Fluid control devices and methods of using the same
A fluid control device includes an inlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a bodily fluid source and an outlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a fluid collection device, which can produce a negative pressure differential between the outlet and the inlet. A sequestration portion is in fluid communication with the inlet and includes a first flow controller configured to transition from a first state to a second state to place the sequestration portion in fluid communication with the outlet when the negative pressure differential has a first magnitude. A sampling portion is in fluid communication with an outlet and includes a second flow controller configured to transition from a first state to a second state to place the sampling portion in fluid communication with the inlet when the negative pressure differential has a second magnitude greater than the first magnitude.
1 . A fluid control device, the device comprising:
an inlet fluidically coupleable to a bodily fluid source;
an outlet fluidically coupleable to a fluid collection device, the fluid control device configured such that a negative pressure differential between the outlet and the inlet is generated as a result of the outlet being fluidically coupled to the fluid collection device;
a containment channel between the inlet and the outlet, the containment channel including a first flow controller, the first flow controller in a first state configured to allow a gas but not a bodily fluid to flow from the containment channel to the outlet such that a volume of the bodily fluid is drawn from the inlet into the containment channel, the first flow controller in a second state configured to prevent the bodily fluid from flowing therethrough; and
a sampling channel between the inlet and the outlet, the sampling channel in fluid communication with a second flow controller, the second flow controller including a diaphragm and a barrier, the diaphragm defining a portion of the containment channel, the barrier in a first position configured to obstruct the sampling channel, the barrier in a second position configured to allow a subsequent volume of the bodily fluid to flow from the inlet, through the sampling channel, and to the outlet,
the first flow controller in the first state configured to allow the gas to flow from the containment channel to the outlet such that a difference in pressure across the diaphragm generated by the outlet being fluidically coupled to the fluid collection device is insufficient to transition the diaphragm from a first configuration to a second configuration, the first flow controller configured to transition from the first state to the second state when the volume of the bodily fluid is in the containment channel such that the difference in pressure across the diaphragm builds to an extent operable to transition the diaphragm to the second configuration, the diaphragm configured to move the barrier of the second flow controller from the first position to the second position due to the diaphragm transitioning.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
the fluid collection device, wherein the fluid collection device is a sample bottle that is at least partially evacuated and configured to generate the negative pressure differential when the sample bottle is fluidically coupled to the outlet.
3 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
the fluid collection device, wherein the fluid collection device is a syringe that is configured to be manipulated after the outlet is fluidically coupled to the syringe to generate the negative pressure differential.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first flow controller includes a selectively permeable material, the first flow controller configured to transition from the first state to the second state in response to at least a portion of the volume of the bodily fluid in the containment channel saturating the selectively permeable material.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first flow controller in the first state is configured such that the difference in pressure across the diaphragm remains below a threshold difference in pressure, and
the first flow controller in the second state is configured such that the difference in pressure across the diaphragm exceeds the threshold difference in pressure.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first flow controller is configured to transition from the first state to the second state automatically.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the barrier in the first position is configured such that a first side of the barrier is in fluid communication with the inlet and a second side of the barrier is in fluid communication with the outlet.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the containment channel has a first volume when the diaphragm is in the first configuration and has a second volume when the diaphragm is in the second configuration, the second volume being greater than the first volume.
9 . A fluid control device, the device comprising:
an inlet fluidically coupleable to a bodily fluid source;
an outlet fluidically coupleable to a fluid collection device;
a containment reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet;
a sampling channel in fluid communication with the outlet;
a first flow controller disposed between the containment reservoir and the outlet, the first flow controller in a first state configured to allow a gas to flow through the containment reservoir and to the outlet, the first flow controller in a second state configured to prevent the gas and a bodily fluid from flowing through the first flow controller toward the outlet; and
a second flow controller including a diaphragm and a barrier, the diaphragm defining a portion of the containment reservoir, the barrier being movable within the sampling channel between a first position in which the barrier is configured to prevent the bodily fluid from flowing through the sampling channel from the inlet to the outlet, to a second position in which the barrier is configured to allow the bodily fluid to flow from the inlet, through the sampling channel, and to the outlet,
the first flow controller in the first state configured to allow a volume of the bodily fluid to be received in the containment reservoir at least partially in response to a first portion of a negative pressure differential that is generated by the outlet being fluidically coupled to the fluid collection device and that is applied across the first flow controller, the first flow controller configured to transition to the second state when the volume of the bodily fluid is in the containment reservoir thereby causing a second portion of the negative pressure differential that is generated by the outlet being fluidically coupled to the fluid collection device and that is applied across the diaphragm of the second flow controller to build to an extent operable to transition the diaphragm from a first configuration to a second configuration, the second flow controller configured such that the diaphragm moves the barrier from the first position to the second position due to the diaphragm transitioning from the first configuration to the second configuration.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the first flow controller is configured to automatically transition from the first state to the second state.
11 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the first flow controller includes a selectively permeable material that allows the gas but not the bodily fluid to flow through the first flow controller in the first state and that prevents both the gas and the bodily fluid from flowing through the first flow controller in the second state.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the first flow controller is configured to be transitioned from the first state to the second state in response to at least a portion of the volume of the bodily fluid in the containment reservoir saturating the selectively permeable material.
13 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the diaphragm is configured to be transitioned from the first configuration to the second configuration when the second portion of the negative pressure differential applied across the diaphragm exceeds a threshold pressure differential.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the first flow controller in the first state is configured to allow the gas to flow through the first flow controller such that the second portion of the negative pressure differential applied across the diaphragm of the second flow controller remains below the threshold pressure differential.
15 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the first position of the barrier is a first position within the sampling channel and the second position of the barrier is a second position within the sampling channel.
16 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the barrier in the first position is configured such that a first side of the barrier is in fluid communication with the inlet and a second side of the barrier is in fluid communication with the outlet.
17 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the containment reservoir has a first volume when the diaphragm is in the first configuration and has a second volume when the diaphragm is in the second configuration, the second volume being greater than the first volume.
18 . A fluid control device, the device comprising:
a housing having an inlet fluidically coupleable to a bodily fluid source and an outlet fluidically coupleable to a fluid collection device, the housing defining a containment channel between the inlet and the outlet and defining a sampling channel between the inlet and the outlet;
a first flow controller disposed within the housing and configured to allow a gas but not a bodily fluid to flow therethrough from the containment channel and toward the outlet when in a first state and to prevent the gas and the bodily fluid from flowing therethrough when in a second state; and
a second flow controller disposed within the housing and configured to prevent the gas and the bodily fluid from flowing through the sampling channel to the outlet when in a first configuration and to allow the bodily fluid to flow through the sampling channel from the inlet toward the outlet when in a second configuration, the second flow controller including a diaphragm and a barrier,
the first flow controller in the first state and the second flow controller in the first configuration collectively configured to allow a volume of the bodily fluid to be received in the containment channel at least partially in response to a negative pressure differential generated by the outlet being fluidically coupled to the fluid collection device,
the first flow controller in the first state allowing a first portion of the negative pressure differential across the first flow controller such that a second portion of the negative pressure differential across the diaphragm of the second flow controller is insufficient to transition the second flow controller from the first configuration to the second configuration,
the first flow controller configured to transition to the second state based on the volume of the bodily fluid in the containment channel thereby causing the second portion of the negative pressure differential across the diaphragm to build to an extent operable to switch the diaphragm from a first configuration to a second configuration, the second flow controller configured such that the diaphragm moves the barrier from a first position to a second position due to the diaphragm switching from the first configuration to the second configuration, thereby transitioning the second flow controller from the first configuration to the second configuration.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the second flow controller is configured to be transitioned from the first configuration to the second configuration to open the sample channel to allow a subsequent volume of the bodily fluid to flow from the inlet towards the outlet.
20 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the first flow controller includes a selectively permeable material that allows the gas but not the bodily fluid to flow through the first flow controller in the first state and that prevents both the gas and the bodily fluid from flowing through the first flow controller is in the second state.
21 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the first flow controller is configured to be transitioned from the first state to the second state in response to the volume of the bodily fluid in the containment channel saturating the selectively permeable material.
22 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the barrier in the first position forms a seal with an inner surface of the housing defining a portion of the sampling channel.
23 . The device of claim 22 , wherein the barrier is configured block at least the portion of the sampling channel from the inlet when in the first position and is configured to allow fluid communication between the inlet and the sampling channel when in the second position.
24 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the first flow controller in the first state is configured to facilitate the negative pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet via the containment channel and the first flow controller, and
the first flow controller in the second state and the second flow controller in the second configuration are configured collectively to facilitate the negative pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet via the sampling channel such that a subsequent volume of the bodily fluid is drawn into the fluid collection device for testing.
25 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the barrier in the first position is configured such that a first side of the barrier is in fluid communication with the inlet and a second side of the barrier opposite the first side is in fluid communication with the outlet.
26 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the diaphragm defines a portion of the containment channel.
27 . The device of claim 26 , wherein the containment channel has a first volume when the diaphragm is in the first configuration and has a second volume when the diaphragm is in the second configuration, the second volume being greater than the first volume.