Abstract:
A faeces collection and concentration receiver, especially for parasitological examination, comprises a disposable receiver (1), a first cap immediately fastenable to the mouth of the receiver, a collecting-filtering device coupled between the receiver and the first cap, and a spout closed by a second cap.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This present invention relates to a disposable receiver for the collection, preservation, transportation and preparation of faeces for the parasitological examination. 
     The preparation of faeces for the parasitological examination, named concentration technics, differs largely from one laboratory to the other, according to the laboratory&#39;s conditions and conveniences. The most used concentration technics involve the following phases: 
     1. Collection of a sample of faeces which is transferred to the receiver - usually a little can or plastic or glass container - which is then taken to the laboratory; 
     2. Transference of a portion of faeces into a flask or cup containing water; 
     3. Dilution of the faeces in the water, through agitation; 
     4. Filtration of the diluted faeces through a gauze or a plastic or wire net; and 
     5. Spontaneous sedimentation of the filtered product in a cone-shaped cup, or by centrifugation in a test tube. 
     During each of the above phases, the material is handled openly, using several devices, mainly improvised or adapted ones. The various methods proposed for enrichment of the samples to be examined (Faust, Willis, Baermann, Kato, MIFC, Ritchie, Rugai, AMS III, and direct examination), did not bother in simplifying such handling of the samples, which causes the operation to be troublesome, fastidious and anti-hygienical. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the objects of the present invention, to provide a receiver operative to eliminate several inconveniences which appear during the faeces collection and concentration phases. This result is achieved through the inclusion, in only one receiver, of all the necessary devices for the collection and concentration, which will then take place in a closed receiver. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a receiver which is also disposable, formed by a minimum number of components, which can be manufactured easily and at low costs. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additonal objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accopanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of the receiver; and 
     FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the faeces collector stick. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The device for collection and concentration of faeces comprises a semi-flexible plastic receiver, indicated by a number 1 on the attached drawing; a cap with special characteristics is denoted by numberal 2, which is fastenable to the mouth of the receiver through a thread 4, and a collecting-filtering device 3. 
     The cap 2 is internally concavous and is perforated at its centre 5, where a spout 6 is projected externally, forming a funnel; the spout 6 is closed by a cap 7; in the whole perimeter of cap 2 there is an internal ring-shaped salience 8, where the collecting-filtering device 3 is fastened by pressure. 
     The collecting-filtering device is a stick 9, which widens at one of its edges to form the sieve 10, and on the other edge to form the collector 11. 
     The border 12 of the sieve 10 is fastened to the cap 2, by pressure, on the already mentioned internal salience 8. The sieve 10 has orifices, with adequate dimensions, and is reinforced to avoid excessive flexibility. The other edge of the stick widens to form a device to collect the adequate amount of faeces, as indicated at 11&#39; in FIG. 2. 
     HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS 
     1. Pour into the receiver an adequate volume of water or diluting solution; 
     2. Collect the faeces at the 11&#39; edge of the collecting stick, holding it by the cap and pressing in its longitudinal direction the faecal matter; 
     3. Then introduce the collecting stick with the faeces into the receiver, and close; 
     4. Agitate the receiver until complete dilution of the faeces is achieved; 
     5. Open the spout 6 of the middle of the cap 2; 
     6. Turn the receiver upside down, introduce spout 6 in a test tube or a centrifuge tube, or even another cup. The diluted and filtered faeces will then fall into the tube or cup. Such process can be speeded up by pressing the sides of the receiver; 
     7. Separate then the receiver from the tube, close the spout 6 of the cap 2 and throw away; 
     8. Follow the conventional methods to prepare the material for examination. 
     ADVANTAGES 
     1. The faeces remain in a closed receiver until the filtering phase. This way, the bad odour spread throughout the room by handling the faeces is avoided; 
     2. Some phases in the faeces preparation are eliminated; 
     3. Reduces and simplifies labor; 
     4. There is no need for accessories such as sticks, gauze, pipets, cups, etc; 
     5. Largelly reduces the space necessary for the faeces examination in the laboratory; 
     6. Reduces the error margin in the identification of samples, by suppressing the transference of the faeces from one container to the other; 
     7. Reduces the possibility of cross-contamination; 
     8. The amount of faeces to be taken to be examined is standardized; 
     9.Being a disposable device it reduces the personnel for, and cuts expenses with, cleaning, washing and drying of containers and other accessories; 
     10. Reduces the personnel&#39;s contamination in the section; 
     11. Permits the use of preservation liquids, for examination of faeces long after collection. 
     Various modifications can be effected in the forms of the invention here described, taking into consideration that the essential in the idea of this invention, which the described and illustrated device presents, is the sieve fastened to the internal part of the cap of the receiver, for examination with the facilities and advantages described above. The author of the device reserves the right to modify such device according to practical conveniences and technical resources, being foreseen, among others, the following variations: 
     1. A built-in sieve in the cap of the receiver, forming a one-part piece; 
     2. A sieve fastened to the bottom or to the side wall of the receiver cap; 
     3. Adaptation of the sieve to the receiver cap through pressure or thread; 
     4. Adaptation of the cap to the receiver through pressure or thread; 
     5. Collecting stick separated from the sieve; 
     6. A spout manufactured separately for adaptation when using the device; 
     7. The spout fastened through pressure or thread; 
     8. Varied dimensions of the net and holes of the sieve; 
     9. A sieve manufactured with more than one layer, with equal or different small holes from one layer to the other; 
     10. Form of the sieve; 
     11. Form and dimensions of the collector; 
     12. Form and dimensions of the receiver; 
     13. Form and dimensions of the cap. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of faeces collection and concentration receivers differing from the types described above. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a faeces collection and concentration receiver, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.