Devices and methods for collecting saliva samples from the oral cavity

1. A method for collecting saliva from the oral cavity of a mammal, said method comprising:

placing a mouthpiece of a device comprising said mouthpiece in the oral cavity of a mammal, said mouthpiece comprising a chamber defined by front and rear inner walls and a base inner wall of said mouthpiece, said base wall extending between said front and rear inner walls, each of said front and rear inner walls of said chamber comprising a plurality of openings, and a switch disposed in said mouthpiece; and said device further comprising a saliva collection reservoir, a fluid supply reservoir, a pump, and means for directing fluid through said device, wherein said switch is disposed in said mouthpiece at a location sensitive to a biting motion and wherein said switch is activated by biting down on said switch;

introducing in the oral cavity an agent selected from the group consisting of a saliva sample stimulating agent, and a conglomeration agent;

activating said switch disposed in said mouthpiece to pump saliva from the oral cavity to the saliva collection reservoir for collection;

deactivating said pumping of saliva to the saliva collection reservoir after three or more down bites on said switch;

subsequently pumping fluid from the fluid supply reservoir to the mouthpiece for cleaning or treatment of the oral cavity; and

analyzing the saliva collected by a method selected from the group consisting of lateral flow technology, microfluid immunoassay, DNA-DNA hybridization, color metrics, photoimaging, gas chromatography, zinc oxide semiconductor sensors, quantitative light fluorescence and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction.

2. A method for collecting saliva from the oral cavity of a mammal, said method comprising:

placing a mouthpiece of a device comprising said mouthpiece in the oral cavity of a mammal, said mouthpiece comprising a chamber defined by front and rear inner walls and a base inner wall of said mouthpiece, said base wall extending between said front and rear inner walls, each of said front and rear inner walls of said chamber comprising a plurality of openings, and a switch disposed in said mouthpiece; and said device further comprising a saliva collection reservoir, a fluid supply reservoir, a pump, and means for directing fluid through said device, wherein said switch is disposed in said mouthpiece at a location sensitive to a biting motion and wherein said switch is activated by biting down on said switch;

activating said switch disposed in said mouthpiece to pump saliva from the oral cavity to the saliva collection reservoir for collection;

deactivating said pumping of saliva to the saliva collection reservoir after three or more down bites on said switch; and

subsequently pumping fluid from the fluid supply reservoir to the mouthpiece for cleaning or treatment of the oral cavity.

3. A method for collecting saliva from the oral cavity of a mammal, said method comprising:

placing a mouthpiece of a device comprising said mouthpiece in the oral cavity of a mammal, said mouthpiece comprising a chamber defined by front and rear inner walls and a base inner wall of said mouthpiece, said base wall extending between said front and rear inner walls, each of said front and rear inner walls of said chamber comprising a plurality of openings, and a switch disposed in said mouthpiece; and said device further comprising a saliva collection reservoir, a fluid supply reservoir, a pump, and means for directing fluid through said device;

activating said switch disposed in said mouthpiece to pump saliva from the oral cavity to the saliva collection reservoir for collection;

deactivating said pumping of saliva to the saliva collection;

subsequently pumping fluid from the fluid supply reservoir to the mouthpiece for cleaning or treatment of the oral cavity; and

analyzing the saliva collected by a method selected from the group consisting of lateral flow technology, microfluid immunoassay, DNA-DNA hybridization, color metrics, photoimaging, gas chromatography, zinc oxide semiconductor sensors, quantitative light fluorescence and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction.

4. A method for collecting saliva from the oral cavity of a mammal, said method comprising:

placing a mouthpiece of a device comprising said mouthpiece in the oral cavity of a mammal, said mouthpiece comprising a chamber defined by front and rear inner walls and a base inner wall of said mouthpiece, said base wall extending between said front and rear inner walls, each of said front and rear inner walls of said chamber comprising a plurality of openings, and a switch disposed in said mouthpiece; and said device further comprising a saliva collection reservoir, a fluid supply reservoir, a pump, and means for directing fluid through said device;

introducing in the oral cavity an agent selected from the group consisting of a saliva sample stimulating agent, and a conglomeration agent;

activating said switch disposed in said mouthpiece to pump saliva from the oral cavity to the saliva collection reservoir for collection;

deactivating said pumping of saliva to the saliva collection;

subsequently pumping fluid from the fluid supply reservoir to the mouthpiece for cleaning or treatment of the oral cavity.