Patent ID: 12194458

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWINGS

Description will now be given with reference to the attachedFIGS.1-14. It should be understood that these figures are exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow.

The invention is a single-use portable, self-contained drug test kit for testing for the presence or absence of a drug such as fentanyl. The invention includes of two interlocking half cases combined to form a reservoir for water and drug to mix. One half contains a frangible container such as a water pouch filled with distilled water or other liquid solvent, and the opposite half contains a protruding press or projection. The user sprinkles powdered or liquid drug into the half case with the protruding press, after which they snap the two half cases together. The user shakes the invention to mix the drug with the water. Water-drug mixture will drip through a sponge located inside the reservoir, which allows the water-drug mixture to come in contact with the fentanyl test strip. After a predetermined period of time (e.g., 2-3 minutes, depending upon the test strip utilized), the user looks at the bottom of the half case containing the fentanyl test strip to see the results of the test through a window in the case.

FIG.1shows one embodiment of inventive test kit50as how it is distributed to end users. Both case sections/halves1and7(they can each be more or less than one half of the housing) are mated together with the protruding press4facing outwards. The columns8(seeFIG.2) are designed to fasten to the holes2. This allows the protruding press4to face outward and the water pouch support12surrounding water pouch19to be protected. The side grooves3and6on case half1are facing the same direction as the side grooves9and13of the half case7; this helps indicate that the invention has not been used yet.FIG.2shows how the user initiates the test with half case1having been rotated 180 degrees about its vertical axis V. At this point, the user can begin the test by sprinkling powdered drug onto either hollow portion/indent17or indent18; however, should the drug be in the form of a solid pill, the user can granulate the drug by grinding the pill along the edge of protruding press4. Upon mating, protruding press4will rupture a frangible water pouch19nestled in water pouch support, e.g., cylinders12. Half case1has an indent17which is one-half of a reservoir; the corresponding indent18is located in case half7. Both indents will combine to form a reservoir; this reservoir will hold the water-drug mixture/solution.

Immediately after closing the two cases, as shown inFIG.3, the user holds kit50at the grooves3,6,9,13, and shakes to ensure that the water and drug mix together. The user should then orient the invention such that an outward indent15(seeFIG.4) faces up. A water-drug mixture will flow down a slide10to a chamber defined by the right side of wall11. A sponge occupies this chamber to allow for a more controlled diffusion of the water-drug mixture. Water-drug mixture will come into contact with a test strip T (seeFIGS.8,10) located in chamber14. The test strip will be oriented in such a way that the part of the strip that must be in contact with liquid will be located on the side of the slide10; this will allow the test strip to run immediately after the invention is shaken by the user. Returning toFIG.4, the results of the test will be visible to the user through a window16which leads into chamber14.

A slightly modified embodiment of a test kit100is shown inFIGS.5-12.FIG.5shows test kit100as how it is distributed to end users. Both case sections101and107are mated together with the protruding press104facing outwards. The columns108(seeFIG.6) are designed to fasten to the holes102. This allows the protruding press104to face outward. Case section101includes slot120in which spoon122is removably provided. Spoon122is useful for taking a very small sample of the drug to be tested and enabling the user to avoid using their fingers or otherwise contacting the drug. A rubber seal130is provided to ensure a watertight seal around the reservoir formed by mating case sections101and107. The user separates case sections101and107as shown inFIG.6.

FIG.7shows how the user initiates the test with case section101having been rotated 180 degrees about its vertical axis. At this point, the user can begin the test by sprinkling powdered drug onto either hollow portion/indent117or indent118; however, should the drug be in the form of a solid pill, the user can granulate the drug by grinding the pill along the edge of abrasive section112. Upon mating as shown inFIG.8, protruding press104will rupture a frangible water pouch119. Case section101has an indent117which is one-half of a reservoir; the corresponding indent118is located in case half107. Both indents will combine to form a reservoir; this reservoir will hold the water-drug mixture/solution.

Test kit100is used in a similar manner to that of test kit50described above, with sponge140(FIGS.9and10) controlling the flow of drug solution/mixture to test strip T.FIG.8depicts the rear of test kit100with test strip T visible through window129.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown as test kit200inFIGS.13A-C. Here, a track is connected to a test strip case207which slides under the water tank201. This embodiment lacks the interlocking parts of the previous embodiment and instead includes a complete chamber with an internal water tank. Top flap204covers opening206through which drug samples are introduced (seeFIG.13B). Once the user has pushed the strip case entirely into its end position (seeFIG.13C), an internal seal223is ruptured, and the water-drug mixture comes into contact with the end of the strip that requires the water-drug mixture. Starting the test requires the user to push test strip case207along the track manually from the configuration ofFIGS.13Aand B to that ofFIG.13Cand thus will not trigger if the user shakes kit200prematurely.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown as test kit300inFIGS.14A-C. Here, the shape of the device is substantially cylindrical rather than rectangular. (Of course, variations in shape, e.g., triangular, square, hexagonal, and any other shape are also contemplated as being within the scope of the invention.) The water tank is located on the top cylindrical section301and has a hatch306for inserting a powdered or liquid drug sample. InFIG.14A, kit300is in the configuration as shipped to users, with hatch306not in communication with the interior of the device. The user then turns section301to align hatch306with a drug receptacle as shown inFIG.14B. The user adds the drugs. The bottom cylindrical section307containing the test strip T remains stationary while the user further turns the water tank section301above until the apertures in both tanks line up as shown inFIG.14C. Water will drip onto a test strip that is attached to the inside wall of the section307, giving the strip a circular shape. Optionally, the cylindrical pieces are turned further to prevent the water from continuing to flow on the test strip. A window329on the side of the bottom cylindrical piece reveals the results of the screening and is covered by see-through plastic for the user's convenience.

The invention is not limited to the above description. For example, although in several embodiments the lateral flow test strip is moved with respect to the reservoir and/or frangible container, other embodiments are contemplated. For example, a portion of the housing may move instead, e.g., a watertight partition separating the reservoir from the test strip may be slidable from a first position in which it seals off the reservoir from the test strip to keep the test strip out of fluid communication with the reservoir to a second position in which the partition allows the test strip to be in fluid communication with the reservoir. Other variations are contemplated.

It should be understood that, in the context of this disclosure, “at least one of” followed by a series of elements means any one of the elements in the series or any combination of the elements in the series, including all of the elements. So, for example, a recitation of “at least one of A, B, or C” means any of A, B, C, A+B, A+C, B+C, or A+B+C.

Having described certain embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the above description or the attached exemplary drawings. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow and includes any equivalents thereof as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.