Abstract:
A body fluid testing apparatus, comprising a containing chamber having a first opening on the bottom wall thereof; a plunger chamber having a plunger contacting with the side wall thereof and having a second opening on the bottom wall thereof, wherein the plunger chamber is disposed below the bottom wall of the containing chamber and in communication with the containing chamber through the first opening; and a testing chamber having a testing card designed to contain test strips and perpendicular to the longitudinal axial of the plunger chamber, wherein the testing chamber is disposed next to the side wall of the containing chamber and in communication with the plunger chamber through the second opening. The device according to the present disclosure can carry out the test of the body fluid, even though it has no chamber on the plunger body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DISCLOSURES 
     This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201210229325.8, filed on Jul. 3, 2012 and entitled “BODY FLUID TESTING APPARATUS”, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for testing fluid, and particularly to a body fluid testing apparatus, which belongs to the field of medical apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Many metabolites in the body can be detected by testing body fluids, such as urine, which has become an important test in the physical examination. For example, the particular drugs taken by the drug addicts usually can be detected in their urine. Thus, urine collection containers for testing drugs are required by many medical institutions and police stations. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,576,193 discloses a urine collection container that comprises: a first compartment for receiving a fluid specimen to be tested; a rotatable valve having one or more wells formed on its surface; and a second compartment. Said wells are in fluid connection with the first compartment when the valve is at a first valve position and in fluid connection with the second compartment when the valve is at a second valve position. In order to achieve the technical solution thereof, this device should provide multiple wells formed on the surface of the valve. 
     U.S. Pat. App. No. 20030027359 discloses a specimen collection device that includes a reservoir chamber; a testing chamber; and a plunger chamber for separating the reservoir chamber and testing chamber. The valve plunger is capable of transferring at least a portion of the specimen from the reservoir chamber to the testing reservoir, and the reservoir chamber and the testing reservoir are not in direct fluid communication. When the valve plunger is at a first position, the plunger chamber is fluidly connected to the reservoir chamber and not connected to the testing chamber. When the valve plunger is at a second position, the plunger chamber is neither fluidly connected to the reservoir chamber nor to the testing chamber. In order to achieve the technical solution thereof, this device should provide a chamber capable of collecting fluid specimens inside the plunger. 
     CN Pat. No. 200820001694.0 discloses a device for collecting and testing fluid specimens that includes a collecting cup; a testing means with testing cards; a specimen holder with the collecting cup and the testing mean fixed thereon; and a cup cover. A collecting chamber is located at the lower part of the collecting cup, which has an opening on one end and has a collecting plug disposed therein with unitary structure. The collecting plug has at least one ring groove and at least one sealing ring. In order to achieve the technical solution thereof, this device also should provide a reservoir chamber inside the plunger. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An object of the present disclosure is to provide a body fluid testing apparatus. 
     In one aspect, a body fluid testing apparatus, comprising a containing chamber having a first opening on the bottom wall thereof; a plunger chamber having a second opening on the bottom wall thereof, wherein the plunger chamber is disposed below the bottom wall of the containing chamber and in communication with the containing chamber through the first opening; a plunger received in the plunger chamber and contacting with the side wall of the plunger chamber; a testing chamber positioned exterior to the side wall of the containing chamber and in communication with the plunger chamber through the second opening; and a testing card received in the testing chamber and designed to contain test strips; wherein, the axial of the plunger is perpendicular to the testing card. 
     According to some embodiments, the body fluid is urine. 
     According to some embodiments, the area ratio of the first opening to the bottom wall of the containing chamber is in a range from 1/200 to 1/25. 
     According to some embodiments, the plunger chamber comprises a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber sequentially away from the testing chamber. 
     According to some embodiments, each of the first chamber and the second chamber has a cylindrical shape, and the third chamber is cone frustum shaped. 
     According to some embodiments, the first chamber and the second chamber have a diameter equal to that of the plunger, and the third chamber has a minimum diameter equal to than that of the plunger. 
     According to some embodiments, the plunger further comprises at least one sealing ring on the periphery thereof. 
     According to some embodiments, the diameter of the second opening is 1/30 to 1/10 of the diameter of the bottom wall of the plunger chamber, and the distance from the center of the second opening to the end of the bottom wall of the containing chamber facing the plunger chamber is ¼ to ¾ of the diameter of the bottom wall of the plunger chamber. 
     According to some embodiments, the second opening is sealed by a waterproof label. 
     According to some embodiments, the second opening is sealed by a sealing pipe, and a first plug is disposed on one end of the sealing pipe and in communication with the sealing pipe, and has an outer diameter equal to the diameter of the second opening. 
     According to some embodiments, the sealing pipe extends from the bottom wall of the plunger chamber to the back of the testing card in the testing chamber, then runs along the back of testing card from bottom to top and reaches a top edge of the testing card, and finally extends downward along a top part of the card slot. 
     According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a buffer chamber which is disposed below the bottom wall of the containing chamber and between the plunger chamber and the testing chamber. 
     According to some embodiments, the buffer chamber comprises an end surface, which is disposed between the testing chamber and the buffer chamber and extends downwards from the side wall of the containing chamber, and wherein a gap exists in one end of the end surface away from the containing chamber and allows the body fluid run through. 
     According to some embodiments, the bottom of the buffer chamber opposite to the bottom wall of the containing chamber takes a form of a slope. 
     According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a cup body and a cup holder which is coupled with the inner bottom of the cup body. 
     According to some embodiments, one side of the cup holder facing the cup body serves as one part of the buffer chamber, and the lower part of the cup body serves as another part of the buffer chamber, and when the cup holder is coupled with the cup body, the buffer chamber is formed. 
     According to some embodiments, a card slot is formed on the side of the cup holder facing the cup body, and a card cover corresponding to the card slot is also formed on the cup body, and when the cup holder is coupled with the cup body, a card chamber is formed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of the body fluid testing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a sectional view of the body fluid testing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure when the plunger is at a first position. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a sectional view of the body fluid testing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure when the plunger is at a second position. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional view of the body fluid testing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure when the plunger is at a first position. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a sectional view of the body fluid testing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure when the plunger is at a second position. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of a waterproof label. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a sectional view of a sealing pipe. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a sectional view of the body fluid testing apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a partial sectional view of the body fluid testing apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a partial sectional view of the cup body of the body fluid testing apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of the cup holder of the body fluid testing apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiment 1 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , the body fluid testing apparatus comprises a containing chamber  10 , a plunger chamber  20 , a testing chamber  30 , a plunger  40  and a testing card  50 . The plunger chamber  20  is positioned below the bottom wall  11  of the containing chamber  10 , and the testing chamber  30  is positioned exterior to the side wall  13  of the containing chamber  10 . The plunger  40  is disposed in the plunger chamber  20  and is provided with one or more sealing rings on its periphery, for example sealing rings  42  and  43 . The testing card  50  is received in the testing chamber  30 , and a variety of testing strips  51  are contained in the testing card  50 , each of which is used for testing one or more drugs, alcohol or other illicit drugs taken by the subjects. 
     The plunger chamber  20  comprises a first chamber  21 , a second chamber  22  and a third chamber  23 . The first chamber  21  is formed between the bottom  41  of the plunger facing the testing chamber and the plunger chamber  20 , when the plunger is at the first position as shown in  FIG. 2 , that is to say, when the plunger is located in the second chamber and the third chamber, but not pushed into the first chamber. Referring to  FIG. 2  in combination with  FIG. 1 , it can be seen that each of the first chamber  21  and the second chamber  22  has a cylindrical shape with the same diameter, and the third chamber  23  is cone frustum shaped and has a minimum diameter equal to that of the first chamber and the second chamber. The third chamber  23  with cone frustum shape facilitates the operator to push the plunger due to the larger end of the third chamber. 
     The containing chamber  10  comprises a bottom wall  11  with a first opening  12 , through which the containing chamber  10  is communicated with the plunger chamber  20 . The diameter ratio of the first opening  12  to the bottom wall  11  is about 1/13. A second opening  25  is provided in the bottom wall  24  of the plunger chamber  20 . The diameter ratio of the second opening  25  to the bottom wall  24  is about 1/28. The distance from the center of the second opening  25  to the side of the bottom wall of containing chamber facing the plunger chamber is ½ of the length of the bottom wall of the plunger chamber. The testing chamber  30  is communicated with the plunger chamber  20  through the second opening  25 . 
     The plunger  40  is capable of being received in the plunger chamber  20  and contacted with the side wall  44  of the plunger chamber  20 . The axial of the plunger  40  is perpendicular to the testing card  50 . The plunger  40  is provided with the sealing rings  42  and  43  on its periphery to prevent the body fluid in the first chamber  21  from leaking from the plunger chamber. 
     The testing card  50  with test strips  51  is disposed in the testing chamber  30 . The testing chamber  30  is formed outwardly from the side wall  13  of the containing chamber  10  and extends from the bottom of the apparatus to a position near the top of the containing chamber  10 . The shape of the testing chamber  30  is similar to that of the testing card  50 , and in this embodiment, the testing chamber  30  is rectangular in shape. The volume of the testing chamber  30  is larger than that of the testing card  50 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , when the plunger  40  is at the first position, the body fluid runs from the containing chamber  10  into the first chamber  21  through the first opening  12 . Due to the effect of the surface tension, the body fluid in the first chamber can not enter the testing chamber  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , when the plunger  40  moves towards the testing chamber  30 , the body fluid in the first chamber  21  runs into the testing chamber  30  through the second opening  25 . 
     When in use, the plunger  40  is initially disposed at the first position as shown in  FIG. 2 . Meanwhile, the subject&#39;s urine in the containing chamber  10  runs into the first chamber  21  of the plunger chamber  20  through the first opening  12  in the bottom wall  11  of the containing chamber  10 . Urine in the first chamber  21  can not enter the testing chamber  30  by itself, because the second opening  25  on the bottom wall  24  of the plunger chamber  20  is very small. When the plunger  40  is pushed towards the testing chamber  30 , urine can enter into the testing chamber  30  through the second opening  25  in the bottom wall  24  of the plunger chamber  20 . Once urine is contacted with the bottom of the test strip in the testing card  50 , color will appear on the test strip. The color can demonstrate whether the subject has taken the drug, alcohol or other illicit drugs or not, and the particular type of the drug or other illicit drugs also can be determined according to the color. 
     Embodiment 2 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, a buffer chamber  60  is further disposed between the plunger chamber  20  and the test chamber  30  below the bottom wall  11  of the containing chamber  10 . A second opening  25  is arranged on the common bottom wall  24  of the buffer chamber  60  and the plunger chamber  20 , and sealed by a sealing pipe  70  or a waterproof label  80  as shown in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a cover  90  coupled with the containing chamber  10 . 
     When the second opening  25  of the plunger chamber  20  is sealed by the waterproof label, the diameter ratio of the second opening  25  to the bottom wall  24  of the plunger chamber  20  is 1/15, and the distance from the center of the second opening  25  to the side of the bottom wall of the containing chamber facing the plunger chamber is ¼ of the length of the bottom wall of the plunger chamber. When the plunger  40  is at the first position, urine runs from the containing chamber  10  into the first chamber  21  through the first opening  12 . When the plunger moves from the first position to the second position as shown in  FIG. 5 , the urine bursts open the waterproof label  80  at the bottom wall  24  of the plunger chamber and enters into the buffer chamber  60 , and then reaches the test chamber  30  through the buffer chamber  60 . 
     When the second opening  25  of the plunger chamber  20  is sealed by the sealing pipe  70 , urine runs from the containing chamber  10  into the first chamber  21  through the first opening  12  as the plunger  40  is at the first position. When the plunger  40  moves from the first position to the second position as shown in  FIG. 5 , urine enters the buffer chamber  60  via the through-hole  72  of the sealing pipe  70  as shown in  FIG. 7  and finally reaches the test chamber  30  through the buffer chamber  60  to perform the test. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the waterproof label  80  may comprises a second plug  81 , which is coupled with the second opening  25  at the bottom wall  24  of the plunger chamber  20 . Alternatively, the waterproof label  80  may not comprise the second plug  81 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the sealing pipe  70  comprises a first plug  71 . The through-hole  72  of the sealing pipe  70  fully runs through both the plug  71  and the whole pipe  73 . 
     When the second opening  25  at the bottom wall  24  of the plunger chamber  20  is sealed by the sealing pipe  70 , the plunger  40  is initially disposed at the first position as shown in  FIG. 4 . The subject&#39;s urine contained in the containing chamber  10  enters the first chamber  21  of the plunger chamber  20  through the first opening  12  on the bottom wall  11  of the containing chamber  10 . Urine in the first chamber  21  can not run into the test chamber  30  by itself, because the second opening  25  on the bottom wall  24  of the first chamber  21  is plugged by the sealing pipe  70 . When the plunger  40  is pushed towards the testing chamber  30  and reaches the second position as shown in  FIG. 5 , urine runs into the buffer chamber  60  and the test chamber  30  via the through-hole  72  of the sealing pipe  70  in turn. Once urine in the test chamber  30  contacts with the bottom of the test strip  51  in the testing card  50 , color will appear on the test strip. The color can demonstrate whether the subject has taken the drug, alcohol or other illicit drugs or not, and the particular type of the drug or other illicit drugs can be determined according to the color. 
     When the second opening  25  on the bottom wall  24  of the plunger chamber  20  is sealed by the waterproof label  80 , the subject&#39;s urine in the containing chamber  10  runs from the containing chamber  10  into the first chamber  21  through the first opening  12 , as the plunger  40  is at the first position. Urine can not run from the plunger chamber  20  into the buffer chamber  60 , because the second opening  25  on the bottom wall  24  of the plunger chamber  20  is sealed by the second plug  81  of the waterproof label  80 . The second opening  25  on the bottom wall  24  of the plunger chamber can also be directly sealed by a waterproof  80  without the second plug  81 . When the plunger moves from the first position to the second position, urine bursts open the waterproof label  80  on the bottom wall  24  of the plunger chamber  20  and enters into the buffer chamber  60 , and then reaches the test chamber  30  through the buffer chamber  60 . Once urine contacts with the bottom of the test strip in the testing card  50 , color will appear on the test strip. The color can demonstrate whether the subject has taken the drug, alcohol or other illicit drugs or not, and the particular type of the drug or other illicit drugs can be determined according to the color. 
     Embodiment 3 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , this embodiment is substantially the same as the embodiment 2, except that the buffer chamber  60  according to this embodiment comprises an end surface  26  between the test chamber  30  and the buffer chamber  60 , which extends downwards from the side wall  13  of the containing chamber  10 . A gap  29  exists between one end of the end surface  26  away from the containing chamber  10  and the bottom wall  28  of the buffer chamber  60  to allow the body fluid run through. The bottom wall  28  of the buffer chamber  60  opposes to the bottom wall  11  of the containing chamber  10 . In this embodiment, the bottom wall  28  of the buffer chamber  60  takes the form of a slope. When the body fluid is pushed from the plunger chamber  20  into the buffer chamber  60  by the plunger  40 , it tends to splash on the back of the testing card  50  or heavy impacts the test strip  51 , such that the test may fail due to the damage of the test strip. As a result of the design of a slope according to this embodiment, the body fluid will firstly splash on the end surface  26 , then pass through the gap  29  along the end surface  26  and the bottom wall  28  of the buffer chamber  60 , and subsequently contact with the test strip  51 , when pushed from the plunger chamber  20  into the buffer chamber  60  by the plunger  40 . Therefore, the damage of the test strip can be effectively avoided, allowing a high success rate for the test. 
     Embodiment 4 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , this embodiment is substantially the same as the embodiment 2, except that the sealing pipe  70  is U-shaped. One end of the sealing pipe  70  seals second opening  25  of the plunger chamber  20 , meanwhile, the other end of the sealing pipe  70  extends from the bottom wall  24  of the plunger chamber  20  to the back of the testing card  50  in the test chamber  30 , and then extends from bottom to top along the back of the testing card  50  to the top of the testing card  50 , and finally extends downwards from the top of the testing card  50 . Due to the design of the U-shaped sealing pipe, the possibility of the damage of the test strip can be effectively decreased, when the body fluid to be tested is released from top to bottom along the sealing pipe  70 . 
     Embodiment 5 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the body fluid testing apparatus comprises a cup body  100  and a cup holder  200  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The bottom of the cup body  100  forms the plunger chamber  120 , one part of the buffer chamber  102  and the card cover  103 . The inner bottom of the cup body is coupled with the cup holder  200  as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     The cup body  100  comprises a containing chamber  110 . A first opening  112  is provided on the bottom wall  111 , through which the containing chamber  110  is communicated with the plunger chamber  120 . The cup body further comprises a bottom wall  124  between the plunger chamber  120  and the part of the buffer chamber  102 . A second opening  125  is provided on the bottom wall  124 , through which the plunger chamber  120  is in communicated with the part of the buffer chamber  102 . The second opening  125  is sealed by the waterproof label as shown in  FIG. 6  or by the sealing pipe as shown in  FIG. 7 . For the description of the sealing pipe and the waterproof label, one may see the embodiment 2. 
     The plunger chamber  120  with a plunger  140  disposed therein comprises a first chamber  121 , a second chamber  122  and a third chamber  123 . 
     A testing card  150  with test strip  151  is disposed in the card cover  103 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , one side of the cup holder  200  facing the cup body forms the other part of the buffer chamber  202  and a card slot  203 . The card slot  203  is perpendicular to the axial of the other part of the buffer chamber  202 . The card cover  103  and the card slot  203  of the cup holder are combined to form the card chamber. The part of the buffer chamber  102  on the inner bottom of the cup body and the other part of the buffer chamber  202  of the cup holder are combined to form the buffer chamber. 
     The usage thereof is similar to that of the embodiment 2. 
     The present disclosure may have at least one of the technical effects as described below: 
     1. The apparatus according to the present disclosure features a simple structure and a convenient operation. 
     2. The apparatus according to the present disclosure can carry out the test of the body fluid, even though a chamber for the plunger in the prior art is omitted. 
     3. The axial of the plunger chamber and/or the buffer chamber of the apparatus according to the present disclosure is perpendicular to the test chamber, which makes the structure of the apparatus more novel and fashion. 
     Exemplary embodiments have been specifically shown and described as above. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments; rather, all suitable modifications and equivalent which come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims are intended to fall within the scope of the disclosure.