IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,622,599
Granted Patent B2
US 12,622,599 · App. 18/046,680 · Granted May 12, 2026

Sample collection methods and apparatus for viral load level diagnosis

Inventors: Ali Alshehri (Los Angeles, CA); Hossein Kavehpour (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
A61B5/082G01N33/56983
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,622,599
App. No.
18/046,680
Filed
Oct 14, 2022
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2855
USPC
73/23.2
Abstract

Provided herein are apparatuses, systems, kits, and methods, for detecting a virus contained within human breath or ambient air. The apparatus includes a housing comprising a base and a cover, the base having a sample collection surface, and the cover having a port and substantially enclosing the sample collection surface thereby defining a sample collection chamber. The apparatus includes a tube extending through the port and configured to receive a gaseous sample containing moisture and direct the gaseous sample to the sample collection surface. The apparatus includes a cooling device configured to cool the gaseous sample and thereby condense the moisture on the sample collection surface and a sample collection material disposed on the sample collection surface. The sample collection material is configured to absorb the condensed moisture.

Claims (16)

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising a base and a cover, the base having a sample collection surface, the cover having a port and at least one vent disposed on each side of the cover, the cover substantially enclosing the sample collection surface thereby defining a sample collection chamber;

a tube extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end having a proximal opening and the distal end having a distal opening, the tube extending through the port such that the distal opening is in fluid communication with the sample collection chamber, wherein the proximal opening is configured to receive a gaseous sample containing moisture and direct the gaseous sample to the sample collection surface;

a cooling device configured to cool the sample collection surface and thereby condense at least a portion of the moisture on the sample collection surface; and

a sample collection material disposed on the sample collection surface, the sample collection material configured to absorb the condensed moisture.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each vent comprises a cutout along a bottom surface of the cover, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface is configured to contact the sample collection surface.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sample collection material comprises a ring, wherein the ring is positioned on the sample collection surface such that the tube is directed at a center of the ring.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sample collection surface comprises a slot, wherein the slot comprises a depth that is less than a thickness of the base and wherein the base comprises a first length and the slot comprises a second length, wherein the second length is less than the first length.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the sample collection material is disposed in the slot.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sample collection surface comprises a hydrophobic treatment, wherein the hydrophobic treatment comprises a hydrophobic silicon polymer.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tube is removable from the port.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cooling device comprises a thermoelectric device, wherein the cooling device is thermally coupled to the sample collection surface and wherein the cooling device is configured to cool the sample collection surface to between about 5° C. and about 22° C.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sample collection surface comprises a receptor to a coat protein of a virus.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sample collection material comprises a wicking material and one or more antibodies.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sample collection surface comprises one or more antibodies.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a height between the distal end of the tube and the sample collection surface is about 1.5 mm to about 52.5 mm and wherein a diameter of the tube is about 2 mm to about 3 mm.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2026
From: ALSHEHRI, ALI; KAVEHPOUR, HOSSEIN
To: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Reel/Frame 074069/0702 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTUS2021027456 · Apr 15, 2021
Provisional Application 63010453 · Apr 15, 2020
Related Publication 20230136493A1 · May 4, 2023
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