Granted Patent B2

US 12,207,925 · App. 18/335,817 · Granted Jan 28, 2025

Inventor: Sean McIntosh (Lawrence, KS)

Assignee: FOOTHOLD LABS INC.

A61B5/150358A61B5/14532A61B5/6898G01N33/5438

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. A system, comprising:

a testing receptacle device comprising:

a receptacle having a sidewall defining an interior space;

a swab guide formed within the interior space; the swab guide configured to receive a sample specimen and guide the sample specimen to a region of the interior space; and

a test sensor cartridge including a functionalized electrode strip, the functionalized electrode strip having an electrode well contact point at one end thereof, the test sensor cartridge configured to be inserted within the receptacle such that the electrode well contact point is disposed within the region of the interior space and in contact with the sample specimen;

wherein the testing system is configured to transmit an electrical current through the functionalized electrode strip for electrochemical analysis of the specimen sample.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a diagnostic device comprising a potentiostat, wherein the diagnostic device includes a docking port for receiving a lower end construction of the receptacle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrode well contact point of the functionalized electrode strip is positioned adjacent to a lower end of the swab guide.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the swab guide is configured to receive a testing swab and guide the testing swab to the electrode well contact point of the functionalized electrode strip,

wherein the testing swab contains the specimen sample thereon.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the swab guide is configured to receive a liquid buffer solution and guide the liquid buffer solution to the electrode well contact point of the functionalized electrode strip,

wherein the liquid buffer solution contains the specimen sample therein.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the swab guide includes an angled surface wall extending inward from an interior surface of the perimeter sidewall at an angle toward the electrode well contact point of the functionalized electrode strip.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the swab guide further comprises fins provided on each side of the angled surface wall.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a lid configured to enclose an upper end of the receptacle, the lid including a continuous opening extending vertically through the lid,

wherein the swab guide is aligned with the continuous opening of the lid.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the lid comprises an upper lid section and a lower lid section, the upper lid section removable from the lower lid section, and the lower lid section defines a cartridge slot, the cartridge slot configured to receive and retain the test sensor cartridge.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the cartridge slot includes retaining walls for receiving and retaining a cartridge head the test sensor cartridge.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the upper lid section includes a connection port slot configured for receiving a connection port located on the cartridge head of the test sensor cartridge.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the connection port of the test sensor cartridge is configured for connecting the testing receptacle device to a display device.

13. The system of claim 2 , wherein the diagnostic device is configured for carrying out cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, chronoamperometry or similar electrical techniques.

14. The system of claim 2 , wherein the docking port is configured for placing the testing receptacle device in electronic communication with the diagnostic device.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes a retaining wall extending inward from an interior surface of the perimeter wall, the retaining wall configured for retaining the functionalized electrode strip in a fixed position.

16. A method, comprising:

obtaining a specimen sample;

with a swab guide formed within an interior space of a receptacle, guiding the specimen sample to a region of the interior space;

inserting a test sensor cartridge including a functionalized electrode strip, the functionalized electrode strip having an electrode well contact point at one end thereof, within the receptacle such that the electrode well contact point is disposed within the region of the interior space and in contact with the sample specimen; and

using an electrochemical diagnostic technique on the functionalized electrode strip for electrochemical analysis of the specimen sample.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the electrochemical diagnostic technique includes cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, chronoamperometry, or similar electrical techniques.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the swab guide is configured to (1) receive a testing swab, the testing swab containing the specimen sample thereon, and (2) guide the testing swab to the electrode well contact point of the functionalized electrode strip.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the swab guide is configured to (1) receive a liquid buffer solution, the liquid buffer solution containing the specimen sample therein, and (2) guide the liquid buffer solution to the electrode well contact point of the functionalized electrode strip.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the swab guide includes an angled surface wall extending inward from an interior surface of the perimeter sidewall at an angle toward the electrode well contact point of the functionalized electrode strip.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the swab guide further comprises fins provided on each side of the angled surface wall.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (115)