A disposable sampler

Abstract

This application belongs to the field of medical device technology, specifically relating to a disposable sampler. The sampler includes a handheld part, an extension part, and a sampling part, which are connected sequentially from proximal to distal. The sampling part has an open structure with a closed bottom and an open top, and the bottom end of the sampling part is connected to the distal top end of the extension part. Compared to traditional cotton swab-style cylindrical sampling heads, this open structure of the sampling part increases the sampling contact area, allows the opening edge to better fit the nasal cavity wall for rapid accumulation of secretions, and improves sampling efficiency. Furthermore, the connection between the bottom end and the distal top end of the extension part creates a suspended design, effectively reducing the space occupied by the sampling end, facilitating flexible insertion into the narrow nasal cavity and adjustment of the angle, reducing mucosal irritation, improving patient experience, and avoiding sampling omissions and insufficient sampling volume, ensuring sampling reliability and the accuracy of subsequent test results.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of medical device technology, specifically relating to a disposable sampler. Background Technology

[0002] Nasal sampling is a widely used sample acquisition method in clinical diagnosis, pathogen detection, and health screening. Its sampling efficiency and ease of operation directly affect the accuracy of test results and the subject's tolerance. Currently, most mainstream nasal sampling methods use cotton swab samplers. By inserting the tip of the sampling swab directly into the subject's nasal cavity and rotating it along the nasal cavity wall, nasal mucosal secretions are enriched and collected. This method has become a routine sampling method due to its simplicity and low cost.

[0003] However, existing cotton swab samplers generally have structural design flaws. Their sampling tips are large and their overall rigidity is strong, which has significant limitations in practical applications. For infants and other young children, patients with narrow nasal cavities, and scenarios that require precise positioning of specific nasal cavity areas for targeted sampling, the sampling tip can easily occupy too much nasal cavity space. This not only makes it difficult to flexibly adjust the sampling angle and depth, but also easily causes problems such as nasal irritation and increased discomfort, resulting in a poor patient experience.

[0004] Meanwhile, due to limitations in the advanced structure and operational flexibility, existing samplers are unable to adhere to the nasal cavity wall to achieve efficient secretion adsorption, which can easily lead to insufficient sampling volume and sampling site deviation, thereby reducing the sampling success rate and detection reliability. This makes it impossible to meet the clinical needs of infants, patients with nasal stenosis, and those requiring precise sampling, thus hindering the promotion and application of nasal sampling technology in special populations and refined testing scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a disposable sampler that is flexible in operation, has a high sampling success rate, and is reliable in detection.

[0006] The embodiments of this application can be implemented through the following technical solutions: A disposable sampler includes a handheld part, an extension part, and a sampling part, wherein the handheld part, the extension part, and the sampling part are connected sequentially from the proximal end to the distal end. The sampling section is an open structure with a closed bottom and an open top, and the bottom end of the sampling section is connected to the far end of the extension.

[0007] Preferably, the cross-section of the extension is a polygonal structure, and the outer diameter gradually decreases from the proximal end to the distal end.

[0008] Furthermore, the handheld part is a long strip structure with a circular cross-section.

[0009] Preferably, the outer periphery of the handheld portion is provided with at least one protruding structure extending from the proximal end to the distal end.

[0010] Preferably, it further includes a transition portion, the distal end of which is connected to the proximal end of the extension portion, and the proximal end is connected to the distal end of the handheld portion, wherein the handheld portion and the extension portion are connected in a non-linear manner.

[0011] Preferably, the angle between the transition portion and the handheld portion is 155°, and the angle between the transition portion and the extension portion is 154°.

[0012] Preferably, the outer periphery of the sampling section has an arc-shaped structure.

[0013] Furthermore, the outer diameter of the sampling section is 2.5mm ± 0.05mm.

[0014] Furthermore, the sampling unit is suspended and connected to the far end of the connecting unit.

[0015] The disposable sampler provided by the embodiments of this application has at least the following beneficial effects: The sampling section in this application adopts an open structure with a closed bottom and an open top. Compared with the cylindrical sampling head of traditional cotton swab samplers, the open design increases the sampling contact area, and the edge of the opening can better fit the inner wall of the nasal cavity, facilitating rapid accumulation of nasal secretions and improving sampling efficiency. Furthermore, the sampling section is connected to the distal tip of the extension section at its bottom, forming a suspended setting relative to the extension section. This means that the sampling section and the extension section are not aligned in a straight line. Compared with the traditional cotton swab sampling head and extension rod being flush and occupying a large space, this suspended structure can effectively reduce the overall space occupied by the sampling end, reduce obstruction to narrow areas of the nasal cavity, and facilitate flexible adjustment of the sampling section's angle to smoothly extend into narrow areas of the nasal cavity or specific target sampling sites, reducing irritation to the nasal mucosa and improving patient experience. At the same time, the suspended setting allows the sampling section to more flexibly fit different positions of the inner wall of the nasal cavity with the support of the extension section, avoiding sampling omissions or insufficient sampling volume caused by limited sampling angle, ensuring sampling reliability, and thus guaranteeing the accuracy of subsequent test results.

[0016] The extension in this application has a polygonal cross-section, with its outer diameter gradually decreasing from the proximal end to the distal end. Compared to conventional extension structures where the cross-sectional shape and outer diameter remain unchanged, the polygonal cross-section effectively improves the overall structural rigidity of the extension, preventing circumferential torsion during sampling and ensuring operational stability. The tapered design, with the outer diameter gradually decreasing from the proximal end to the distal end, ensures sufficient structural strength at the proximal end while allowing the distal end to be more slender and flexible, facilitating smooth entry into the narrow nasal cavity area and reducing irritation to the nasal mucosa, further enhancing the smoothness of the sampling operation and the comfort of the subject. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 Here is a physical image of a disposable sampler from this application; Figure 2 The overall structure of a disposable sampler in this application Figure 1 ; Figure 3 Another perspective on the overall structure of a disposable practical sampler in this application. Figure 2 ; Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified view of a portion of region A in the middle.

[0018] Reference numerals: Handheld part 1, Protruding structure 11, Extension part 2, Sampling part 3, Transition part 4. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present application will now be further described based on preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] The vocabulary used in this specification is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of this application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection, a direct connection, or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium; or they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application.

[0021] Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments of this application, various components on the drawings have been enlarged or reduced for ease of understanding, but this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0022] To make the technical problem solved by this application, the technical solution adopted, and the technical effect achieved clearer, the technical solution of this application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. For ease of description, the terms "proximal" and "distal" are used in the following description, where "proximal" refers to the end closer to the operator, and "distal" refers to the end farther from the operator and deeper into the nasal cavity.

[0023] Figures 1 to 3 The images show physical schematic diagrams and overall structural schematic diagrams from different perspectives of a disposable sampler (hereinafter referred to as "the sampler") according to this application. Figures 1-3As shown, the sampler is elongated in shape, with a handheld part 1, an extension part 2, and a sampling part 3 fixedly connected sequentially from the proximal end to the distal end. The three work together to complete the nasal cavity sampling operation. The sampling part 3 is the core component for efficient collection of nasal secretions. It is specifically designed as an open structure with a closed bottom and an open top. The bottom end of the sampling part 3 is fixedly connected to the distal top end of the extension part 2, forming a special structural design in which the sampling part 3 is suspended relative to the extension part 2.

[0024] Specifically, the handheld part 1 serves as the operator's force application and gripping component, providing stable operational support for the entire sampling process. By gripping the handheld part 1, the operator can precisely control the insertion depth and angle of the extension part 2, thereby smoothly inserting the sampling part 3, connected to the distal end of the extension part 2, into the subject's nasal cavity. Finally, the open structure of the sampling part 3 completes the enrichment and collection of nasal samples (such as mucosal secretions). The extension part 2 acts as a conductor connecting the handheld part 1 and the sampling part 3. Its length and rigidity can be adapted to the actual sampling requirements to ensure that the sampling part 3 can smoothly reach the target sampling position inside the nasal cavity, while avoiding the impact of deformation of the extension part 2 on sampling accuracy.

[0025] In this application, the open shape and suspended design of the sampling section 3 work synergistically to achieve flexible, efficient, and reliable nasal sampling. The mechanism is as follows: On the one hand, the sampling section 3 adopts an open structure with a closed bottom and an open top. Compared with the cylindrical sampling head of traditional cotton swab samplers, the open design can increase the sampling contact area, and the edge of the opening can better fit the inner wall of the nasal cavity, facilitating the rapid accumulation of nasal secretions and improving sampling efficiency. On the other hand, the sampling section 3 is connected to the distal top of the extension section 2 through its bottom end, forming a suspended setting relative to the extension section 2, so that the sampling section 3 and the extension section 2 are not on the same straight line. In its flush configuration, compared to the traditional cotton swab design where the sampling head and extension rod are flush and occupy a large amount of space, this suspended structure effectively reduces the overall space occupied by the sampling end, reduces obstruction to narrow areas of the nasal cavity, and allows the sampling unit 3 to flexibly adjust its angle to smoothly extend into narrow areas of the nasal cavity or specific target sampling sites, reducing irritation to the nasal mucosa and improving the patient experience. At the same time, the suspended design allows the sampling unit 3 to more flexibly conform to different positions of the nasal cavity wall with the support of the extension unit 2, avoiding sampling omissions or insufficient sampling volume caused by limited sampling angle, ensuring the reliability of sampling, and thus guaranteeing the accuracy of subsequent test results.

[0026] It should be noted that this application uses the open end of the sampling section 3 as the top of the sampler to achieve consistency in the directional description throughout the text.

[0027] In some preferred embodiments of this application, the extension 2 has a polygonal cross-section, with its outer diameter gradually decreasing from the proximal end to the distal end. Compared to conventional extension structures where the cross-sectional shape and outer diameter remain unchanged, the polygonal cross-section effectively improves the overall structural rigidity of the extension 2, preventing circumferential torsion during sampling and ensuring operational stability. The tapered design, with its outer diameter gradually decreasing from the proximal end, ensures sufficient structural strength at the proximal end while allowing the distal end to be more slender and flexible, facilitating smooth entry into the narrow nasal cavity area and reducing irritation to the nasal mucosa, further enhancing the smoothness of the sampling operation and the comfort of the subject.

[0028] In some specific embodiments of this application, the handheld part 1 is a long strip structure with a circular cross-section. This structure facilitates stable gripping by the operator, and the circular outline without sharp edges effectively improves the grip feel and operational comfort. At the same time, it can prevent the handheld part from causing scratches or pressure damage to the operator's hand, which is conducive to achieving stable force application and precise control during the sampling process, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the sampling operation.

[0029] In some preferred embodiments of this application, the outer periphery of the handheld portion 1 is provided with at least one protruding structure 11 extending from the proximal end to the distal end. This protruding structure 11 can effectively increase the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the handheld portion 1, preventing slippage during gripping and sampling operations, thereby improving the stability and precision of the sampling operation. Simultaneously, it can enhance the tactile feedback when gripping, facilitating more stable control of the sampling force and insertion angle by the operator, ensuring a smooth and reliable sampling process.

[0030] In some preferred embodiments of this application, such as Figure 4 As shown, the outer periphery of the sampling section 3 has an arc-shaped structure, making the sampling section 3 bowl-shaped. This bowl-shaped structure can not only better fit the physiological curvature of the nasal cavity during the sampling process, improving the adhesion and collection of secretions, but also avoid sharp edges from scratching or irritating the nasal mucosa, significantly improving the subject's tolerance and sampling safety. At the same time, the bowl-shaped capacity can effectively increase the sampling volume, ensuring sufficient sample for subsequent testing.

[0031] In some specific embodiments of this application, the outer diameter of the sampling unit 3 is 2.5mm ± 0.05mm. This dimensional parameter ensures that the sampling unit 3 has sufficient structural strength to avoid deformation or breakage during sampling, while also allowing the overall outer diameter of the sampling unit to be adapted to the physiological channel size of infants and people with narrow nasal cavities. This effectively reduces the compression and irritation to the nasal mucosa while allowing it to smoothly enter the narrow nasal cavity, improving sampling comfort and operational safety. Furthermore, it enables precise and gentle targeted sampling while ensuring the sampling contact area, balancing sampling efficiency and subject tolerance.

[0032] In some preferred embodiments of this application, if a conventional structure is adopted in which the handheld part 1 and the extension part 2 are arranged in a straight line and flush, the operator is prone to obstructing the sampling path when performing nasal cavity sampling, resulting in poor sampling field of view and limited operating angle. This not only reduces the accuracy and efficiency of the sampling operation, but also easily increases the discomfort of the sampled person due to inconvenience. Therefore, as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the sampler described in this application is further provided with a transition section 4. The distal end of the transition section 4 is connected to the proximal end of the extension section 2, and the proximal end of the transition section 4 is connected to the distal end of the handheld part 1. The non-linear connection between the handheld part 1 and the extension section 2 is realized through the transition section 4.

[0033] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, the angle λ between the transition part 4 and the handheld part 1 is 155°, and the angle θ between the transition part 4 and the extension part 2 is 154°. By setting the bending angle of the aforementioned specific angle, the handheld part 1 and the extension part 2 can form a reasonable angular offset, effectively avoiding the direct frontal view of the nasal cavity sampling area, providing the operator with a clear and unobstructed operating view, facilitating precise control of the sampling site and insertion depth, while optimizing the operating force angle, improving the smoothness and controllability of the sampling process, and significantly improving sampling efficiency and the user experience of the sampled person.

[0034] The specific embodiments of this application have been described in detail above. For those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made to this application without departing from the principle of this application, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A disposable sampler, characterized in that: It includes a hand-held part, an extension part, and a sampling part, wherein the hand-held part, the extension part, and the sampling part are connected sequentially from the proximal end to the distal end; The sampling section is an open structure with a closed bottom and an open top, and the bottom end of the sampling section is connected to the far end of the extension.

2. A disposable sampler according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-section of the extension is a polygonal structure, and the outer diameter gradually decreases from the proximal end to the distal end.

3. A disposable sampler according to claim 1, characterized in that: The handheld part is a long strip structure with a circular cross-section.

4. A disposable sampler according to claim 3, characterized in that: The outer periphery of the handheld part is provided with at least one protruding structure extending from the proximal end to the distal end.

5. A disposable sampler according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a transition section, the distal end of which is connected to the proximal end of the extension section, and the proximal end is connected to the distal end of the handheld section. The handheld section and the extension section are connected in a non-linear manner.

6. A disposable sampler according to claim 5, characterized in that: The angle between the transition portion and the handheld portion is 155°, and the angle between the transition portion and the extension portion is 154°.

7. A disposable sampler according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer periphery of the sampling section has an arc-shaped structure.

8. A disposable sampler according to claim 7, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the sampling section is 2.5mm ± 0.05mm.

9. A disposable sampler according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sampling section is suspended and connected to the far end of the extension section.

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