Sexually transmitted infection sampling device
View Patent ↗A sexually transmitted infection (STI) sampling device includes an elongated shaft that defines a first end separated from a second end, and an absorbent sampler coupled to one of the first and second ends. The absorbent sampler includes an absorbent core disposed on a longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft, and a plurality of fibers extending from the absorbent core. The plurality of fibers is configured to exfoliate and capture cells from a tissue surface of a patient, and the absorbent core is configured to absorb exfoliated cells not captured by the fibers.
1. A sexually transmitted infection (STI) sampling device comprising:
an elongated shaft that defines a first end separated from a second end; and
an absorbent sampler coupled to the first end of the shaft, the absorbent sampler including:
a braided absorbent core disposed along a longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft,
a plurality of fibers extending from the braided absorbent core;
wherein the plurality of fibers is configured to atraumatically exfoliate cells from a tissue surface of a patient and absorb a first portion of the exfoliated cells, and the absorbent core is configured to absorb a second portion of exfoliated cells not captured by the fibers: and
wherein the plurality of fibers is configured to atraumatically collect a biological sample in a manner that minimizes risk of an STI screen indicating a false negative.
2. The STI sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core is disposed along a length of the elongated shaft.
3. The STI sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core comprises braided absorbent strands, each braided absorbent strand including a wire support surrounded by an absorbent coating.
4. The STI sampling device of claim 3 , wherein the absorbent coating comprises an absorbent foam.
5. The STI sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core comprises an absorbent plug of material, and the plurality of fibers project through the absorbent plug of material.
6. The STI sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise hydrophilic fibers configured to absorb cells exfoliated by the fibers.
7. The STI sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise substantially non-abrasive fibers including a low-friction fluorinated exterior surface.
8. The STI sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise an intertwined mat of interconnecting fibrils.
9. The STI sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are looped fibers including a first closed end opposite a second closed end, the first and second closed ends extending transverse from the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft and characterized by an absence of a free fiber end.
10. The STI sampling device of claim 9 , wherein each looped fiber is a shaped looped fiber that defines a non-circular perimeter in transverse cross-section.
11. The STI sampling device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wet prep sampler coupled to the second end of the shaft.
12. The STI sampling device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first transverse break line disposed between the first and second ends, a second transverse break line separated from the first transverse break line, and a textured surface disposed between the first and second transverse break lines.
13. The STI sampling device of claim 11 , wherein the wet prep sampler comprises one of a cotton swab and a spatula.
14. The STI sampling device of claim 13 , wherein the spatula comprises a staggered array of beads.
15. The STI sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers is configured to atraumatically collect a biological sample in a manner that minimizes risk of an STI screen indicating a false negative.
16. The STI sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the braided absorbent core comprises a support surrounded by an absorbent coating.
17. A sexually transmitted infection (STI) sampling device comprising:
an elongated shaft that defines a first end separated from a second end; and
a sampler coupled to the first end, the sampler including:
hydrophilic fibers configured for both exfoliating cells from a tissue surface of a patient and absorbing a first portion of the exfoliated cells,
a braided core comprising means for absorbing a second portion of exfoliated cells that is provided separate from the hydrophilic fibers.
18. The STI sampling device of claim 17 , wherein the means for exfoliating cells comprises looped fibers extending transversely from the elongated shaft.
19. The STI sampling device of claim 18 , wherein the means for absorbing exfoliated cells comprises an absorbent material in addition to the looped fibers.
20. A method of collecting a sexually transmitted infection biological sample, the method comprising:
contacting genital tissue of a patient with an absorbent sampler including an absorbent braided core and a plurality of hydrophilic fibers extending from the absorbent braided core;
exfoliating cells with the hydrophilic fibers;
absorbing with the hydrophilic fibers a first portion of the cells exfoliated by the fibers; and
capturing with the absorbent braided core an additional portion of the cells exfoliated by the hydrophilic fibers.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein capturing with the absorbent core an additional portion of the cells exfoliated by the hydrophilic fibers comprises absorbing a volume of the biological sample with an absorbent foam core of the absorbent sampler.