Systems and Methods for a Sample Fluid Collection Device

Abstract

A fluid collection device comprising a body comprising a capsule interface, and a capsule configured to interface with the body via the capsule interface and configured to hold a sample receiving chip. The sample receiving chip comprises a substrate that receives an aliquot volume of a sample fluid, wherein the substrate is operatively shaped to receive the aliquot volume of sample fluid through capillary action, and a sample region of the substrate, sized such that the volume of the sample fluid is sufficient to operatively cover a portion of the sample region, whereupon energy properties of the sample fluid can be transduced to produce a sample fluid reading.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid collection device, comprising:
 a body comprising a capsule interface; and   capsule configured to interface with the body via the capsule interface and configured to hold a sample receiving chip, the sample receiving chip comprising:
 a substrate that receives an aliquot volume of a sample fluid, wherein the substrate is operatively shaped to receive the aliquot volume of sample fluid through capillary action, 
 a sample region of the substrate, sized such that the volume of the sample fluid is sufficient to operatively cover a portion of the sample region, whereupon energy properties of the sample fluid can be transduced to produce a sample fluid reading. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fluid collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule comprises tabs configured to hold the sample receiving chip in place. 
     
     
         3 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule interface comprises fluidic connections between the sample receiving chip and the body. 
     
     
         4 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule interface comprises electrical connections between a transduction mechanism included in the sample receiving chip circuitry included within the body. 
     
     
         5 . The collection device of  claim 4 , wherein the body further comprises circuitry configured to produce the sample fluid reading. 
     
     
         6 . The collection device of  claim 4 , wherein the body further comprises a connector configured to interface the body with a processing unit and electrical and fluidic interfaces from the capsule-body interface, through the body and to the connector. 
     
     
         7 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a rotational feature that converts a gross rotation of the collection device into a fine linear translation of a tip of the sample receiving chip. 
     
     
         8 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule is further configured to hold the sample receiving chip such that a tip portion of the sample receiving chip extends out beyond the end of the capsule sufficiently to allow the sample receiving chip to receive the aliquot volume of a sample fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The collection device of  claim 8 , wherein the sample fluid is tears collected from the meniscus, and wherein the tip of the sample receiving chip comprises a width and shape sufficient to soften the entrance of the tip into the meniscus during tear collection. 
     
     
         10 . The collection device of  claim 9 , wherein the width of the capsule is approximately 3 millimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The collection device of  claim 10 , wherein the tip extends approximately 0.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The sample receiving chip of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is operatively shaped to receive the aliquot volume of sample fluid at the edge of the substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The collection device of  claim 12 , wherein the capsule interface comprises a vent configured to enable the sample receiving chip to receive the aliquot volume of sample fluid at the edge of the substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is operatively shaped to act as a fluid collection interface. 
     
     
         15 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the sample region includes a plurality of electrodes disposed to contact the sample fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The collection device of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of electrodes is arranged in a row and column array. 
     
     
         17 . The collection device of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of conductive connection lines coupled to the plurality of electrodes, wherein the conductive connection lines provide means for transferring energy to and from the sample fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the sample fluid includes bodily fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The collection device of  claim 18 , wherein the bodily fluid is a tear film. 
     
     
         20 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the sample fluid reading indicates osmolarity of the sample fluid. 
     
     
         21 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a visual indicator configured to indicate when the capsule is properly interfaced with the body. 
     
     
         22 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a visual indicator configured to indicate when the sample fluid is being transduced. 
     
     
         23 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises an audible indicator configured to indicate when the capsule is properly interfaced with the body. 
     
     
         24 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises an audible indicator configured to indicate when the sample fluid is being transduced.