is pressed onto and/or into the expression insert 50'. The squeezing insert 50' presses the sample suction sponge 10 together in such a way that the liquid is squeezed out of the sample suction sponge 10 and runs off towards the bottom of the vessel. The sample suction sponge 10 is not only compressed laterally in the constriction 54, but also axially from below by the insert base 59. Even the lowest sponge section of the sample suction sponge 10 can be compressed and squeezed out in the squeezing insert 50'. As a result, the saliva sample 100 can be squeezed out of the sample suction sponge 10 more effectively.

5C shows that after the in 5B shown squeezing the sample suction sponge 10, the sample receptacle 30 can be opened again and the handle means 20 can be removed together with the sample suction sponge 10 and the expression insert 50 'from the sample receptacle 30. In this state, the differs in 5C third exemplary embodiment shown no longer differs from that in 2C shown second embodiment.

The push-out insert 50' may have multiple passages, e.g. at least one insertion passage through the insertion opening 53, at least one throat passage through the wall at the throat 54, at least one wing passage through the insert wings 56, and/or at least one bottom passage through the insert floor 59. These different Apertures can allow the saliva sample 100 to flow reliably through the expression insert 50 ′ and into the sample receptacle 33 .

The squeezing insert 50' (just like the squeezing inserts 50 and/or 50" of the other embodiments) can have at least one upper passage above the compressed sample suction sponge 10, e.g. still at the insertion opening 53. When the sample suction sponge 10 is compressed, liquid can collect above the compressed sample suction sponge 10, which can stand in the funnel-shaped insertion opening 53. The at least one upper passage allows this standing liquid to be drained and preferably has an opening of at least about 3 mm (e.g. in diameter or along at least one edge) in order to ensure a safe passive outflow of to allow viscous saliva.

The sample receiving vessel 30 of the third exemplary embodiment can have an overall height of approximately 10 cm and/or an inner diameter of just under 3 cm, in particular approximately 2.75 cm. The sample well may have a height of about 1.5 cm measured from the bottom of foot 34.

6A shows a schematic sectional view of the introduction of a sample suction sponge 10 of a sampling system 1 according to a fourth exemplary embodiment into a sample receptacle 30 of the sampling system 1. The sampling system 1 is shown here without its closure 40 (cf. 6C ), which provides an additional component of the sampling system 1. When introduced, the sample suction sponge 10 can already be saturated with a saliva sample. That in the 6A until 6C The sampling system 1 shown according to the fourth exemplary embodiment can be similar to that shown in FIGS 2A-2C and/or 5A-5C shown sampling system 1 according to the second or third embodiment.

The sampling system 1 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment has an ejector insert 50". The ejector insert 50" of the fourth exemplary embodiment is only partially arranged in the interior of the sample receiving vessel 30 in an operating position for squeezing, namely at a distance from the sample receptacle 33 and in the vessel opening 31.

The ejector insert 50" has similarities to the ejector insert 50' of the third exemplary embodiment. Just like this, the ejector insert 50" according to the fourth exemplary embodiment can also have an insertion opening 53, a constriction 54 and/or insert wings 56 (cf. also 7A until 7C ).

In contrast to this, the ejector insert 50" of the fourth exemplary embodiment has a widening 58 at its upper end, the outer dimension of which is larger than the insertion opening 31 of the sample receptacle 30. For this reason, the ejector insert 50" also does not fit completely into the sample receptacle 30, but lies on the insertion opening 31.

The push-out insert 50" can also be screwed to the thread 32 of the sample receptacle 30 in order to enable the push-out insert 50" to be held securely on the sample receptacle 30.

The expression insert 50 "according to the fourth embodiment can have at least one retaining means 57 on the constriction 50, which reduces or prevents the sample suction sponge 10 from being pulled out of the constriction 54. The restraining means 57 can be designed similarly to the expression insert 50 'of the third embodiment. The closed The lower end of the push-out insert 50" can have an insert base 59, which can be e.g. grid-like and/or perforated.

6B shows a section through the sampling system 1 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, in which the sample suction sponge 10 is pressed onto and/or into the squeezing insert 50". The squeezing insert 50" presses the sample suction sponge 10 together in such a way that the liquid is squeezed out of the sample suction sponge 10 and runs down to the bottom of the vessel. The sample suction sponge 10 is not only compressed laterally in the constriction 54, but also axially from below by the insert base 59. Even the lowest sponge section of the sample suction sponge 10 can be compressed and squeezed out in the squeezing insert 50'.

The sample suction sponge 10 can be pressed into the push-out insert 50" by hand, the closure 40 not having to be used.

6C shows that after the in 6B shown squeezing out the sample suction sponge 10, the handle 20 together with the sample suction sponge 10 and the squeezing insert 50" can be removed from the sample receptacle 30, for example by unscrewing it, and only the squeezed-out saliva sample 100 remains in the sample receptacle 33. For this purpose, the squeezing insert 50" can be unscrewed from the sample receptacle 30 and the sample receiving vessel 30 filled with the saliva sample 100 can be screwed to the original cover, ie the closure 40 .

The sample receiving vessel 30 of the fourth exemplary embodiment can, for example, be designed as a 15 ml tube from FALCON and/or have an overall height of approximately 12 cm.

7A shows a schematic representation of the ejector insert 50" of the sampling system 1 according to the fourth embodiment in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the cylinder direction of the cylindrical sample receptacle 30. The ejector insert 50" has an outer insert diameter 51 which is wider than the inner diameter of the sample receptacle 30.

7B shows the insert outside diameter 51 and the insert inside diameter 52 again in a side sectional view. The squeezing insert 50" has an insertion opening 53 at the upper end. The inserting opening 53 narrows from an upper end to a constriction 54, at which the squeezing insert 50" is designed to be significantly narrower than the diameter of the sample suction sponge 10.

The constriction 54 can have a height of about 2 cm, while the overall height of the squeezing insert 50" can be about 4 cm, for example. When squeezing out the sample suction sponge 10, at least the constriction 54 can be arranged completely inside the sample receiving vessel 30 (cf. 6B) , while the upper end of the push-out insert 50" protrudes from the sample receiving vessel 30.

If the sample suction sponge 10 is arranged inside the constriction 54 at which the squeezing insert 50 has the inside diameter 52 of the insert, the sample suction sponge 10 is squeezed out in such a way that the liquid can flow out of the sample suction sponge 10 .

The ejector insert 50 is open at the lower end and has an insert opening 55 which is provided with the insert base 59, which is e.g. The saliva sample can flow downwards out of the sample suction sponge 10 through this insert opening 55 and the insert base 59 .

Similar to the exemplary embodiments described above, the push-out insert 50'' can be manufactured as a single part and can be lowered into the sample receptacle 30 in sections.

At the upper end of the constriction 54, the ejector insert 50'' has a counterwind 53', which is matched to the thread 32 of the sample receiving vessel 30 (cf. 6A-6C ). The push-out insert 50'' can be screwed onto the insertion opening 31 of the sample receiving vessel 30 with the counterwind 53', so that it is fastened thereto.

7C shows the ejection insert 50" again in a perspective view. The inner walls of the ejection insert 50", ie in particular the constriction 54, can be supported by one or more insert wings 56.

The counterwind 53' is arranged inside a cylindrical extension of the ejector insert 50", designed as an internal thread and is used for screwing onto the (external) thread 32 of the sample receptacle 30.

The ejector insert 50" can be arranged as a loose component inside the sample receptacle 30. The ejector insert 50" is held at a distance from the vessel bottom inside the sample receptacle 30, namely at the insertion opening 31.

8A shows a schematic top view of a closure 60 of a sampling system 1 according to a fifth exemplary embodiment.

8B shows a schematic and perspective view of this closure 60. In this case, the sample receiving vessel (not shown in the figures) can be made somewhat larger than in the exemplary embodiments described above, for example as a collecting vessel for sample pools. The collection vessel can be in the form of a wide-necked and/or square bottle, for example a 250 ml HDPE vessel with a seal. Angular collection containers are easy to store and/or stack.

For example, it can be helpful for high-throughput testing if the saliva samples 100 taken are suitably pooled in order to limit the analysis effort in the first step of the diagnosis. The pooling can take place in a suitably large collection and/or pool vessel, for example in the sample receiving vessel of the fifth exemplary embodiment.

The collection vessel can be sealed in a liquid-tight manner (by means of a screw cap and/or other locking mechanism) to prevent the pooled material from escaping. The original lid of the (unused) collection vessel can be replaced with a modified lid for sampling, for example the in 8A shutter 60 shown.

The modified closure 60 has insert receptacles 61 which are open at the bottom. These may, for example, be in the form of cylindrical indentations having an inside diameter of, for example, about 2.75 cm. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the closure 60 has three insert receptacles 61 next to one another. In other embodiments, the closure may have more or fewer insert receptacles 61.

At their lower end, the insert receptacles 61 each have a ring base 62, which can be designed, for example, as an approximately 3 mm wide collar and narrows the diameter, for example to approximately 2.1 cm.

8C shows a schematic and perspective view of an insert receptacle 61 in the closure 60 of the sampling system 1 according to the fifth exemplary embodiment.

The empty insert receptacle 61 is shown on the left. In the middle, an ejector insert 50' is introduced into the insert receptacle 61 from above, which in the right-hand figure is inserted into the insert receptacle 61 with the exception of the ring foot 62 and is completely accommodated therein.

The squeezing insert 50' is inserted into the insert receptacle 61, and the volume of liquid in the sample sponge 10 is then pressed out by pressing it in. The sample liquid of the saliva sample 100 flows into the pool collection container below the modified closure 60.

The handle means 20 is then pulled out. Due to the special type of inner contour of the compression channel, i.e. the constriction 54, in the ejection insert 50' (i.e. e.g. downward-facing grooves and/or a rough surface and/or a perforated surface of the duct), the ejection insert 50' can also be removed when it is pulled out and disposed of contact-free. In this way, the formation of aerosols can be reduced and/or prevented.

After the pool has been removed, the sample collection lid, ie the modified closure 60, can be exchanged for an original liquid-tight closure lid (not shown in the figures) for the purpose of transport, for example. The sampling system 1 can thus have two closures, the modified closure 60 with the insert receptacles 61 and a regular closure without insert receptacle 61, for example similar to that in FIG 3A shown closure 40 with appropriately adapted dimensioning.

In variants, the modified closure 60 can be rectangular and/or square and have openings for the insert receptacles 61 arranged in rows (eg, like a chess board) in the lid, so that up to 30 samples can be processed. The number of openings can have an upper limit due to the fact that the analyte is diluted by pooling, so that the detection of a single positive individual sample in the total pool volume fails as soon as the functional (analytical) sensitivity of the detection is exceeded by the pooling-related sample dilution method used to analyze the pool sample is not reached.

In an alternative embodiment, only a single insert receptacle 61 can be formed in the closure, in which the sample suction sponges can be squeezed out one after the other. The squeezing insert can be fixed in the insert receptacle 61, e.g. as an integral part, and can be used for squeezing out the different saliva samples that are pooled in the collection container anyway.

reference list

1

sampling system

10

sample suction sponge

20

grip means

21

first longitudinal end

22

second longitudinal end

23

longitudinal section

30

sample receiving vessel

31

vessel opening

32

thread

33

sampling

34

Foot

40

closure

41

inner thread

42

grip center mount

43

ball head neck

50

expression insert

50'

expression insert

50"

expression insert

51

insert outer diameter

52

insert inside diameter

53

insertion opening

53'

counter thread

54

constriction

55

insert opening

56

deployment wings

57

means of restraint

58

widening

59

insert floor

60

collective closure

61

Operation recording

62

ring foot

100

saliva sample

Claims (18)

Sampling system (1) for taking a saliva sample (100) from a subject with: - An at least partially elongate handle means (20); - A sample suction sponge (10) attached to a first longitudinal end (21) of the handle means (20) for sucking up the saliva sample (100); and - A sample receiving vessel (30) for receiving the sample suction sponge (10) fastened to the handle means (20) through a vessel opening (31). Sampling system (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the handle means (20) is rod-shaped and the sample suction sponge (10) is attached to a first rod end of the handle means (20). Sampling system (1) according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a second longitudinal end (22) of the handle means (20) is attached to a closure (40) for closing the vessel opening (31) of the sample receiving vessel (30). Sampling system (1) according to claim 3 , wherein the handle means (20) is releasably attached to the closure (40) of the sample receiving vessel (30). Sampling system (1) according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the handle means (20) is rotatably attached to the closure (40) of the sample receiving vessel (30). Sampling system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sample suction sponge (10) is designed to be sufficiently absorbent to absorb a saliva sample (100) of at least approximately 0.5 ml, in particular at least approximately 2 ml. Sampling system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sample suction sponge (10) has a diameter perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle means (20) of about 0.5 cm to about 3 cm, in particular from about 1.2 cm to about 2 cm. Sampling system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sample suction sponge (10) has a length parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle means (20) of about 1 cm to about 4 cm, in particular from about 1.5 cm to about 3 cm. Sampling system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sample The receiving vessel (30) is at least partially tubular and/or the sample suction sponge (10) is at least partially cylindrical. Sampling system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vessel opening (32) and/or the sample receiving vessel (30) has or have an inner dimension which is or are at least approximately 1 mm larger than an outer dimension of the sample suction sponge (10) perpendicular to the Longitudinal axis of the handle means (20). Sampling system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, with a squeezing insert (50; 50'; 50") arranged at least in sections inside the sample receiving vessel (30) for squeezing the saliva sample (100) out of the sample suction sponge (10). Sampling system (1) after claim 11 , wherein the squeezing insert (50; 50') is arranged in the sample receptacle (50) such that the sample suction sponge (10) attached to the handle means (20) is pressed against the squeezing insert (50; 50') within the sample receptacle (30) when a closure (40) closes the sample receptacle (30). Sampling system (1) after claim 11 , wherein the squeezing insert (50") rests on the vessel opening (31) of the sample receiving vessel (30) when squeezing out the sample suction sponge (10) and cannot be fully inserted into the sample receiving vessel (30) in an operating position for squeezing out. Sampling system (1) according to one of Claims 11 until 13 , wherein the squeezing insert (50; 50';50") has at least one grid-like and/or perforated surface for squeezing out the sample suction sponge (10). Sampling system (1) according to one of Claims 11 until 14 , wherein the expression insert (50; 50';50") is dimensioned such that it can be removed from the sample receiving vessel (30) through the vessel opening (32). Sampling system (1) according to one of Claims 11 until 15 , wherein the sample receptacle (30) has a narrowed sample receptacle (33) on a vessel bottom and the ejector insert (50; 50') is arranged above and/or at a distance from the sample receptacle (33) in the sample receptacle (30). Sampling system (1) according to one of Claims 11 until 16 , wherein the expression insert (50';50") has a constriction (54) with retaining means (57), and wherein the retaining means (57) are designed to hold the compressed sample suction sponge (10) in the constriction (54). Sampling system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sample receiving vessel (30) is designed as a collecting vessel for pooling saliva samples and a closure (60) has at least one insert receptacle (61), in each of which a sample suction sponge (10) can be squeezed out.

Images