Granted Patent B2

US 12,465,515 · App. 17/755,236 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Inventor: Christopher K. Brooks (Decatur, GA)

Assignee: PUREWICK CORPORATION

A61F5/451A61B10/007A61F5/4401A61F5/4405

Abstract

Claims (44)

1 . A fluid collection assembly, comprising:

a fluid impermeable barrier including a first end region and a second end region longitudinally spaced from the first end region, the fluid impermeable barrier including a sump that forms at least a portion of the first end region, the sump defining a hole, the fluid impermeable barrier defining:

at least one opening;

a chamber in fluid communication with the at least one opening;

a fluid reservoir defined by at least a portion of the sump; and

a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, wherein the hole is distinct from the fluid outlet;

at least one wicking material disposed in the chamber; and

a sample port directly attached to portions of the sump about the hole, the sample port in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, the sample port configured to switch between a closed state that restricts fluid flow through the sample port and an open state that permits fluid flow through the sample port, the sample port configured to be connected to a fluid collector.

2 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion the sump exhibits a rigidity that is greater than the rest of the fluid impermeable barrier.

3 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a support structure supporting and providing rigidity to the at least a portion of the sump.

4 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein one or more regions of the sump are at least partially transparent.

5 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sump is integrally formed with the rest of the fluid impermeable barrier.

6 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sump is distinct from the rest of the fluid impermeable barrier.

7 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir is substantially unoccupied and the fluid reservoir exhibits a length that is greater than about 2.5 cm, wherein the length of the fluid reservoir is measured parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fluid impermeable barrier.

8 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir exhibits a maximum reservoir width that is greater than a maximum chamber width of the chamber, wherein the maximum reservoir width is measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the fluid impermeable barrier and the maximum chamber width is measured parallel to the maximum reservoir width.

9 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sample port is attached to the first end region of the fluid impermeable barrier.

10 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sample port extends from a back surface of the fluid impermeable barrier, wherein the back surface of the fluid impermeable barrier is opposite the at least one opening.

11 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sample port is a split septum fitting.

12 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sample port forms part of a luer-lock mechanism.

13 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sample port is at least one of ultrasonically welded or heat staked to the fluid impermeable barrier.

14 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sample port includes a tube.

15 . The fluid collection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sample port is configured to be in the closed state when the sample port is not attached to the fluid collection and in the open state when the fluid collector is attached to the sample port.

16 . A fluid collection system, comprising:

a fluid collection assembly of including:

a fluid impermeable barrier including a first end region and a second end region longitudinally spaced from the first end region, the fluid impermeable barrier including a sump that forms at least a portion of the first end region, the sump defining a hole, the fluid impermeable barrier defining:

at least one opening;

a chamber in fluid communication with the at least one opening;

a fluid reservoir defined by at least a portion of the sump; and

a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, wherein the hole is distinct from the fluid outlet;

at least one wicking material disposed in the chamber; and

a sample port directly attached to portions of the sump about the hole, the sample port in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, the sample port configured to switch between a closed state that restricts fluid flow through the sample port and an open state that permits fluid flow through the sample port, the sample port configured to be connected to a fluid collector;

the fluid collector configured to be connected to the sample port.

17 . The fluid collection system of claim 16 , wherein the fluid collector includes a needleless syringe.

18 . The fluid collection system of claim 16 , wherein the fluid collector includes a vial.

19 . A method of using a fluid collection system, the method comprising:

attaching a fluid collector to a sample port of a fluid collection assembly, the fluid collection assembly including a first end region and a second end region longitudinally spaced from the first end region, a fluid impermeable barrier including a sump that forms at least a portion of the first end region, the sump defining a hole, the sample port directly attached to portions of the sump about the hole, the sample port configured to switch between a closed state that restricts fluid flow through the sample port and an open state that permits fluid flow through the sample port, the fluid impermeable barrier defining at least one opening, a chamber in fluid communication with the at least one opening, a fluid reservoir defined by at least a portion of the sump, and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, wherein the hole is distinct from the fluid outlet;

receiving bodily fluids from an individual through the at least one opening, into a chamber that includes at least one wicking material disposed therein, and to a fluid reservoir;

when the sample port is in the open state, removing at least some of the bodily fluids that are present in the fluid reservoir with the fluid collector;

detaching the fluid collector from the sample port;

switching the sample port from the open state to the closed state; and

removing substantially all of a remainder of the bodily fluids present in the fluid reservoir through the fluid outlet using a suction force.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein attaching the fluid collector to the sample port includes switching the sample port from the closed state to the open state thereof.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein detaching the fluid collector from the sample port and switching the sample port from the open state to the closed state are performed simultaneously.

22 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising, before removing at least some of the bodily fluids that are present in the fluid reservoir with the fluid collector, stopping applying the suction force to the chamber.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (400)

Cited By (1)

US 12,702,579