Patent Description:
When a cancer patient in chemotherapy becomes hospitalised with acute diarrhea, it may be caused by several things, and in particular by <NUM>) an infection with Clostridium Difficile (CD), <NUM>) a chemotherapy-initiated diarrhea, or <NUM>) other infectious diarrhea. This problem is large in all hospitals worldwide. CD is highly contagious, and in order to avoid spread of infection, it is therefore necessary to keep the patient in isolation, at least until the cause has been confirmed. While the patient is kept in isolation, a stool sample must be taken so that infection with either CD (or other types of contagious infectious induced diarrhea) or chemotherapy-initiated diarrhea can be confirmed, if one of these is the cause. This is the only way to have a confirmed diagnosis, and it is essential that the sample is not urine-contaminated or otherwise contaminated. As a result, the patients potentially end up being hospitalised up to three days due to stool samples that are urine-contaminated or otherwise contaminated, and the costs of hospitalisation for this reason are substantial. Accordingly, there is a need to find alternative ways of stool sampling and diagnosis in order to minimise the requirement for and the duration of hospitalisation due to diarrhea.

The above-mentioned scenario was the primary reason for the development of the present device, but the same field of problem applies for all isolated patients, where there is a need for uncontaminated stool samples, when they are hospitalised with a suspicion of potential, highly contagious gastrointestinal infections.

In addition, the device has a potential for use in other categories of hospitalised patients having suspected infections of contangious diarrhea, and who therefore need isolation; other potential area of use is in the primary care sector, where residents in eg. retirement facilities can have a quick and hygienic stool sample collected.

Chinese patent application <CIT> discloses a stool sample device for extracting a protected stool probe from a region of a human colon by insertion of the device into the colon, wherein the stool sampler comprises a cylindrical smooth body with a round head at the front end and a warning line, a toilet bowl, and a handle. After removal, the stool sample is protected from undesired contamination by being contained in the interior of the sample device until use and analysis. This method makes use of a scoop and prepares the sample for stool examination performed in the hospital.

<CIT> discloses a stool sample device for collecting a stool sample from a region of a human rectum, comprising an outer part, and an inner part, having inner and outer units, comprising openings for collecting samples and having gaskets. The device makes use of annular grooves at the tip for sampling stool.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a new stool sample device that has improved function in comparison with the prior art sampler because it is easier to handle, more gentle to the patient, and requires shorter diagnosis time.

Another object is to provide a sample device that can be manufactured in cheap materials, and is easy to manufacture, and that has a high degree of reliability.

It is also an object to provide an improved and fast method for diagnosis of diarrhoea and its cause.

The present invention relates to a stool sample device [A"] for collecting a stool sample from a region of a human rectum as defined in claim <NUM>.

The present inventors have found that the invention can solve the problem of the requirement of prolonged hospitalisation. When a patient is admitted to the hospital with acute diarrhea expected to be infectious, and where there is a suspicion of CD or other contagious infectious induced cases of diarrhea, the hospital staff can collect a non-contaminated sample from a patient and analyse it substantially immediately to provide the sample test result within a very short time, such as within two or three hours. Accordingly, it does not take as much as three days to obtain a confirmation of the diagnosis as according to state of the art, and the hospital can easily, typically within three hours, find out if the patient will need to go into isolation or can be kept out of isolation.

The device of the invention can deliver a sample substantially immediately, and after sample analysis (two-three hours) the patient, if CD (or another diarrhea causing infection) was not the cause of diarrhea, can get out of hospital isolation. This quick analysis is more gentle to the patient than the method applied today, and at the same time it will save the hospital a lot of money.

The invention will also be applicable in other specialities and for screenings, and in a broader perspective, the device can be used in all clinical settings where patients in hospitals and residents in retirements facilities, within short notice, need to have stool samples taken that are not contaminated with urine or otherwise contaminated.

In addition, the device provides a significantly improvement in regards of hygiene and risk of contamination for the nursing staff who will be able to handle the potentially infectious stools in a much more confined area.

The present invention in another aspect relates to a method for collection of a uncontaminated stool sample from the human rectum as defined in claim <NUM>.

Finally, the invention in a third aspect relates to a use of the stool sample device according to the invention for collecting a stool sample from a region of a human rectum.

In one embodiment of the invention in its three aspects, the inner unit(s) [E", E, E', F, F'] within the inner part of the stool sample device may be made up of a transparent material, such as a syntetic polymer, including polypropylene, e.g. nylon.

In a second embodiment of the invention in its three aspects, the gasket(s) [D", D, D'] may be made of a silicium containing polymer, such as medical rubber silicone.

In any of the above embodiments of the invention, the outer unit(s) [G", G, G', H, H'] within the outer part may be made up of a transparent material, such as a syntetic polymer, including polypropylene, e.g. nylon.

In any of the above embodiments of the invention, the material of the outer unit (G") or the outer tube [I, I'] may be flexible.

In any of the above embodiments of the invention, the material of the outer unit (G") or the outer tube [I, I'] may be transparent.

In any of the above embodiments of the invention, the outer unit [G", G, G'] may comprise <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> openings for collecting sample, which openings may for example be square openings, such as elongated square openings, or round openings, such as circle- or oval-shaped openings. The openings are placed near to the tip end and assist to avoid excess pressure or vacuum during the stool sampling; in addition, the openings assist to avoid that the inner tube slides within the outer tube during the stool sampling.

In any of the above embodiments of the invention, the outer part may comprise a stop line for insertion of the device into the human rectum.

In one embodiment of the invention, a first outer unit [G'] and a second outer unit [H'] may be directly connected, and the second outer unit [H'], holding a second inner unit [F'], may have a cut thread in the opposite end relative to the handle [B'], and the first outer unit [G'] holding a first inner unit [E'] may hold a screw for attachment to the second outer unit [H'] in the cut thread. In this embodiment it is secured that the outer units [G'] and [H'] are hold firmly together when the device is removed from the human rectum.

In this embodiment of the invention, the second outer unit [G'] can be detached from the device at the attachment screw after extracting a stool probe and removing the device from the human rectum, thereby leaving the remaining part of the device holding the stool sample for sealing with a sealing [I'] at the opposite end relative to the handle [B', C'].

In this embodiment, the remaining part of the device holding the stool sample may have means for being sealed with a shipments screw that can be mounted at the cut thread in the second outer unit [H'] left after detachment of the second outer unit [G'].

These embodiments will allow for an easy sealing and handling of the stool probe that is to be send to analysis and diagnosis of the cause of diarrhoea.

The skilled person will know how to choose the dimensions of the device so that they fit the purpose.

In the method of the invention for collecting a stool sample, the handle [B", B, B'] is turned a sufficient number of times to collect the sample. Typically, the collection of a sample will require <NUM> to <NUM> turns, such as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> turns, e.g. <NUM> turns. Following this, the handle [C", C, C'] is pulled to a position wherein the inner unit [E", E, E'] has passed the openings in the outer unit [G", G, G'] so that no more stool is sampled, and the gasket(s) [D", D, D'] present in the inner unit(s) [E", E, E'] and [F, F'] have sealed the device to hold the stool probe with the outer tube [I, I'] or the outer unit [G", H, H'], and the device is removed from the region of the human rectum.

One embodiment of the invention is now described as an example with reference to the drawing.

<FIG> shows the stool sample device [A"] as the ready-for-use device and the stool sample device when in use, [B"] and [C"], and the following details:.

<FIG> shows the same device and an example of applicable dimensions for the device.

In this embodiment of the device, the dimensions may be the following:.

Another embodiment of the invention is now described as an example with reference to the drawing.

<FIG> shows the stool sample device [A] as the ready-for-use device and the stool sample device when in use, [B] and [C], and the following details:.

In one embodiment of the device the first outer unit [G'] holding the inner unit [E] can be detached from the device after extracting a stool probe and removing the device from the human rectum.

<FIG> shows the stool sample device [A'] as the ready-for-use device and the stool sample device when in use, [B'] and [C'], and the following details; in this embodiment the outer parts [G'] and [H'] is directly connected by a cut thread and a screw (there is no outer tube):.

A prototype of the device has in been tested on pigs in a controlled laboratory setting, under strict veterinarian control, and with the test animals in general anestesia. In this test the device proved functional, easily used, and performing in accordance to the theoretic expectations of the inventors.

Test site: University Hospital of Southern Denmark animal stables, operating theatre.

Test subjects: <NUM> standard laboratory pigs in general anesthesia, prepared and sedated for surgical training.

Test aim: Evaluation of prototype in relation to anatomy, user conditions, acquiring effect and safety in regards to mucosa damage and rectal lesions.

The test proto type was lubricated with standard rectal lubrication gel, the device was inserted in the rectum, and the "snail" was rotated clockwise, and retracted. Afterwards the rectum was inspected with a recto scope (devise for visual inspection). The procedure was documented by video and pictures. The procedure was completed with both test animals.

The device was easily and without resistance inserted, the "snail" was easily rotated. There was no faeces in the rectum, but the device obtained rectal mucus. The device was easily removed from the rectum. Subsequent inspection showed no harm to the rectal mucosa (the inside of the rectum), and there was no blood on the device indicating any rectal lesions.

Test site: Zealand University Hospital
Test mannequin: Artificial human colon and rectum, in plastic and rubber, primarily designed to train in endoscopy.

Test aim: Evaluation of prototype in relation to acquiring effect.

The test prototype was lubricated with standard rectal lubrication gel, the device was inserted in the rubber rectum, and the "snail" was rotated clockwise, and retracted. A scope was inserted from the colon, and thereby was able to film the device in the artificial rectum. The rectum was filled with a liquid substance mimicking stool in the consistence of diarrhea. Video and pictures documented the procedure.

Claim 1:
Stool sample device [A"] for collecting a stool sample from a region of a human rectum, which device comprises an outer part and an inner part, wherein
the outer part comprises an outer unit [G"], wherein an inner unit [E"] is mounted, further wherein the outer unit [G"] has a round tip and comprises openings for collecting sample from the human rectum; and
the inner part comprises the inner unit [E"] fitted with gaskets [D"], a first gasket [D"] is placed at the tip end of the inner unit [E"], and a second gasket is placed at the opposite end of a spiral-shaped part or snail, and at distance of a handle [B"];
characterised in that
the inner unit [E"] is equipped with the spiral-shaped part or snail placed at the tip end relative to the outer unit [G"] and with the handle for turning [B"] and pulling [C"] at the opposite end relative to the spiral-shaped part or snail; and
that the inner unit [E"] can be turned and pulled back by the handle [B", C"] with respect to the outer unit [G''].