Patent Description:
The diagnosis of infections of the upper respiratory tract can be performed by analysing the nasal secretion collected from the nasopharyngeal or olfactory area using a small stick provided with a sterile cotton swab at a respective end. The stick must be flexible and, operatively, the swab is inserted in a nostril and pushed horizontally to reach the nasopharyngeal area or pushed upwards to reach the olfactory area until encountering resistance. Having ascertained that the resistance is determined by the swab reaching the area in which the sample is to be taken, the swab is gently rotated to locally remove biological material consisting of the nasal secretion. At this point, the swab is extracted and the cotton end is inserted in a sterile container for conservation and transport to a laboratory, where the biological material removed is analysed, once it has undergone microbiological culture or other tests to isolate and identify the pathogen.

From the above description it is evidently highly recommended for the swab to be carried out by an expert operator, with a good knowledge of nasal anatomy and the ability to identify the anatomical conformation of the nasal cavity of the patient to be examined. This enables the operator to decide whether it is preferable to take the nasal secretion from the nasopharyngeal or olfactory area, in order to preserve the mucosa of the nasal area of the individual to be examined and with a reasonable certainty of the sample being taken in an effective manner.

In emergency situations, in which the number of individuals to be examined is particularly high and well exceeds the number of expert operators for carrying out the swab in the nasopharyngeal or olfactory area, for example, but not limited to, in a full-blown pandemic, there is evidently the risk, on the one hand, of the number of samples being too low to provide a rapid reliable photograph of the infection levels, and on the other hand, of the information resulting from analysis of the swabs not faithfully representing the infection situation. In both cases the resulting situation is highly unsatisfactory, since public health is at stake. Furthermore, it is important to consider the aspect of operator safety if the swab is to be carried out on individuals who already present symptoms of infection. In these cases, the operator must necessarily wear personal protective clothing and equipment able to fully cover his/her body; on the other hand, considering that said clothing/devices are of the disposable type, they produce a considerable increase in the cost of the activities correlated with testing and checking of the operators, in addition to being subject to supply chain risk.

Examples of collectors according to the pre-characterising portion of claim <NUM> are known from <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>. <CIT> discloses a device according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

In view of the situation described above, a device that is practical to use and has a limited cost would be desirable, allowing biological samples to be taken, autonomously and effectively, from the nasopharyngeal or olfactory area, therefore without involving expert operators, with the result of eliminating the risk of infection of the health care workers involved in the analysis. It is evident that the use of said devices, in addition to limiting and, if possible, overcoming the typical drawbacks of the known art illustrated above, allows new operating protocols to be defined for the sampling of nasopharyngeal/olfactory nasal secretions of numerous groups of people to be analysed in complete safety and with a high degree of reliability. In particular, it allows the patients to self-collect nasal secretions mixed with washing liquid, thus excluding the risk of third-party infection and errors.

The present invention concerns a collector for liquids. In particular, the present invention refers to a collector for liquids pre-arranged to support a liquid delivery device for carrying out nasal washes. In further detail, the present invention refers to a collector for liquids pre-arranged to support a liquid delivery device for carrying out nasal washes and for collecting the nasal secretion mixed with the liquid delivered.

The above drawbacks are solved by the present invention according to at least one of the following claims.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a collector for liquids is produced provided with a first funnel-shaped body delimited at the top by an annular edge and provided at the bottom with an outlet for said liquids and coupling means for the removable collection members for collecting said liquids from said outlet; characterized in that it comprises a first front wall and a second rear wall carried in a hydraulically sealed manner by said annular edge between two sides of said first body and mutually facing each other; said second wall being delimited at the top by a concave curved segment shaped for shape coupling, in use, with an anatomic facial portion arranged between the upper lip and nose of a user.

According to an embodiment as described above, said first wall and said second wall are symmetrically shaped relative to a centreline plane that transversely cuts said first body; said curved segment being laterally delimited by two raised angle portions arranged symmetrically to laterally delimit the nostrils of said nose.

According to an embodiment as described above, at least one interface is provided elongated in a given direction oriented in a given manner relative to said centreline plane and pre-arranged to house supply means designed to distribute the liquid in a direction opposite to said outlet between said first wall and said second wall through a nasal nozzle.

According to an embodiment as described above, said first wall and said second wall are separated in at least a first side of said two sides creating a first opening above said first body; a said first interface being carried by said first side transversely to said centreline plane facing said first body through said first opening.

According to an embodiment as described above, said first interface has a retention element for retaining said liquid delivery means at the corresponding said first side.

According to an embodiment as described above, said liquid supply means comprise a syringe provided with a said nasal nozzle carried longitudinally or transversely by said syringe; said retention element comprising an at least partially cylindrical projecting part with angular width greater than <NUM>° and arranged at the connection between said first interface and said first side.

According to an embodiment as described above, said first wall extends from said annular edge by a greater extent than said second wall.

According to an embodiment as described above, said first wall carries at the top a tapered cover member shaped for containing a nasal pyramid starting from a relative root. According to an embodiment as described above, said first wall and said second wall are separated in a second side of said two sides, creating a second opening identical or geometrically similar and opposite to said first opening; a said second interface carried by said second side aligned with said first interface and sized in an identical or geometrically similar manner.

According to an embodiment as described above, said first wall and said second wall are connected to the sides of said first body by respective opposite walls shaped symmetrically relative to said centreline plane.

According to an embodiment as described above, said first wall and said second wall have respective concavities facing, from opposite or same sides, said outlet.

According to an embodiment as described above, said coupling means comprise in combination or alternatively a first cylindrical portion that peripherally delimits said outlet and terminates with a first hooking portion, shaped to couple in a hydraulically sealed manner with an upper edge of a collection vial for a liquid to be analysed, and a second cylindrical hooking portion coaxial to said outlet shaped to house a hydraulically sealed test tube.

According to an embodiment as described above, a said third interface is carried at the bottom by said first body alongside said outlet, extends parallel to said centreline plane and transversely to said annular edge and being pre-arranged to house said syringe with said outlet nozzle that protrudes inside said first body to support said nasal nozzle directly or through an extension carried by said third interface inside said first body.

According to an embodiment as described above, a said fourth interface comprises a housing member carried at the bottom by said first visible body; said housing member being pre-arranged to house a two-way hydraulic selector provided with a first and a second duct aligned with each other and a duct transversal to the other two, in addition to a switching tap; said first aligned duct engaging, in use, said outlet and carrying said nasal nozzle inside the first body; said second aligned duct engaging a test tube or vial selectively supported at the bottom by said housing member; said transverse duct being engaged by an outlet nozzle of said syringe; said tap being designed to selectively determine the connection between said first aligned duct and said transverse duct and the connection between said first aligned duct and said second aligned duct.

Further characteristics and advantages of collectors produced by applying the teachings of the present invention will appear clearer from the following description, with reference to the attached figures that illustrate at least a non-limiting embodiment example thereof, wherein identical or corresponding parts of the collector are identified by the same reference numbers. <FIG> and <FIG> show embodiments which do not form part of the invention but which are helpful in understanding the invention. In particular:.

Before describing in detail the preferred embodiments of the present invention or details thereof, it is useful to specify that the relative scope is not limited to the particular embodiments described below. The disclosure and description in the present document are illustrative and explanatory of one or more embodiments and variations currently preferred, and it will be clear to persons skilled in the art that various changes can be made in the design, in the organization, in the order of operation, in the means of operation, in the structures of the equipment and position, and in the methodology and use of mechanical equivalents without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Furthermore, it should be understood that the attached figures have the purpose of clearly illustrating and disclosing currently preferred embodiments to a person skilled in the art, but they are not drawings that illustrate how said embodiments should be executed in reality or real representations of final products; on the contrary, said figures can comprise conceptual views simplified to facilitate comprehension or allow for an easier and quicker explanation. Furthermore, the relative dimensions and arrangement of the components can differ from those shown and still function within the spirit of the invention.

Various indications such as "upper", "lower", "left-hand", "right-hand", "front", "rear" and so on refer only to the explanation in combination with the drawings and the components can be oriented differently, for example during transport and production, and during operation. Since many different and distinct embodiments can be produced in the context of the concepts taught here, and since multiple modifications can be made to the embodiments described here, the details provided below must be interpreted as illustrative and non-limiting with regard to the spirit of the invention.

In <FIG>, the number <NUM> indicates, overall, a collector for liquids provided with a first concave body <NUM> shaped symmetrically like a funnel relative to a vertical centreline plane MT that cuts through it transversely, which can be seen better in <FIG>. Said first body <NUM> laterally delimits a volume with a section decreasing from an annular edge <NUM> and is provided at the bottom with an outlet <NUM> provided with a hole for passage of the liquids arranged in the lowest point of the first body <NUM>, in a preferably central position, but not limited to said position.

With particular reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the collector <NUM> has at the bottom coupling members <NUM> which can be used to selectively connect the removable collection members <NUM> to the first body <NUM>, in particular below the outlet <NUM> to receive through the latter liquids from the first body <NUM>. Said coupling members <NUM> comprise, in combination or alternatively, a first cylindrical portion <NUM> which is positioned below the annular edge <NUM>, peripherally delimits the outlet <NUM> and terminates with a first hooking portion <NUM> provided with a cylindrical seat that extends for the respective length, the lower edge of which is shaped to couple in a hydraulically sealed manner with an upper edge of a vial <NUM>' for collecting liquids to be analysed (<FIG>), and/or a second hooking portion <NUM> coaxial with the outlet <NUM> and provided with a cylindrical seat which extends for the respective length, the lower edge of which is shaped to house in a hydraulically sealed manner a test tube <NUM>" (<FIG>) through a respective upper edge. For the sake of practicality, the embodiment of the collector <NUM> shown in <FIG> has both the cylindrical portion <NUM> and the second hooking portion <NUM> for the test tube <NUM>", without limiting the scope of the present invention to said embodiment.

With particular reference to <FIG>, the cylindrical seats of the first hooking portion <NUM> and of the second hooking portion <NUM> have at least one longitudinal rib <NUM>, the cross-section of which is semi-cylindrical and which, at the bottom, has a respective rounded end, the function of which is to facilitate insertion of the vial <NUM>' or the test tube <NUM>", respectively, in order to improve the capacity to retain the vials <NUM>' and the capacity to retain the test tubes <NUM>''. Furthermore, the cylindrical seats of the first hooking portion <NUM> and of the second hooking portion <NUM> have at the bottom at least one axial abutment <NUM> for the edges of the vials <NUM>' and the test tubes <NUM>'' respectively. It should be noted that the ribs <NUM> and the abutments <NUM> have the function of maintaining the inner mantle of the vials <NUM>' and the test tubes <NUM>'' and, respectively, the free edges of the openings of the vials <NUM>' and of the test tubes <NUM>'' detached from the bottoms of the cylindrical seats. This characteristic allows discharge of the air contained in the vials <NUM>' and in the test tubes <NUM>'' which would otherwise prevent filling of said containers with liquid mixed with nasal secretion received from the first concave body <NUM> through the outlet <NUM>.

The first body <NUM> furthermore has two lateral sides <NUM> and the collector <NUM> comprises a first front wall <NUM> and a second rear wall <NUM> symmetrically shaped relative to the centreline plane MT and carried by the annular edge <NUM> in a hydraulically sealed manner mutually facing each other between the two sides <NUM>. The first wall <NUM> and the second wall <NUM> are connected in one side <NUM> by a lateral wall <NUM>.

With particular reference to <FIG> and <FIG> the second wall <NUM> is delimited at the top by a concave curved segment <NUM> which is shaped for shape coupling, in use, with a facial anatomic portion arranged between the upper lip and nose of a user. Furthermore, the first wall <NUM> extends from the annular edge <NUM> to a greater extent than the second wall <NUM> and the curved segment <NUM> is laterally delimited by two symmetrically shaped angle portions <NUM> which, in use, are designed to laterally delimit the nostrils of said nose. Said angle portions are raised relative to a central portion of the second wall <NUM> and are, preferably but not exclusively, cuspate although they could be rounded without departing from the scope of the present invention.

With reference to <FIG>, the collector <NUM> comprises, facing the lateral wall <NUM>, a first interface <NUM> elongated according to a given direction D transverse to the centreline plane MT. Said first interface <NUM> is shaped to house supply members <NUM> (<FIG>) designed to distribute the liquid between the first wall <NUM> and the second wall <NUM>, either in a nebulized or liquid jet form, in a direction opposite to the outlet <NUM>, therefore upwards, through a dispenser, preferably but not exclusively a nasal nozzle <NUM>, specifically shaped to adhere in a hydraulically sealed manner to the respective nasal vestibule, by simply exerting a slight pressure transversely to the latter. In the attached figures said nozzle is illustrated by a dome-shaped body, but said embodiment shape is purely an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

In particular, the supply members <NUM> comprise a syringe <NUM> which is, in turn, provided with the nasal nozzle <NUM>, which is carried longitudinally or transversely by an outlet nozzle, known and not illustrated, of the syringe <NUM> according to requirements for carrying out nasal washes with a given liquid, either in a nebulized or liquid jet form.

With reference to <FIG> the first wall <NUM> and the second wall <NUM> are separated into at least a first side 124A of the two sides <NUM> creating a first opening <NUM> above the first body <NUM>. In particular, the first interface <NUM> is carried by the first side 124A transversely to the centreline plane MT facing the first body <NUM> through the first opening <NUM>.

The first interface <NUM> has a retention element <NUM> for retaining the liquid delivery members <NUM>, and in particular the syringe <NUM>, at the relative first opening <NUM> on the side of the first side <NUM>. More specifically, the retention element <NUM> consists of an at least partially cylindrical projecting part <NUM> (which for the sake of practicality is indicated by the same reference number) with angular width greater than <NUM>° arranged at the connection between the first interface <NUM> and the first side <NUM> to retain the syringe <NUM> in any longitudinal position determined as required by the user.

The use of the collector <NUM> described above is easy to understand and does not require any further explanation. However, with particular reference to <FIG>, it is useful to specify that once a vial <NUM>' (<FIG>) for analysis has been coupled to the first hooking portion <NUM> of the internally hollow cylindrical portion <NUM>, or a test tube <NUM>'' (<FIG>) has been coupled to the second hooking portion <NUM> and a syringe <NUM> has been positioned filled with washing liquid and provided with the respective nasal nozzle <NUM> inside the first interface <NUM>, a user can grip the collector <NUM> by the cylindrical portion <NUM>, move said collector <NUM> closer with the second wall <NUM> between his/her upper lip and nose, slide the syringe <NUM> longitudinally in the direction D until it is positioned with the nasal nozzle <NUM> facing one of the two nostrils, to perform at least a first washing part of the nasal cavity. At this point the syringe <NUM> is blocked longitudinally and transversely by the projecting part <NUM> and, before proceeding, the collector <NUM> must be further pressed upwards until the nasal nozzle <NUM> engages in a hydraulically sealed manner the nasal vestibule of the selected nostril, so as to maximize the probability of the liquid in the syringe <NUM> being delivered totally inside the nasal cavity. At this point, the second wall <NUM> must be pushed gently against the skin between the upper lip and the nasal pyramid and the head inclined forward, maintaining the collector <NUM> with the edge <NUM> of the first body <NUM> substantially horizontal so as to maximize the probability of the liquid in the syringe <NUM>, once discharged from one of the two nostrils, or from both, remaining inside the first body <NUM> without even a splash of the liquid being able to leak out, during the discharge phase, above the first wall <NUM> or from the opening <NUM> obtained in the first side <NUM>. If any liquid splashes onto the first or second wall <NUM>/<NUM> or onto the skin between the upper lip and nasal pyramid of the user, it would drop back into the first body <NUM> by gravity, without requiring any external intervention.

At this point the piston of the syringe <NUM> can be operated, emptying it partially or completely of the liquid contained and, as described above, delivered inside the nasal cavity through the chosen nasal vestibule.

It is evident that if the volume of liquid contained in the syringe <NUM> is lower than the volume of the nasal cavity, all the liquid delivered to the nasal cavity will remain inside said cavity until complete emptying of the syringe <NUM> and for as long as the nasal nozzle <NUM> is kept in a hydraulically sealed manner inside the chosen nasal vestibule. If, on the other hand, the volume of liquid contained in the syringe <NUM> is greater than the volume of the nasal cavity, when the nasal cavity is completely filled, the excess liquid will begin to flow spontaneously through the nasopharynx to the other nostril and from here inside the first body <NUM>; from here, it then flows inside the vial <NUM>' or the test tube <NUM>'' through the outlet <NUM>. In both cases, but above all in the case of the volume of liquid contained in the syringe <NUM> being lower than the volume of the nasal cavity, discharge of the liquid delivered and the nasal secretion removed by the latter from the inside of the nasal cavity is permitted only after removing the nasal nozzle <NUM> from the nasal vestibule engaged in a hydraulically sealed manner. Considering that the minimum movement of the nasal nozzle <NUM> relative to the nostril engaged could cause outflow of the liquid contained in the corresponding nasal cavity, to be reasonably certain that the washing liquid flows completely in the first body <NUM>, and from there freely by gravity into the vial or test tube <NUM>'' through the outlet <NUM>, firstly the user must keep his/her head in a slightly forward inclined position and leave the collector <NUM> with the edge <NUM> of the first body <NUM> horizontal, with the curved segment <NUM> of the second wall <NUM> in contact in a hydraulically sealed manner with the skin between the nose and the upper lip. Since it is not possible to slide the syringe <NUM> to free the nasal nozzle <NUM> from the nasal vestibule, to avoid damaging it, the user can use the projecting part <NUM> arranged at the connection of the first interface <NUM> as if it were a hinge point for the syringe <NUM>. In fact, said projecting part <NUM> exerts a circumferential pressure on a given portion of the syringe <NUM>, arranged between the first interface <NUM> and the first body <NUM>, allowing it to be hinged once a rotation as in <FIG> is exerted on the syringe, in order to cause the nasal nozzle <NUM> to leave the corresponding nasal vestibule. As already said, with minimum movement of the nasal nozzle <NUM> from the operating position inside a nostril to a lowered position towards the outlet <NUM>, the nasal secretion will flow out mixed with the liquid contained in the nasal cavity and will then be collected in the vial <NUM>' or in the test tube <NUM>'', without a drop of said mixture being lost. The first wall <NUM>, always kept by the user positioned in front of his/her nose, will prevent any drops of liquid coming out of the first body <NUM>, with the risk of spraying the surrounding areas and persons who are knowingly or unknowingly near the user performing the nasal wash.

From the above description, it can be seen that the collector <NUM> is particularly useful whenever a nasal wash has to be performed by the user on his/her own and, considering that the washing liquid will always contain nasal secretion, if the collector <NUM> were made of plastic or pressed cardboard in order to be disposable, it would be particularly suitable for carrying out nasal washes also in persons with infectious diseases, for example but not exclusively coronavirus "SARS - COVID <NUM>", for treatment or to collect the nasal secretion removed from the washing liquid in order to analyse it. Evidently using the collector <NUM> in this way would make it possible to collect nasal secretion from any part of the nasal cavity, and check for the presence of virus particles in any position of the nasal cavity/ies without the need to involve operators. In fact, once one of the two nasal cavities has been washed and the nasal nozzle <NUM> has been removed from the corresponding nostril, the user can raise his/her head slightly to free the nasal nozzle <NUM> and, therefore, leave the syringe <NUM> free to slide until the nasal nozzle <NUM> faces the nasal vestibule of the other nostril and complete the washing operation as described above. It should be highlighted that the sampling of nasal secretion by means of the collector <NUM> is particularly inexpensive.

Lastly it is clear that modifications and variations can be made to the collector <NUM> described and illustrated here without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, to maximize safety of use of the collector <NUM> and prevent the liquid particles from flowing out at the top over the first wall <NUM>, with particular reference to <FIG> said wall could be modified with the addition of a tapered cover member <NUM> shaped to contain a nasal pyramid from a relative root to the respective upper edge BS. Naturally, said cover member <NUM> could be snap-connectable to the first wall <NUM> at a respective upper edge <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, a further embodiment of the collector <NUM> is shown designed to perform nasal washing using a syringe <NUM> with volume more suited to the volume of the nasal cavity of the user to be treated, but having two syringes with different volumes. In this case the collector <NUM> has a second interface <NUM>' aligned with the first interface <NUM> and sized differently but geometrically similar, given the geometric configuration of syringes with different volumes. This structural characteristic of the collector <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> allows the same collector <NUM> to be set up with two syringes <NUM> of different sizes to treat patients with nasal cavities of different volumes without having to "classify" the patients in advance based on said characteristic before carrying out the treatment on each of them. Said second interface <NUM> is carried by a second side 124B of the two sides <NUM>, where the first wall <NUM> is separated from the second wall <NUM> through a second opening <NUM>' identical or geometrically similar to the first opening <NUM>, taking account of the dimensions of the second interface <NUM>. In addition, it is useful to highlight that the collector <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> has coupling members <NUM> identical to those of the collector <NUM> of <FIG>.

With reference to the collector <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the first wall <NUM> and the second wall <NUM> of the collector <NUM> are connected to the sides <NUM> by a lateral wall <NUM> as in the case of the collector <NUM> of <FIG>. However, in this case, the first wall <NUM> and the second wall <NUM> are geometrically identical, shaped symmetrically relative to the centreline plane MT of the first body <NUM> and therefore identical also in terms of height. In addition, the first wall <NUM> and the second wall <NUM> have respective identical concavities <NUM> and <NUM> facing opposite sides (towards the outside) relative to the outlet <NUM>. Therefore, each of the first wall <NUM> and second wall <NUM> is delimited by a curved segment which for the sake of practicality is numbered as <NUM> like the concave segment <NUM> of the collector <NUM> of <FIG> and, in turn, is analogously delimited laterally by the angle portions <NUM>, also identical geometrically and dimensionally. It may be useful to specify that the first wall <NUM> and the second wall <NUM> are separated on the side opposite the lateral wall <NUM> by the opening <NUM> and that there is an interface geometrically identical to the first interface <NUM> which is therefore numbered in <FIG> with the same reference number as the one used in <FIG>. Also in this case the first interface <NUM> is provided with the projecting part <NUM>. Lastly, the collector <NUM> of <FIG> has coupling members <NUM> identical to those of <FIG>.

As described above, both the first wall <NUM> and the second wall <NUM> (dimensionally and geometrically identical) of the collector <NUM> of <FIG> are designed to be pressed during washing and discharge against the skin between upper lip and nasal pyramid of the user, allowing positioning of the respective first interface <NUM> set up with the syringe <NUM>, and therefore the respective nasal nozzle <NUM>, indifferently either facing the right-hand nasal vestibule or the left-hand nasal vestibule, or in sequence, by simply rotating the collector <NUM> by <NUM>°.

With reference to <FIG> (showing embodiments which do not form part of the invention but which are helpful in understanding the invention) a collector <NUM> is illustrated which is symmetrical relative to the transverse centreline plane MT and has the first wall <NUM> and the second wall <NUM> connected at the sides <NUM> by identical opposite lateral walls <NUM>, also shaped symmetrically relative to the centreline plane MT of the first body <NUM>. In particular, in this case the coupling members <NUM> have been modified and the first cylindrical portion <NUM> which is positioned below the annular edge <NUM> is missing so that the first body <NUM> is visible; furthermore, the first interface <NUM> and the second interface <NUM>' are replaced by a third interface <NUM>'' carried at the bottom by the first body <NUM> parallel to the centreline plane MT alongside the outlet <NUM>, to which a duct <NUM> corresponds, forming part of the modified coupling members <NUM>. Also in this case, the third interface <NUM>'' is pre-arranged to house the syringe <NUM>, but the respective outlet nozzle protrudes inside the first body <NUM> to support the nasal nozzle <NUM> directly or through an extension <NUM> carried by the third interface <NUM>'' through a respective mouth <NUM> (<FIG>) inside the first body <NUM>. The outlet duct <NUM> and the third interface <NUM>'' share preferably but not exclusively a portion of the respective outer mantles, globally defining an "<NUM>"-shaped body in cross section (<FIG>). It can be easily seen that the collector <NUM> according to the <FIG> can house inside the respective duct <NUM> either a second syringe <NUM> as in <FIG> and <FIG>, or a test tube <NUM>'' as in <FIG>. Also in this case, to improve the capacity to retain the vials or the test tubes <NUM>'', and discharge the air contained in them, the duct <NUM> and the third interface <NUM>'' have at least one longitudinal rib <NUM> and at least one abutment <NUM>, already described with reference to <FIG> of the embodiment of the collector <NUM> shown in <FIG>. In <FIG> uniformly distributed ribs <NUM> protrude from the inner mantle of the duct <NUM> and from the inner mantle of the third interface <NUM>'' and the abutment <NUM> has the same number of elevations <NUM> offset relative to the ribs <NUM>.

As described above, both the first wall <NUM> and the second wall <NUM> (dimensionally and geometrically identical) are designed to be pressed against the skin between the upper lip and nasal pyramid of a user, allowing positioning of the third interface <NUM>'' set up with the syringe <NUM>, and therefore the nasal nozzle <NUM>, indifferently either facing the right-hand nasal vestibule or the left-hand nasal vestibule, or in sequence, by simply rotating the collector <NUM> by <NUM>°.

With reference to <FIG> the collector <NUM> can be modified relative to the collector <NUM> of <FIG> with particular reference to the respective first wall <NUM>, which can be raised and present a cover <NUM> similar to the cover of <FIG>, where the first wall <NUM> can be flat, concave or convex relative to the first body <NUM>.

Differently, the collector <NUM> can be modified with particular reference to <FIG> (showing embodiments which do not form part of the invention but which are helpful in understanding the invention) maintaining the first body <NUM> visible, modifying the coupling members <NUM> and defining a unique route via which the washing liquid can be delivered and discharged once the nasal cavity has been sprayed. In particular, said route is implemented in the hole that defines the outlet <NUM>. For orderly operation, the first body <NUM> carries at the bottom, around the hole of the outlet <NUM>, a fourth interface <NUM>‴ provided with a housing member <NUM> having longitudinal windows and pre-arranged to house a two-way hydraulic selector <NUM> (<FIG>) provided with first and second aligned ducts <NUM> and <NUM> and a duct <NUM> transverse to the other two, in addition to a switching tap <NUM>. The first aligned duct <NUM> engages, in use, the hole of the outlet <NUM> and carries the nasal nozzle <NUM> inside the first body <NUM>. The other aligned duct <NUM> engages the housing member <NUM> and, inside it, can house the neck of a test tube <NUM>', supported by the lower edge of the housing member <NUM>, which is part of the housing members <NUM> modified for this version of the collector <NUM>. The remaining transverse duct <NUM> is engaged by the outlet nozzle of a syringe <NUM>. The tap <NUM> is designed to selectively determine the connection between the first aligned duct <NUM> and the transverse duct <NUM> (condition of delivery of washing liquid through the nasal nozzle <NUM>) and the connection between the first aligned duct <NUM> and the second aligned duct <NUM> (outlet condition) without requiring the nasal nozzle <NUM> to be moved away from the edge of the nostril sprayed with the liquid. Naturally, operation of the device will be identical if the test tube <NUM>'' is replaced by a vial <NUM>', appropriately provided with an adapter <NUM> which stably connects it to the outside of the housing member <NUM>. Also in this case, both the first wall <NUM> and the second wall <NUM> (dimensionally and geometrically identical) are designed to be pressed against the skin between the upper lip and nasal pyramid of the user, allowing positioning of the syringe <NUM>, and therefore the corresponding nasal nozzle <NUM>, indifferently either facing the right-hand nasal vestibule or the left-hand nasal vestibule, or in sequence, by simply rotating the collector <NUM> by <NUM>°.

With reference to <FIG>, a further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, which can be considered a variation of the version described with reference to <FIG>, in which the liquid is delivered by a nasal nozzle <NUM> supplied by a syringe <NUM>'' housed inside the first interface <NUM>, the only interface present in this embodiment. As can be seen in <FIG>, and more distinctly in <FIG>, the coupling members <NUM> comprise exclusively the second hooking portion <NUM> to house a test tube <NUM>'' below the outlet <NUM>. Therefore, once the washing has been carried out, the liquid containing the removed nasal secretion flows inside the first body <NUM> and from here to the test tube <NUM>'' housed inside the second hooking portion <NUM> through the outlet <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> the collector of <FIG> is provided with two interfaces <NUM> and <NUM>' as in <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> show a modified version of the collector <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, where the first body <NUM>, and the first front wall <NUM> and the second rear wall <NUM>, is cut in two by a partition <NUM> which divides the volume delimited by the first body <NUM> into two parts and, in turn, is delimited at the top by a rectilinear edge <NUM> which connects two portions of the annular edge <NUM> of the first body <NUM>, resulting transverse to the given direction D, therefore horizontal when the collector <NUM> is arranged with the respective second hooking portion <NUM> oriented vertically. The division determined by the partition <NUM> inside the first body <NUM> requires the outlet <NUM> to be moved laterally relative to the partition <NUM>, on the side opposite the interface <NUM>, and also the second hooking portion <NUM> for obvious construction reasons.

The <FIG> show a modified version of the collector <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> in which the outlet <NUM> is combined, on the side opposite the partition <NUM>, with an outlet hole <NUM>' which opens to a further second hooking portion <NUM>' for a further test tube <NUM>'', which can be used to collect the liquid that could flow out of the free nostril from the nasal nozzle <NUM> once the liquid has been delivered by the syringe <NUM> supported by the interface <NUM>, if said fraction of liquid has to be collected uncontaminated in order to be then examined in some way.

In <FIG> a variation of the embodiment of <FIG> is illustrated, in which the further second hooking portion <NUM>' is replaced by a cylindrical tank <NUM> that can be used to collect the fraction of liquid that could flow out of the free nostril from the nasal nozzle <NUM> once the liquid has been delivered by the syringe <NUM> supported by the interface <NUM>. The choice to equip the collector <NUM> with a tank <NUM>, which could equip any embodiment of the collector described above, is particularly useful if collection of the liquid fraction that has flowed out of the free nostril from the nasal nozzle <NUM> is desired but it is not of primary importance to collect it uncontaminated in a test tube, for example to then disperse it in a given environment.

In <FIG> a variation of the collector <NUM> of <FIG> is illustrated, in which the rectilinear edge <NUM> of the partition <NUM> is inclined downwards proceeding from the second rear wall <NUM> to the first front wall <NUM>. In particular, with reference to <FIG>, the edge <NUM> is inclined downwards so as to present a greater extension at the intersection with the second rear wall <NUM> and lesser at the intersection with the first front wall <NUM>. In some cases, as in <FIG>, the rectilinear edge <NUM> of the partition <NUM> has a lowered area <NUM> facing the interface <NUM> and, in use, facing the nozzle <NUM> carried by the syringe <NUM> housed in the interface <NUM>, so as to allow a lateral portion of the nozzle <NUM> to be superimposed on the partition, to maximize the adaptability of the position of the nozzle <NUM> along the interface <NUM> to be compatible with different user nose shapes.

Based on the above description, it can be easily seen that the collector <NUM> solves in a simple inexpensive manner the drawbacks typical of the state of the art illustrated above, in addition to allowing the definition of new operating protocols for sampling the nasopharyngeal/olfactory nasal secretion of numerous groups of persons to be analysed in complete safety and with a high degree of reliability, permitting the collection of nasal secretion mixed with washing liquid in an autonomous manner, excluding the risk of third party contamination and being error-proof.

Claim 1:
A collector (<NUM>) for liquids provided with a first funnel-shaped body (<NUM>) delimited at the top by an annular edge (<NUM>) and provided at the bottom with an outlet (<NUM>) for said liquids and with coupling means (<NUM>) for removable collection members (<NUM>) of said liquids from said outlet (<NUM>); said collector comprising a first front wall (<NUM>) and a second rear wall (<NUM>) carried in a hydraulically sealed manner by said annular edge (<NUM>) between two sides (<NUM>) of said first body (<NUM>) and mutually facing one another; said second wall (<NUM>) being delimited at the top by a concave curved segment (<NUM>) shaped for shape coupling, in use, with an anatomic facial portion arranged between a user's top lip and nose; the said collector comprising at least one interface (<NUM>) (<NUM>') (<NUM>'') elongated according to a given direction (D) arranged between said first front wall (<NUM>) and said second rear wall (<NUM>); said at least one interface (<NUM>) (<NUM>') (<NUM>'') being pre-arranged to house supply means (<NUM>) designed to distribute the liquid in a direction opposite to said outlet (<NUM>) between said first wall (<NUM>) and said second wall (<NUM>) through a nasal nozzle (<NUM>); characterized in that said first wall (<NUM>) and said second wall (<NUM>) are separated in at least one first side (124A) of said two sides (<NUM>) creating a first opening (<NUM>) (<NUM>') above said first body (<NUM>); wherein
a first interface (<NUM>) is provided, being carried by said first side (124A) along said given direction (D) through said first opening (<NUM>).