Sampling Capsule

JP7652523B2Active Publication Date: 2025-03-27ANKON TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024527494
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2021-11-11
Filing Date
2022-11-09
Publication Date
2025-03-27
Estimated Expiration
2042-11-09

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Abstract

The sampling capsule (100) comprises a main shell (1), the main shell (1) including a sampling cavity (10) and a transition cavity (20), the transition cavity (20) being located on the outer periphery of the sampling cavity (10), the main shell (1) including a first sampling hole (101) and a second sampling hole (102), the first sampling hole (101) being located between the sampling cavity (10) and the transition cavity (20), and the second sampling hole (102) being located between the transition cavity (20) and the exterior of the main shell (1). The sampling capsule (100) further comprises a first absorbent block (2), which is located within the transition cavity (20) and is staggered with the first sampling hole (101) and the second sampling hole (102) in a natural state, and which seals the opening of the first sampling hole (101) facing the transition cavity (20) and / or the opening of the second sampling hole (102) facing the transition cavity (20) in an expanded state. The sampling capsule (100) contributes to preventing the collected sample from being contaminated from the outside.
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] (Related Applications) This application claims priority to a Chinese patent application filed on November 11, 2021, application number 202111334161.0, with the invention title "Sampling Capsule", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a sampling capsule, in particular for the gastrointestinal tract. [Background technology]

[0003] Due to its high reliability and safety, the sampling capsule has become an effective device for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases at present, and is highly recognized in the international medical equipment field. In the prior art, the sampling capsule can usually collect a fluid sample from the gastrointestinal tract, and after the sampling capsule is removed from the body, the medical personnel can extract the fluid sample from the sampling capsule for pathological analysis.

[0004] However, conventional sampling capsules have a slow collection speed, a small collection amount, a low sampling success rate, and are prone to sample contamination by downstream substances after sampling is completed, and the specificity of the sample is not ensured. Summary of the Invention

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a sampling capsule for facilitating improved collection speed, collection volume, sampling success rate and contamination prevention capability of the sampling capsule.

[0006] In order to achieve one of the above-mentioned objects of the invention, one embodiment of the present invention provides a sampling capsule including a main shell, the main shell includes a sampling cavity and a transition cavity, the transition cavity is located on the outer periphery of the sampling cavity, the main shell further includes a first sampling hole and a second sampling hole, the first sampling hole and the second sampling hole are both formed as through holes, the first sampling hole is located between the sampling cavity and the transition cavity, the first sampling hole has an opening facing the sampling cavity and an opening facing the transition cavity, the second sampling hole is located between the transition cavity and the outside of the main shell, the second sampling hole has an opening facing the transition cavity and an opening facing the outside of the main shell; The sampling capsule further comprises a first absorbent block, the first absorbent block being positioned within the transition cavity, the first absorbent block being configured to transition from a natural state to an expanded state by absorbing liquid, the first absorbent block being staggered with the first sampling hole and the second sampling hole in the natural state, and the first absorbent block sealing the opening of the first sampling hole facing the transition cavity and / or the opening of the second sampling hole facing the transition cavity in the expanded state.

[0007] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the first absorbent block has a through hole penetrating the first absorbent block, and in a natural state, the first absorbent block opens the through hole and connects the first sampling hole and the second sampling hole, and in an expanded state, the first absorbent block blocks the through hole and blocks the first sampling hole and the second sampling hole.

[0008] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the sampling capsule further comprises a second absorbent block, the second absorbent block being positioned within the sampling cavity, the second absorbent block being configured to transition from a natural state to an expanded state by absorbing liquid, the second absorbent block being spaced apart from a wall forming the sampling cavity in the natural state, and the second absorbent block being configured to block an opening of the first sampling hole facing the sampling cavity in the expanded state.

[0009] As a further refinement of one embodiment of the present invention, the rate at which the first absorbent block absorbs liquid and transitions from its natural state to its expanded state is less than the rate at which the second absorbent block absorbs liquid and transitions from its natural state to its expanded state.

[0010] As a further refinement of an embodiment of the present invention, both the first absorbent block and the second absorbent block are made of a material that is highly absorbent and expands upon absorbing liquid.

[0011] As a further refinement of an embodiment of the present invention, the main shell comprises a first shell and a second shell, the second shell is located on the outer periphery of the first shell and the second shell is fixed relative to the first shell, the sampling cavity is molded on the inner periphery of the first shell, the wall forming the sampling cavity comprises the inner wall of the first shell, the transition cavity is molded in the region between the first shell and the second shell, the wall forming the transition cavity comprises the outer wall of the first shell and the inner wall of the second shell, the first sampling hole penetrates the inner and outer surfaces of the first shell, the opening of the first sampling hole facing the sampling cavity and the opening of the transition cavity are located on the inner and outer walls of the first shell, respectively, the second sampling hole penetrates the inner and outer surfaces of the second shell, the opening of the second sampling hole facing the transition cavity and the opening of the second sampling hole facing the exterior of the main shell are located on the inner and outer walls of the second shell, respectively; The first absorbent block is positioned between the first shell and the second shell, one end of the first absorbent block abuts the outer wall of the first shell and the other end of the first absorbent block abuts the inner wall of the second shell, and when the first absorbent block is in an expanded state, it seals the opening in the outer wall of the first shell of the first sampling hole and / or the opening in the inner wall of the second shell of the second sampling hole.

[0012] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the first shell is molded into a hollow cylindrical structure, the second shell is molded into a hollow cap structure or a hollow hemispherical structure, the number of the second shells is two, and along the axial direction of the first shell, the two second shells are respectively fixed to both ends of the first shell where the first sampling hole is molded.

[0013] As a further refinement of an embodiment of the present invention, the first shell and the second shell are both molded into a hollow spherical structure, the outer diameter of the first shell is smaller than the inner diameter of the second shell, the first shell is located within the second shell, and the first shell is indirectly fixed to the second shell via the first water-absorbing block.

[0014] As a further refinement of one embodiment of the present invention, the number of the first sampling holes and the second sampling holes are equal and plural, one first sampling hole corresponds to one second sampling hole, and each first sampling hole is coaxially positioned with respect to a corresponding other second sampling hole.

[0015] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the sampling capsule further comprises an outer membrane made of a soluble material, the outer membrane being positioned on the outer periphery of the main shell, and the outer membrane sealing an opening of the second sampling hole facing the outside of the main shell.

[0016] As a further refinement of one embodiment of the present invention, the material of the outer membrane is a gastro- or enteric-soluble material, or a material that dissolves under the action of certain enzymes in the digestive tract.

[0017] As a further refinement of an embodiment of the present invention, the first sampling hole and the second sampling hole have an inner diameter of 0.5 to 2 mm. Effect of the Invention

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: By providing a water-absorbing block at the sampling hole, which can automatically seal the opening of the sampling hole, the loss of the sample in the sampling cavity can be effectively avoided, and at the same time, the sample in the sampling cavity can be effectively avoided from being contaminated by the outside, so that the sampling success rate of the sampling capsule can be further improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sampling capsule in one embodiment of the present invention when no sample is being collected. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sampling capsule after a sample has been collected in one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first shell and a second shell in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sampling capsule in another embodiment of the present invention when no sample is being collected. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sampling capsule in another embodiment of the present invention when no sample is being collected. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present invention, and any structural, method or functional modifications made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0021] 1 and 2, the sampling capsule 100 includes a main shell 1, which includes a sampling cavity 10 and a transition cavity 20. Here, the transition cavity 20 is located on the outer periphery of the sampling cavity 10, or the transition cavity 20 is adjacent to the sampling cavity 10. The main shell 1 further includes a first sampling hole 101 and a second sampling hole 102, and the first sampling hole 101 and the second sampling hole 102 are both formed as through holes. That is, both ends of the first sampling hole 101 and both ends of the second sampling hole 102 are respectively communicated with each other. The first sampling hole 101 is located between the sampling cavity 10 and the transition cavity 20. Specifically, the first sampling hole 101 has two openings, one opening facing the sampling cavity 10 and the other opening facing the transition cavity 20. The second sampling hole 102 is located between the transition cavity 20 and the outside of the main shell 1, and the second sampling hole 102 also has two openings, one opening facing the transition cavity 20 and the other opening facing the outside of the main shell 1. Thus, the liquid enters the transition cavity 20 through the second sampling hole 102 and enters the sampling cavity 10 through the first sampling hole 101.

[0022] In this embodiment, the sampling capsule 100 further includes a first water absorption block 2. The first water absorption block 2 is located in the transition cavity 20, and is configured to transition from a natural state to an expanded state by absorbing liquid, and the first water absorption block 2 is arranged in a staggered manner with the first sampling hole 101 and the second sampling hole 102 in the natural state, and the first water absorption block 2 seals the opening of the first sampling hole 101 facing the transition cavity 20 and / or the opening of the second sampling hole 102 facing the transition cavity 20 in the expanded state. It should be understood that the same effect is achieved even if one or both of the opening of the first sampling hole 101 facing the transition cavity 20 and the opening of the second sampling hole 102 facing the transition cavity 20 are sealed. In this way, the sampling capsule 100 can control the communication or blocking between the sampling cavity 10 and the outside of the main shell 1 according to different states of the first water absorption block 2. For example, when the first water absorption block 2 is in a natural state, liquid can enter the sampling cavity 10 from the outside of the main shell 1 through the second sampling hole 102, the transition cavity 20 and the first sampling hole 101, and the sampling cavity 10 communicates with the outside of the main shell 1. When the first water absorption block 2 is in an expanded state, the communication relationship between the first sampling hole 101 and the transition cavity 20 and / or the communication relationship between the second sampling hole 102 and the transition cavity 20 is blocked, at which time the liquid is blocked from the outside of the sampling cavity 10, and the sampling cavity 10 is blocked from the outside of the main shell 1.

[0023] Specifically, the first absorbent block 2 has a structure that shows different forms in different states, and the state transition of the first absorbent block 2 is realized by absorbing liquid. When the first absorbent block 2 does not absorb liquid, the first absorbent block 2 is in a natural state. At this time, the first absorbent block 2 is in a relatively contracted form, and there is a certain space for liquid flow in the transition cavity 20, and external liquid can enter the sampling cavity 10. When the first absorbent block 2 absorbs liquid and expands, the first absorbent block 2 is in an expanded state, and its volume increases significantly from the natural state, and the transition cavity 20 is filled with the expanded first absorbent block 2, blocking the external liquid from entering the sampling cavity 10.

[0024] 1, when the sampling capsule 100 performs sampling in the digestive tract of the human body, the first absorbent block 2 is initially in its natural state, so that the first absorbent block 2 is arranged in a staggered pattern with the first sampling hole 101 and the second sampling hole 102. Therefore, the process of the liquid in the digestive tract entering the sampling capsule 100 from the second sampling hole 102 is not blocked by the first absorbent block 2, and the liquid flows directly through the transfer cavity 20 and enters the sampling cavity 10 through the first sampling hole 101, finally realizing the collection of the liquid sample in the digestive tract.

[0025] After the sampling of the sampling capsule 100 is completed, the first water absorption block 2 absorbs the liquid and expands. At this time, the volume of the first water absorption block 2 increases, and the original positional relationship of the first water absorption block 2 to the first sampling hole 101 and the second sampling hole 102 is changed to be arranged in a staggered manner, and the expanded first water absorption block 2 seals the opening of the first sampling hole 101 facing the transition cavity 20 and / or the opening of the second sampling hole 102 facing the transition cavity 20. In this way, the liquid outside the main shell 1 is blocked by the first water absorption block 2 and does not enter the sampling cavity 10, so that even if the liquid outside the main shell 1 changes, it is possible to effectively prevent the liquid sample collected in the sampling cavity 10 from being contaminated by the changed liquid. For example, when the sampling capsule 100 moves downstream in the digestive tract, the components of the liquid in the digestive tract at this time are obviously different from the components of the liquid in the target digestive tract section segment, and when the liquid in the downstream digestive tract enters the sampling cavity 10, the liquid sample collected earlier will be contaminated. At the same time, on the other hand, the liquid sample collected in the sampling cavity 10 is also retained in the sampling cavity 10 or in the transition cavity 20 by the blocking of the first water absorption block 2, so that the loss of the collected sample can be effectively avoided, and contributes to further improving the sampling success rate, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0026] In a specific embodiment, the first water absorption block 2 has a through hole 201, which penetrates the first water absorption block 2. When the first water absorption block 2 is in a natural state, the through hole 201 is open, and the through hole 201 communicates with the first sampling hole 101 and the second sampling hole 102. When the first water absorption block 2 is in an expanded state, the through hole 201 is blocked, and at the same time, the first water absorption block 2 blocks the first sampling hole 101 and the second sampling hole 102. This can realize a smooth flow of liquid during sampling, and can avoid contamination and loss of liquid sample after sampling is completed. In one embodiment, the through hole 201 is arranged coaxially with the first sampling hole 101 and / or the second sampling hole 102, which contributes to improving the flow efficiency of the liquid and further improves the sample collection speed of the sampling capsule 100. Of course, in other embodiments, multiple small-volume first absorbent blocks 2 may be spaced apart in the transition cavity 20, and the first absorbent blocks 2 may fill the transition cavity 20 after absorbing liquid and expanding, thereby sealing the first sampling hole 101 and / or the second sampling hole 102.

[0027] In one embodiment, the sampling capsule 100 further comprises a second absorbent block 3. The second absorbent block 3 is located in the sampling cavity 10, and the second absorbent block 3 is similarly configured to transition from a natural state to an expanded state by absorbing liquid. In this embodiment, the second absorbent block 3 is spaced apart from the wall forming the sampling cavity 10 in the natural state, and the second absorbent block 3 seals the opening of the first sampling hole 101 facing the sampling cavity 10 in the expanded state. It should be understood that when either the first absorbent block 2 or the second absorbent block 3 is in the expanded state, most of the liquid is contained therein, or both the first absorbent block 2 and the second absorbent block 3 are capable of absorbing and fixing liquid. Therefore, in this embodiment, by placing the second absorbent block 3 in the sampling cavity 10, not only can the collection speed when the sampling capsule 100 collects the liquid sample be increased, but also the volume of liquid sample that can be collected can be increased since most of the liquid sample can be absorbed and fixed by the second absorbent block 3, and the stability of the liquid sample in the sampling cavity 10 can be further improved so that it is not easily lost or absorbed by the first absorbent block 2.

[0028] In one embodiment, the speed at which the first absorbent block 2 absorbs liquid and transitions from the natural state to the expanded state is lower than the speed at which the second absorbent block 3 absorbs liquid and transitions from the natural state to the expanded state. Specifically, in this embodiment, the first absorbent block 2 and the second absorbent block 3 are made of materials having specific differentiated parameters, and the expansion rate of the first absorbent block 2 when absorbing liquid is lower than the expansion rate of the second absorbent block 3 when absorbing liquid. This ensures that the second absorbent block 3 absorbs the liquid sample first before the first absorbent block 2 expands to seal the sampling hole opening, and can avoid affecting the volume of the liquid sample that can be collected in the sampling cavity 10.

[0029] In one embodiment, the first water-absorbing block 2 and the second water-absorbing block 3 are both made of a material that has high water absorption and expands when absorbing liquid, such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer) or water-absorbing gel. In one specific embodiment, the thickness of the first water-absorbing block 2 is formed to be 1 to 2 mm in order to improve the state transition efficiency of the first water-absorbing block 2.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the number of the first sampling holes 101 and the second sampling holes 102 are the same and are multiple, one first sampling hole 101 corresponds to one second sampling hole 102, and each first sampling hole 101 is arranged coaxially with another corresponding second sampling hole 102. This contributes to improving the speed at which the liquid enters the sampling cavity 10 through the main shell 1, improving the collection speed of the sampling capsule 100, and at the same time, the first water absorption block 2 can further avoid sealing the sampling hole before the absorption of the second water absorption block 3 is completed. In one specific embodiment, the first sampling hole 101 and the second sampling hole 102 have an inner diameter of 0.5 to 2 mm to achieve an optimal passing effect of the fluid.

[0031] In one embodiment, the sampling capsule 100 further includes an outer membrane 4 made of a soluble material. The outer membrane 4 is located on the outer periphery of the main shell 1, and the outer membrane 4 seals the opening of the second sampling hole 102 facing the outside of the main shell 1. Here, the specific material of the outer membrane 4 may be selected as needed, for example, a gastric or enteric material whose dissolution time varies depending on the difference in environmental PH value, or a material that dissolves due to the action of a specific enzyme in the digestive tract. In this way, when the sampling capsule 100 moves to a specific digestive tract section in the human body, the outer membrane 4 gradually dissolves and peels off in a specific digestive fluid environment, so that the opening of the second sampling hole 102 facing the outside of the main shell 1 communicates with the outside, and the sampling capsule 100 starts the collection operation. In one specific embodiment, the outer membrane 4 is molded as a hollow closed shell, and the entire main shell 1 is located in the cavity of the outer membrane 4, which contributes to maintaining the structural stability of the outer membrane 4. Of course, in another embodiment, the outer membrane 4 can also be attached to the outer wall of the main shell 1 in the form of a patch, covering the opening of the second sampling hole 102, which will not be described in detail.

[0032] In one specific embodiment, the main shell 1 includes a first shell 11 and a second shell 12. The second shell 12 is located on the outer periphery of the first shell 11, and the second shell 12 is fixed relative to the first shell 11. Here, the fixing method may be direct fixing or indirect fixing. In this embodiment, the first shell 11 and the second shell 12 are both formed as hollow shells, so that the first shell 11 and the second shell 12 have inner and outer walls, respectively. The sampling cavity 10 is molded on the inner periphery of the first shell 11, and the wall forming the sampling cavity 10 includes the inner wall of the first shell 11. The transition cavity 20 is molded in the region between the first shell 11 and the second shell 12, and the wall forming the transition cavity 20 includes the outer wall of the first shell 11 and the inner wall of the second shell 12. The first sampling hole 101 penetrates the inner and outer surfaces of the first shell 11, the opening of the first sampling hole 101 facing the sampling cavity 10 is located on the inner wall of the first shell 11, and the opening of the first sampling hole 101 facing the transition cavity 20 is located on the outer wall of the first shell 11. The second sampling hole 102 penetrates the inner and outer surfaces of the second shell 12, and similarly, the opening of the second sampling hole 102 facing the transition cavity 20 is molded on the inner wall of the second shell 12, and the opening of the second sampling hole 102 facing the outside of the main shell 11 is located on the outer wall of the second shell 12.

[0033] In this embodiment, the first absorbent block 2 is disposed between the first shell 11 and the second shell 12, one end of the first absorbent block 2 abuts against the outer wall of the first shell 11, and the other end of the first absorbent block 2 abuts against the inner wall of the second shell 12. This contributes to fixing the first absorbent block 2 in the natural state. When the first absorbent block 2 is in the expanded state, the first absorbent block 2 seals the opening of the first sampling hole 101 in the outer wall of the first shell 11 and / or the opening of the second sampling hole 102 in the inner wall of the second shell 12. This contributes to blocking the communication between the first sampling hole 101 and the second sampling hole 102. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second absorbent block 3 is disposed at a distance from the inner wall of the first shell 11 in the natural state. This provides the second absorbent block 3 with sufficient expansion space, which contributes to the second absorbent block 3 collecting a sufficient liquid sample. In the expanded state, the second water absorbing block 3 seals the opening in the inner wall of the first shell 11 of the first sampling hole 101, thereby contributing to further prevent loss of the liquid sample and external contamination.

[0034] In one specific embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the first shell 11 is molded into a hollow cylindrical structure, and the second shell 12 is molded into a hollow cap-like structure. In this embodiment, the number of the second shells 12 is two, and along the axial direction of the first shell 11, the two second shells 12 are respectively fixed to both ends of the first shell 11 where the first sampling hole 101 is molded. The fixing method may be adhesive bonding or screw connection. In this way, the liquid can enter the sampling cavity 10 from both ends of the sampling capsule 100, which contributes to improving the sampling speed. Of course, in another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the second shell 12 may be molded into a hollow hemispherical structure to facilitate the patient's taking it.

[0035] In another specific embodiment, the first shell 11 and the second shell 12 are both formed into a hollow spherical structure. As shown in FIG. 5, the outer diameter of the first shell 11 is smaller than the inner diameter of the second shell 12, and the entire first shell 11 is located within the second shell 12. This makes the structure of the sampling capsule 100 more compact, and at the same time, contributes to improving the mobility of the sampling capsule 100 in the digestive tract. In this embodiment, the first shell 11 and the second shell 12 are indirectly fixed via the first water absorption block 2, and the first sampling hole 101 and the second sampling hole 102 are respectively distributed along the circumferential direction of each shell, and the first sampling hole 101, the second sampling hole 102 and the through hole 201 are all arranged coaxially, which contributes to further improving the liquid fluidity.

[0036] As described above, the sampling capsule 100 designed in this solution can improve the collection speed, collection amount, sampling success rate and contamination prevention ability of the sampling capsule 100. At the same time, due to the principle of the expansion of the material absorbing the liquid, the structural design of the sampling capsule 100 is simple, the amount of material used is small, and the manufacturing cost of the sampling capsule 100 is reduced. At the same time, the sampling capsule 100 of this solution automatically collects samples and automatically seals the sampling hole, which makes the sampling operation convenient. In addition, the sampling capsule 100 of this solution is easy to change the shape, which contributes to improving the versatility of the sampling capsule 100 and is suitable for large-scale experiments and sample collection.

[0037] The technical features of the embodiments described above can be combined in any combination, and for the sake of simplicity, not all combinations of the technical features of the above embodiments are described, but as long as the combinations of these technical features are not contradictory, they should all be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0038] The above embodiments are only used to explain the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical solutions of the present invention. Although the present specification has described the present invention in detail according to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can make modifications or equivalent substitutions to the present invention, and the technical solutions and improvements thereof that do not deviate from the spirit and scope of the present invention shall all be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. a main shell, the main shell including a sampling cavity and a transition cavity, the transition cavity being located on the outer periphery of the sampling cavity, the main shell further including a first sampling hole and a second sampling hole, the first sampling hole and the second sampling hole both being formed as through holes, the first sampling hole being located between the sampling cavity and the transition cavity, the first sampling hole having an opening facing the sampling cavity and an opening facing the transition cavity, the second sampling hole being located between the transition cavity and an exterior of the main shell, the second sampling hole having an opening facing the transition cavity and an opening facing the exterior of the main shell; The sampling capsule further comprises a first absorbent block, the first absorbent block being positioned within the transition cavity, the first absorbent block being configured to transition from a natural state to an expanded state by absorbing liquid, the first absorbent block being staggered with the first sampling hole and the second sampling hole in the natural state, and the first absorbent block sealing an opening of the first sampling hole facing the transition cavity and / or an opening of the second sampling hole facing the transition cavity in the expanded state.

2. The sampling capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the first absorbent block has a through hole, the through hole penetrating the first absorbent block, the first absorbent block opens the through hole in a natural state and connects the first sampling hole and the second sampling hole, and the first absorbent block blocks the through hole in an expanded state and blocks the first sampling hole and the second sampling hole.

3. The sampling capsule of claim 1, further comprising a second absorbent block, the second absorbent block being positioned within the sampling cavity, the second absorbent block being configured to transition from a natural state to an expanded state by absorbing liquid, the second absorbent block being spaced apart from the wall forming the sampling cavity in the natural state, and the second absorbent block being spaced apart from the wall forming the sampling cavity in the expanded state, the second absorbent block blocking an opening of the first sampling hole facing the sampling cavity.

4. The sampling capsule described in claim 3, characterized in that the rate at which the first absorbent block absorbs liquid and transitions from its natural state to its expanded state is slower than the rate at which the second absorbent block absorbs liquid and transitions from its natural state to its expanded state.

5. 4. The sampling capsule according to claim 3, wherein the first water-absorbing block and the second water-absorbing block are made of a highly water-absorbent resin or a water-absorbent gel.

6. the main shell is composed of a first shell and a second shell, the second shell is located on the outer periphery of the first shell, the second shell is fixed relative to the first shell, the sampling cavity is molded on the inner periphery of the first shell, the wall forming the sampling cavity includes the inner wall of the first shell, the transition cavity is molded in the region between the first shell and the second shell, the wall forming the transition cavity includes the outer wall of the first shell and the inner wall of the second shell, the first sampling hole penetrates the inner and outer surfaces of the first shell, the opening of the first sampling hole facing the sampling cavity and the opening of the transition cavity are located on the inner and outer walls of the first shell, respectively, the second sampling hole penetrates the inner and outer surfaces of the second shell, the opening of the second sampling hole facing the transition cavity and the opening of the second sampling hole facing the outside of the main shell are located on the inner and outer walls of the second shell, respectively; The sampling capsule of claim 1, characterized in that the first absorbent block is located between the first shell and the second shell, one end of the first absorbent block abuts against the outer wall of the first shell and the other end of the first absorbent block abuts against the inner wall of the second shell, and the first absorbent block seals an opening in the outer wall of the first shell of the first sampling hole and / or an opening in the inner wall of the second shell of the second sampling hole in an expanded state.

7. The sampling capsule of claim 6, characterized in that the first shell is molded into a hollow cylindrical structure, the second shell is molded into a hollow cap-like structure or a hollow hemispherical structure, the number of the second shells is two, and along the axial direction of the first shell, the two second shells are respectively fixed to both ends of the first shell where the first sampling hole is molded.

8. The sampling capsule of claim 6, characterized in that the first shell and the second shell are both molded into a hollow spherical structure, the outer diameter of the first shell is smaller than the inner diameter of the second shell, the first shell is located within the second shell, and the first shell is indirectly fixed to the second shell via the first water-absorbing block.

9. The sampling capsule of claim 1, characterized in that the number of the first sampling holes and the second sampling holes are the same and multiple, one of the first sampling holes corresponds to one of the second sampling holes, and each of the first sampling holes is positioned coaxially with respect to a corresponding other of the second sampling holes.

10. The sampling capsule according to claim 1, further comprising an outer membrane made of a soluble material, the outer membrane being positioned on the outer periphery of the main shell, and the outer membrane sealing an opening of the second sampling hole facing the outside of the main shell.

11. 11. The sampling capsule according to claim 10, characterized in that the material of the outer membrane is a gastro-soluble or enteric material, or a material that dissolves under the action of specific enzymes in the digestive tract.

12. 2. The sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the first sampling hole and the second sampling hole is 0.5 to 2 mm.

Citation Information

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