Virus collection assembly, virus storage device, and virus collection method

Abstract

The present invention provides a virus collection assembly comprising a mouthpiece, a filter holder, a first cover and a second cover. The mouthpiece is adapted to connect to a gas collection bag. The filter holder is detachably connected to the mouthpiece and is adapted to hold a filter. The filter holder comprises a first holding sleeve and a second holding sleeve. The second holding sleeve is telescopically engaged with the first holding sleeve along an axis and holds the filter with the first holding sleeve. The first cover is detachably connected to the filter holder. The second cover is detachably connected to the first cover. The first cover and the second cover, when connected to each other, house the filter holder and the filter held thereby. Furthermore, a virus storage device and a virus collection method are also provided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a virus collection technique, and in particular, to a virus collection assembly, a virus storage device, and a virus collection method. BACKGROUND

[0002] In medicine, the occurrence of certain diseases is usually related to microorganisms (e.g. viruses, bacteria, etc.). Since microorganisms cannot be observed by the naked eye, a test sample is taken from a subject and tested to determine what kind of microorganisms are present in the test sample. This allows the subject to be given appropriate treatment or disposal. SUMMARY

[0003] The present application provides a virus collection assembly for collecting and storing viruses.

[0004] The present application provides a virus storage device for storing collected viruses.

[0005] The present application provides a virus collection method for collecting and storing viruses.

[0006] The virus collection assembly of the present application includes a mouthpiece, a filter holder, a first cover, and a second cover. The mouthpiece is adapted to connect to a gas collection bag. The filter holder is detachably connected to the mouthpiece and is adapted to hold a filter. The filter holder includes a first holding sleeve and a second holding sleeve. The second holding sleeve is coaxially sleeved with the first holding sleeve and holds the filter with the first holding sleeve. The first cover is detachably connected to the filter holder. The second cover is detachably connected to the first cover. The first cover and the second cover, when connected to each other, accommodate the filter holder and the filter held thereby.

[0007] The virus storage device of the present application includes a filter holder, a first cover, and a second cover. The filter holder is adapted to hold a filter. The first cover is detachably connected to the filter holder. The second cover is detachably connected to the first cover. The first cover and the second cover, when connected to each other, accommodate the filter holder and the filter held thereby.

[0008] The virus collection method of the present application includes the following steps. A gas collection bag is received from a subject via a mouthpiece. After the gas collection bag collects the gas blown by the subject, a filter holder is installed to the mouthpiece. The gas collected in the gas collection bag is extracted via the mouthpiece, so that the gas collected in the gas collection bag flows through a filter fixed by the filter holder. A first cover is detachably connected to the filter holder. After the first cover is detachably connected to the filter holder, the filter holder and the filter fixed thereby are detached from the mouthpiece via the first cover. The first cover is connected to a second cover, so that the filter holder and the filter fixed thereby are accommodated in the first cover and the second cover.

[0009] Based on the above, in the present application, the gas sample possibly containing microorganisms such as viruses from the subject is collected by blowing, and the microorganisms such as viruses possibly existing in the gas sample are retained in the filter by extraction. In addition, the filter holder and the filter clamped thereby are taken out by the first cover, and the filter holder and the filter clamped thereby are stored by the first cover and the second cover assembled together, so as to facilitate the subsequent preservation, transportation, and testing of the microorganisms such as viruses. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1A is an exploded view of a virus collection assembly and a gas collection bag of an embodiment of the present application.

[0011] FIG. 1B is FIG. 1A another exploded view of a virus collection assembly and a gas collection bag of

[0012] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2K illustrates a virus collection method of an embodiment of the present application.

[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates FIG. 2K a cross-sectional view of a virus storage device of

[0014] In the drawings, the simple explanations of the symbols are as follows:

[0015] 50: gas collection bag; 52: vent tube; 60: filter sheet; 62: double-sided adhesive sheet; 70: sealing cover; 100: virus collection assembly; 100a: virus storage device; 110: blowing nozzle; 111: body; 112: connecting rubber ring; 113: sealing rubber ring; 120: filter sheet holder; 121: first fixing sleeve; 122: second fixing sleeve; 131: first cover body; 131a: first inner sleeve; 132: second cover body; 132a: second inner sleeve; 133: sealing rubber ring; A: axis; E1: first fitting part; E2: second fitting part; F1: first guide part; F2: second guide part; L1: first latch part; L2: second latch part; S1: first screw thread; S2: second screw thread. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B In this embodiment, the virus collection assembly 100 includes a blowing nozzle 110, a filter sheet holder 120, a first cover body 131, and a second cover body 132. The blowing nozzle 110 is adapted to connect to a gas collection bag 50. The filter sheet holder 120 is detachably connected to the blowing nozzle 110 and is adapted to hold a filter sheet 60 (for example, but not limited to, melt-blown non-woven fabric). The first cover body 131 is detachably connected to the filter sheet holder 120. The second cover body 132 is detachably connected to the first cover body 131. The first cover body 131 and the second cover body 132, when connected to each other, accommodate the filter sheet holder 120 and the filter sheet 60 held thereby.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B In this embodiment, the blowing nozzle 110 can include a body 111, a connecting rubber ring 112, and a sealing rubber ring 113. The connecting rubber ring 112 is located at one end of the body 111 to be adapted to connect to a vent tube 52 of the gas collection bag 50. The sealing rubber ring 113 is located outside the body 111 to make the body 111 of the blowing nozzle 110 tightly fit with a suction nozzle (not shown) of an external suction pump when the body 111 is being suctioned. In another embodiment, the gas collection bag 50 and the blowing nozzle 110 can be fixedly connected without being separated.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B In this embodiment, the filter sheet holder 120 can include a first fixing sleeve 121 and a second fixing sleeve 122. The second fixing sleeve 122 is fitted with the first fixing sleeve 121 on an axis A and holds the filter sheet 60 with the first fixing sleeve 121. In addition, before the second fixing sleeve 122 is fitted with the first fixing sleeve 121, the filter sheet 60 can be pre-stuck to one end of the second fixing sleeve 122 by a double-sided adhesive sheet 62.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B In this embodiment, the body 111 of the blow nozzle 110 can have one or more first latching portions L1 (e.g., latching holes). The first fixing sleeve 121 can have one or more second latching portions L2 (e.g., latching pieces). The first fixing sleeve 121 is sleeved with the body 111 of the blow nozzle 110 on the axis A, and the second latching portions L2 and the first latching portions L1 limit the translation of the first fixing sleeve 121 relative to the body 111 of the blow nozzle 110 on the axis A. In short, the first fixing sleeve 121 is detachably connected to the body 111 of the blow nozzle 110 by latching between the first latching portions L1 and the second latching portions L2.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B In this embodiment, the first cover 131 can have a first inner sleeve 131a and a first fitting portion F1. The second fixing sleeve 122 can have a second fitting portion F2. The second fixing sleeve 122 and the first inner sleeve 131a are sleeved with each other. The cooperation of the first fitting portion F1 and the second fitting portion F2 limits the translation of the first fixing sleeve 121 relative to the first inner sleeve 131a on the axis A. In addition, the second fixing sleeve 122 and the first inner sleeve 131a are slightly interference-fitted (i.e., tightly fitted) with each other to detachably connect the first cover 131 and the filter holder 120.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B In this embodiment, the first fixing sleeve 121 can have a first embedding portion E1 (e.g., an annular groove). The second fixing sleeve 122 can have a second embedding portion E2 (e.g., an annular rib). The embedding of the first embedding portion E1 and the second embedding portion E2 limits the translation of the second fixing sleeve 122 relative to the first fixing sleeve 121 on the axis A, as shown in FIG. 3 Therefore, the second fixing sleeve 122 is detachably fixed to the first fixing sleeve 121 by the embedding between the first embedding portion E1 and the second embedding portion E2.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 1A , FIG. 1B and FIG. 3 In this embodiment, the first fixing sleeve 121 has one or more first guide portions G1 (e.g., guide ribs). The second fixing sleeve 122 can have one or more second guide portions G2 (e.g., guide grooves). The cooperation of the first guide portions G1 and the second guide portions G2 limits the rotation of the second fixing sleeve 122 relative to the first fixing sleeve 121 on the axis A. Therefore, the second fixing sleeve 122 is detachably fixed to the first fixing sleeve 121 by the embedding between the first embedding portion E1 and the second embedding portion E2.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1A , FIG. 1B and FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the second cover 132 has a second inner sleeve 132a. The first fixing sleeve 121 and the second inner sleeve 132a are sleeved with each other to position the filter holder 120 in the second cover 132.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 1A , FIG. 1B and FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the first cover 131 has a first thread S1 (e.g. an internal thread). The second cover 132 has a second thread S2, and the engagement of the first thread S1 and the second thread S2 connects the first cover 131 to the second cover 132.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1A , FIG. 1B and FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the virus collection assembly 100 can further include a sealing rubber ring 133 between the first cover 131 and the second cover 132 when the first cover 131 and the second cover 132 are connected.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1A , FIG. 1B and FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the filter holder 120, the first cover 131 and the second cover 132 described above can constitute a virus storage device 100a. In addition, the virus storage device 100a can also include other components, such as the sealing rubber ring 133 described above. In other words, the virus collection assembly 100 described above includes the blowing nozzle 110 and the virus storage device 100a.

[0027] An embodiment of a virus collection method is described below in cooperation with FIG. 2A to FIG. 2K , which employs components that can be found in the virus collection assembly 100 shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B . The virus collection method includes the following steps.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 2A , one end of the blowing nozzle 110 can be closed by a sealing cap 70. In other embodiments, there can be no sealing cap 70.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 2B , after the sealing cap 70 is removed from the blowing nozzle 110, the gas blown by the subject is received via the blowing nozzle 110 to the gas collection bag 50 in communication with the blowing nozzle 110.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 2CAfter the gas collection bag 50 collects the gas exhaled by the subject, a filter holder 120 is attached to the mouthpiece 110. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2C , the filter holder 120 is detachably connected to the first cover 131. Next, as shown in FIG. 2D , the filter holder 120 is detachably connected to the mouthpiece 110 via the first cover 131. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2E , the first cover 131 is detached from the filter holder 120.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 2F , the gas collected in the gas collection bag 50 is drawn out (e.g., by a suction pump) via the mouthpiece 110 so that the gas collected in the gas collection bag 50 flows through a filter 60 held by the filter holder 120, as shown in FIG. 1A . Thus, the microorganisms such as viruses in the gas flowing through the filter 60 will be trapped on the filter 60.

[0032] In the present embodiment, the filter 60 can be clamped by the first holding sleeve 121 and the second holding sleeve 122 of the filter holder 120. In addition, the filter 60 can be pre-stuck to one end of the second holding sleeve 122 by a double-sided adhesive sheet 62. Thus, during the process of the first holding sleeve 121 and the second holding sleeve 122 being fitted into each other, the double-sided adhesive sheet 62 can ensure that the position of the filter 60 does not deviate.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 2G , a first cover 131 is detachably connected to the filter holder 120. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2G , the first cover 131 is fitted to the filter holder 120 along the axis A. Next, as shown in FIG. 2H , the first cover 131 is rotated relative to the mouthpiece 110 by a certain angle to release the detachable connection (e.g., the engagement between the first latch L1 and the second latch L2) between the filter holder 120 and the mouthpiece 110. In the present embodiment, the first cover 131 and the filter holder 120 are slightly interference-fitted to each other, i.e., tightly fitted. Thus, when the filter holder 120 is not detachably connected to the mouthpiece 110, moving the first cover 131 away from the mouthpiece 110 can also move the filter holder 120 away from the mouthpiece 110.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 2I , after the first cover 131 is detachably connected to the filter holder 120, the filter holder 120 and the filter 60 held thereby are detached from the mouthpiece 110 via the first cover 131.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 2JThe first cover 131 is connected to a second cover 132 so that the filter holder 120 and the filter 60 held thereby are accommodated in the first cover 131 and the second cover 132. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2J the first cover 131 along with the filter holder 120 thereon can be moved toward the second cover 132. Then, as shown in FIG. 2K the first cover 131 is detachably connected to the second cover 132 via engagement of the first screw thread S1 of the first cover 131 and the second screw thread S2 of the second cover 132.

[0036] In the present application, as described above, the gas from which the microorganism sample such as virus can be contained from the subject is collected by blowing, and the microorganism sample such as virus possibly present in the gas is retained in the filter by suction. Further, the filter holder and the filter held thereby are taken out by the first cover, and the filter holder and the filter held thereby are stored by the first cover and the second cover assembled together, which facilitates the preservation, transportation, and testing of the microorganism sample such as virus.

Claims

1. A method for collecting viruses, comprising the following steps: When the filter holder is not installed on the mouthpiece, the gas exhaled by the subject is received through the mouthpiece and sent to the gas collection bag connected to the mouthpiece. After the gas collection bag collects the gas exhaled by the subject, the filter retainer is attached to the mouthpiece. Gas collected in the gas collection bag is drawn out through the air nozzle, so that the gas collected in the gas collection bag flows through the filter fixed by the filter holder; The first cover is detachably connected to the filter holder; After the first cover is detachably connected to the filter holder, the filter holder and the filter fixed thereto are detached from the air nozzle via the first cover. as well as The first cover is connected to the second cover, such that the filter holder and the filter it holds are housed within the first cover and the second cover.

2. The virus collection method according to claim 1, wherein the step of installing the filter holder to the air nozzle includes: The filter holder is detachably connected to the first cover. The filter holder is detachably connected to the air nozzle via the first cover; as well as Remove the first cover from the filter holder.

3. The virus collection method according to claim 1, wherein the filter holder comprises: First fixed sleeve; as well as The second fixing sleeve engages with the first fixing sleeve on the axis and clamps the filter with the first fixing sleeve.

4. The virus collection method according to claim 3, wherein the mouthpiece includes a body having a first latch portion, the first fixing sleeve having a second latch portion, the first fixing sleeve engaging with the body of the mouthpiece on the axis, and the engagement of the second latch portion with the first latch portion restricting the translation of the first fixing sleeve relative to the body of the mouthpiece on the axis.

5. The virus collection method according to claim 3, wherein the first cover has a first inner sleeve and a first mating part, the second fixed sleeve has a second mating part, the second fixed sleeve and the first inner sleeve fit together, and the cooperation between the first mating part and the second mating part restricts the translation of the first fixed sleeve relative to the first inner sleeve on the axis.

6. The virus collection method according to claim 3, wherein the first fixing sleeve has a first fitting portion, the second fixing sleeve has a second fitting portion, and the fitting of the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion restricts the translation of the second fixing sleeve relative to the first fixing sleeve on the axis.

7. The virus collection method according to claim 3, wherein the first fixed sleeve has a first guide portion, the second fixed sleeve has a second guide portion, and the cooperation between the first guide portion and the second guide portion restricts the rotation of the second fixed sleeve relative to the first fixed sleeve on the axis.

8. The virus collection method according to claim 3, wherein the second cover has a second inner sleeve, and the first fixing sleeve and the second inner sleeve fit together.

9. The virus collection method according to claim 1, wherein the air nozzle includes a body and a sealing ring, and the sealing ring is located on the outside of the body.

10. The virus collection method according to claim 1, wherein the first cover has a first thread, the second cover has a second thread, and the engagement of the first thread and the second thread connects the first cover to the second cover.

11. The virus collection method according to claim 1, wherein the second cover has a sealing ring, the first cover is connected to the second cover, and the sealing ring is located between the first cover and the second cover.

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