WO2022132134A1

WO2022132134A1 - Sample swab including a heating instrument

Info

Publication number: WO2022132134A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/065144
Authority: WO
Inventors: Viktor Shkolnikov; Michael W. Cumbie
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2020-12-15
Filing date: 2020-12-15
Publication date: 2022-06-23

Abstract

An apparatus may include a sample collection cartridge including a liquid transport medium and a sample swab, and a heating instrument including a metal strip extending a length of the sample swab.

Description

SAMPLE SWAB INCLUDING A HEATING INSTRUMENT

Background

[0001] Heat is lethal to microorganisms, but each species has its own particular heat tolerance. During a thermal destruction process, such as pasteurization, the rate of destruction is logarithmic, as is their rate of growth. Thus bacteria subjected to heat are killed at a rate that is proportional to the number of organisms present. The process is dependent both on the temperature of exposure and the time at this temperature to accomplish a particular rate of destruction.

[0002] Also, the rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction increases as the temperature is raised. A ten degree Centigrade (°C) rise in temperature will increase the activity of most enzymes by 50 to 100%. Variations in reaction temperature as small as 1 or 2 degrees may introduce changes of 10 to 20% in the results. In the case of enzymatic reactions, this is complicated by the fact that many enzymes are adversely affected by high temperatures. Many animal enzymes rapidly become inactivated at temperatures above 40°C. Over a period of time, enzymes will be deactivated at even moderate temperatures.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0003] FIG. 1 is an example apparatus comprising a sample swab including a heating instrument, in accordance with the present disclosure. [0004] FIG. 2 illustrates an example apparatus comprising a sample swab including a heating instrument, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0005] FIGs. 3A, 3B, and 30 illustrate an example method of using a sample swab including a heating instrument, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 4 illustrates an example system, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 5 illustrates an example system, in which the processing cartridge includes an induction coil disposed proximal to the fluid input, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 6 illustrates an example system 601 , in which the processing cartridge includes a piercing apparatus, in accordance with the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

[0009] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims. It is to be understood that features of the various examples described herein may be combined, in part or whole, with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise.

[0010] Specialized containers may be used to collect and process samples from patients suspected to have a bacterial or viral infection. For instance, a biological swab sample, such as a nasopharyngeal swab may be collected from a patient with a suspected virus, and may be placed into a container with viral transport media. The media often acts to preserve the virus, rather than inactivate it. When the swab sample is to be processed, the container including the swab sample is opened and the viral transport media is pipetted into a cartridge that processes the sample to evaluate the presence of the bacteria and/or virus.

[0011] Various aspects of the collection, transport, and processing of such samples present health risks to persons handling the sample. For instance, the pipetting of the media and opening the transport container introduces the risk of aerosolization of the viral transport media and thus infecting the personnel handling the container as well as contaminating the surrounding space, leading to an increased number of false positives. The risk of generating false positives via aerosolization is especially likely when the concentration of virus in the sample varies by several orders of magnitude, such as in the case of SARS- CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 disease. In the case of COVID- 19, the viral load in a sample may vary by 7 orders of magnitude. As a swab sample includes a biological sample on the order 1 ml, adding just one 100 picoliter (pL) droplet of the higher viral load sample to a negative sample would render a sample positive. As such, aerosolization of a sample not only increases the risk of infecting persons handling a sample, but risk infecting an otherwise negative sample.

[0012]To minimize the risk of infecting persons handling biologic sample, and to minimize the risk of contaminating negative samples, it may be desirable to inactivate a biological agent such as a virus and/or a bacteria inside the transport container after collection.

[0013] In accordance with the present disclosure, a sample swab including a heating instrument may allow for the heating of a biologic sample. For instance, the sample swab described herein may allow for the inactivation of biological components in a biologic sample while preserving nucleic acids within the biologic sample. An apparatus of the present disclosure includes a sample collection cartridge including a liquid transport medium and a sample swab. The apparatus further includes a heating instrument including a metal strip extending a length of the sample swab. A method of the present disclosure includes receiving in a sample collection cartridge containing a liquid transport medium, a sample swab containing a biologic sample, and heating the liquid transport medium and biologic sample via a heating instrument disposed within the sample swab, the heating instrument including a metal strip extending a length of the sample swab. A system of the present disclosure includes a sample swab including a metal strip, a sample collection cartridge containing a liquid transport medium to receive the sample swab, wherein the sample collection cartridge includes a locking cap disposed on a first end and a port disposed on a second end opposite the first end, a heating instrument including the metal strip, and a processing cartridge including a fluid input to receive the port of the sample collection cartridge. Although various examples herein describe inactivating biologic components such as pathogens, the present disclosure is not so limited. As described throughout, the apparatus, method, and system described may be used to heat a sample for purposes other than inactivation of biologic components.

[0014]Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 is an example apparatus 100 comprising a sample swab including a heating instrument, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0015] In various examples, the apparatus 100 includes a sample collection cartridge including a liquid transport medium and a sample swab. For instance, referring to FIG. 1 , the apparatus 100 may include a sample collection cartridge 104 to contain a liquid transport medium 114. As used herein, a sample collection cartridge refers to or includes a vessel to collect and/or contain a liquid and/or solid substance. Also as used herein, a liquid transport medium refers to or includes any liquid substance used to collect, preserve, and/or process a sample received in the sample collection cartridge. The apparatus 100 may also include a sample swab 112. The sample swab 1 12 as illustrated may include a first end 102 and a second end 106 opposite the first end 102. The first end 102 may include an elongated member, and the second end 106 may include a sample collection tip. As illustrated, the sample collection tip may have a greater diameter than the elongated member, though examples are not so limited and the sample collection tip may have a diameter that is less than, or the same as, the diameter of the elongated member. Together, the sample swab 112 may facilitate the collection of a biologic sample. As a non-limiting example, the sample swab 112 may facilitate collection of a biologic sample from a nasopharyngeal culture. As such, in various examples, the sample swab 112 may collect a biologic sample including a pathogen.

[0016] In various examples, the apparatus 100 includes a heating instrument including a metal strip extending a length of the sample swab. As used herein, a heating instrument refers to or includes an instrument or plurality of instruments to heat the liquid transport medium 114. In some examples, the heating instrument is to inactivate the pathogen by heating the liquid transport medium 114. As discussed further herein, the heating instrument may heat the liquid transport medium 114 using an induction coil and/or through inductive heating from a heat source, among other heating methods.

[0017] For instance, sample swab 112 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a metal strip 110 extending from the first end 102 of sample swab 112 to the second end 106 of sample swab 1 12. Although FIG. 1 illustrates the metal strip 1 10 extending from one end of the sample swab 1 12 to the other end of the sample swab 1 12, examples are not so limited. For instance, the metal strip 110 may be disposed within the sample collection tip of the sample swab 112. In some examples, the metal strip 1 10 may be disposed within the sample collection tip of the sample swab 112 and partially up the stem of the sample swab 112. In various examples, the heating instrument allows the sample collection cartridge to be inductively heated to inactivate biologies present on the sample swab 112, while preserving nucleic acids. Put another way, the heating instrument may allow for the inactivation of pathogens on the sample swab 112, while the nucleic acids comprising such pathogens are preserved for subsequent detection.

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates an example apparatus 200 comprising a sample swab including a heating instrument, in accordance with the present disclosure. Apparatus 200 may include similar components to apparatus 100, illustrated in FIG. 1 , and are numbered accordingly. For instance, sample collection cartridge 104 is similar to sample collection cartridge 204. Also, liquid transport medium 114 is similar to liquid transport medium 214, and sample swab 112 is similar to sample swab 212. The sample swab 212, includes a first end 202 and a second end 206 that is opposite the first end 202. [0019] In some examples, the heating instrument includes an induction coil disposed on an external surface of the sample collection cartridge. For instance, the metal strip 210 disposed within the sample swab 212 may be heated by induction via an induction coil 224. As illustrated, the induction coil 224 may be disposed outside of the sample collection cartridge 204.

[0020] In some examples, the heating instrument includes a metal cage disposed within the sample collection cartridge, the metal cage to receive the sample swab. For instance, the heating instrument may a metal cage 226 disposed within the sample collection cartridge 204. The metal cage 226 may receive the sample swab 212. Together, the metal cage 226 and the metal strip 210 are susceptible to inductive heating. As such, both the metal strip 210 and the metal cage 226 may be heated via inductive coil 224 and may, in some examples, inactivate a pathogen on the sample swab 212. Although the metal cage 226 is illustrated as having a generally rectangular or square shape, examples are not so limited. The metal cage 226 may be in any shape to receive the sample swab 212, including a cylindrical, circular, conical, rectangular, and/or square shape.

[0021] In some examples, the sample collection cartridge includes a locking cap disposed on a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second end including a port to couple with a processing cartridge. For instance, the sample collection cartridge 204 may include a first end 228 including a locking cap 216 and a second end 230 opposite the first end 228. The second end 230 may include a port 218 to couple with a processing cartridge (not illustrated in FIG. 2). Through the port 218, the liquid transport medium 214 may move from the sample collection cartridge 204 to a processing cartridge for processing and/or analysis.

[0022] In some examples, the locking cap includes a metal contact to contact the metal strip in the sample swab when the locking cap is in a closed position. For instance, the locking cap 216 may include a metal contact to contact the metal strip 210 in the sample swab 212 when the locking cap 216 is in a closed position (as illustrated in FIG. 2). As used herein, a closed position refers to or includes a position in which the locking cap 216 seals the internal cavity of the sample collection cartridge 204 such that the liquid transport medium 214 is contained within the sample collection cartridge 204. In an open position, the locking cap 216 is removed from the sample collection cartridge 204.

[0023] In some examples, the apparatus 200 includes a gas generating component, wherein the gas generating component includes a gas generating medium, and an activating strip in contact with a side wall of the sample collection cartridge and the gas generating medium. For instance, the apparatus 200 may include a gas generating component 232-1 , 232-2 (collectively referred to herein as gas generating component 232). As used herein, a gas generating component refers to or includes a component capable of generating and/or releasing gas into the chamber of the sample collection cartridge. In various examples, each gas generating component 232-1 , 232-2 includes a gas generating medium and an activating strip to activate the gas generating medium. For instance, gas generating component 232-1 includes gas generating medium 208-1 and activating strip 220-1 , and gas generating component 232-2 includes gas generating medium 208-2 and activating strip 220-2. Non-limiting examples of a gas generating medium include inert gases such as sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, nitrocellulose, and/or sodium azide. The gas generating medium may pressurize the sample collection cartridge to dispense the liquid transport medium into the processing cartridge. In some examples, activating strip 220-1 and activating strip 220-2 are metal, and also susceptible to inductive heating. As such, activating strip 220-1 and activating strip 220-2 may be heated to activate the gas generating medium 208-1 , 208-2 (respectively), thereby releasing gas. Examples of gas generating media include sodium azide, producing nitrogen gas, and sodium bicarbonate, producing carbon dioxide gas.

[0024] In various examples, the sample collection cartridge 204 may be sealed at the second end 230 as well as the first end 228. For instance, a septum 222 may seal the opening created by the port 218. In some examples, the septum 222 includes a foil layer capable of being pierced by an accepting container, such as a processing cartridge. In some examples, the septum 222 includes a layer of material that may be compromised with the application of heat and/or pressure.

[0025] FIGs. 3A, 3B, and 30 illustrate an example method of using a sample swab including a heating instrument, in accordance with the present disclosure. The example method illustrated in FIGs. 3A, 3B, and 30 includes the use of an apparatus, which may include similar components to apparatus 100, illustrated in FIG. 1 , and apparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. 2. Similar components are numbered similarly. For instance, sample collection cartridge 304 is similar to sample collection cartridge 204, and sample collection cartridge 104. Also, liquid transport medium 314 is similar to liquid transport medium 214, and liquid transport medium 114. Moreover, sample swab 312 is similar to sample swab 212 and sample swab 112, and metal strip 310 is similar to metal strip 210 and metal strip 110. Although FIGs. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate two gas generating components on opposing walls of the sample collection cartridge 304, one gas generating component is labeled for the sake of simplicity.

[0026] The method 300 includes at FIG. 3A, receiving in a sample collection cartridge containing a liquid transport medium, a sample swab containing a biologic sample. As described with regards to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the sample collection cartridge 304 containing the liquid transport medium 314 may receive the sample swab 312. In various examples, the sample swab 312 may contain a biologic sample including a pathogen, as may be obtained via a nasopharyngeal swab. In various examples, the method 300 may include closing a locking cap 316, such that the liquid transport medium 314 is in a closed position.

[0027] At FIG. 3B, the method 300 includes heating the liquid transport medium and biologic sample via a heating instrument disposed within the sample swab, the heating instrument including a metal strip extending a length of the sample swab. In various examples, the heating instrument may also include an induction coil. For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, an induction coil 324-1 may be disposed external to the sample collection cartridge 304. Together, the induction coil 324-1 and the metal strip 310 may heat the liquid transport medium and/or sample swab 312. [0028] In a particular example of the method 300, the heating instrument includes an inductive coil, and the biologic sample includes a pathogen, the method including inactivating the pathogen by heating the heating instrument. In such examples, heating the heating instrument includes exposing the sample collection cartridge including the sample swab to a magnetic field using the inductive coil. For instance, the metal strip 310 disposed within the sample swab 312 may be susceptible to inductive heating via the induction coil 324-1 . In such a manner, the induction coil 324-1 may inactivate a pathogen or pathogens in the liquid transport medium 314 and/or on the sample swab 312 by heating the metal strip in the sample swab. The particular temperature to be achieved by the sample swab 312 and/or within the liquid transport medium 314 may be dependent upon the pathogen or pathogens to be inactivated. As described in Table 1 below, different pathogens may be inactivated at different temperatures and after different duration of exposure to heat.

[0029] Although examples are described herein as inactivating a pathogen in the biologic sample, the present disclosure is not so limited. In various examples the sample swab 312 and/or the liquid transport medium 314 are heated to a particular temperature without regard to inactivating pathogens. For instance, the sample swab 312 and/or the liquid transport medium 314 may be heated, as discussed herein, to facilitate temperature sensitive reactions and/or to achieve temperature-sensitive results. As non-limiting examples, the sample swab 312 and/or the liquid transport medium 314 may be heated for thermal cycling in nucleic acid amplification reactions, to accelerate and/or decelerate enzymatic reactions, or to facilitate other chemical and/or biologic processes.

[0030] In some examples, the heating instrument includes a metal contact on a locking cap of the sample collection cartridge, and an electricity supply. In such examples, heating the bio-inactivation instrument includes heating the metal strip by applying the electricity supply to the metal contact on the locking cap. For instance, referring to FIG. 3B, the metal strip 310 may extend the length of the sample swab 312 and contact a region of the locking cap 316. The locking cap may also include a metal contact that physically contacts the metal strip 310 of the sample swab 312 when the locking cap 316 is in the closed position (as illustrated). In such a manner, an electricity supply may be applied to the metal contact which in turn heats the sample swab 312 and/or the liquid transport medium 314. As such, heating instrument may include heating the metal strip by applying the electricity supply to the metal contact on the locking cap. Similarly, the heating instrument may include a heat source that may be applied to a metal contact in the locking cap 316 to heat the sample swab 312 and/or the liquid transport medium 314 by conduction. As such, heating the heating instrument may include applying a heat source to a metal contact on a locking cap of the sample collection cartridge.

[0031] In some examples, the heating instrument includes a metal layer disposed on a surface of the sample collection cartridge and an inductive coil. In such examples, heating the heating instrument includes exposing the sample collection cartridge to a magnetic field using the inductive coil. For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a metal cage 226 may be disposed within the sample collection cartridge. The metal cage 226 may comprise a metal layer disposed on a surface of the sample collection cartridge that contacts the liquid transport medium (e.g., an inner surface of the sample collection cartridge). The metal layer, as well as the metal strip 310, may be susceptible to inductive heating via the induction coil 324-1.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 3C, the method 300 may further include releasing the liquid transport medium 314 from the sample collection cartridge 304. Referring again to FIG. 2, in some examples, the sample collection cartridge includes a first end 228 including a locking cap 216 and a second end 230 opposite the first end 228. In such examples, the second end includes a port to couple with a processing cartridge. For instance, referring to FIG. 3C, the port 318 may couple with a processing cartridge 334. A septum 322 may seal the opening created by the port 318. In such examples, the method may include releasing the liquid transport medium and the biologic sample from the second end of the sample collection cartridge by exposing the first end of the sample collection cartridge to a magnetic field from an inductive coil. For instance, a second induction coil 324-2 may be disposed proximal to the gas generating component. The second induction coil 324-2 may heat the activating strip 320 in the sample collection cartridge, thereby activating the gas generating medium 308. Responsive to activation of the gas generating medium 308, the sample collection cartridge 304 may fill with gas 336. Responsive to an increase in pressure within the sample collection cartridge 304 from the gas 336, the liquid transport medium 314 may release from the sample collection cartridge 304 and into the processing cartridge 334.

[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates an example system 401 , in accordance with the present disclosure. The example system illustrated in FIG. 4 includes the use of an apparatus, which may include similar components to apparatus 100, illustrated in FIG. 1 , and apparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. 2. Similar components are numbered similarly. For instance, sample collection cartridge 404 is similar to sample collection cartridge 304, sample collection cartridge 204, and sample collection cartridge 104. Also, liquid transport medium 414 is similar to liquid transport medium 314, liquid transport medium 214, and liquid transport medium 114. Moreover, sample swab 412 is similar to sample swab 312, sample swab 212 and sample swab 112, and metal strip 410 is similar to metal strip 310, metal strip 210 and metal strip 110. Although FIGs 4 illustrates two gas generating components on opposing walls of the sample collection cartridge 404, one gas generating component is labeled for the sake of simplicity. The gas generating component may include an activating strip 420 in the sample collection cartridge, capable of activating a gas generating medium 408. Responsive to activation of the gas generating medium 408, the sample collection cartridge 404 may fill with gas 436.

[0034] The system 401 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a sample swab including a metal strip, and a sample collection cartridge containing a liquid transport medium to receive the sample swab, wherein the sample collection cartridge includes a locking cap disposed on a first end and a port disposed on a second end opposite the first end. For instance, the sample swab 412 may include a metal strip 410 as discussed herein. Moreover, the sample collection cartridge 404 may include a liquid transport medium 414 to receive the sample swab 412. As discussed with regards to FIG. 2, the sample collection cartridge 404 may include a first end 428 and a second end 430 opposite the first end 428. In various examples, the sample collection cartridge 404 includes a locking cap 416 disposed on the first end 428 and a port 418 disposed on the second end 430. A septum 422 may seal the opening created by the port 418.

[0035] In various examples, the system 401 includes a heating instrument including the metal strip. As described in various examples, the heating instrument may include the metal strip 410, as well as an inductive coil, a plurality of inductive coils, an electricity supply, as well as a heat source. Also, the system 401 may include a processing cartridge including a fluid input to receive the port of the sample collection cartridge. For instance, the processing cartridge 434 may include fluid input 438 that is capable of receiving the port 418 of the sample collection cartridge 404.

[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates an example system 501 , in which the processing cartridge includes an induction coil disposed proximal to the fluid input, in accordance with the present disclosure. The example system illustrated in FIG. 5 includes similar components to system 401 , illustrated in FIG. 4. Similar components are numbered similarly. For instance, sample collection cartridge 504 is similar to sample collection cartridge 404. Also, liquid transport medium 514 is similar to liquid transport medium 414. Moreover, sample swab 512 is similar to sample swab 412, and metal strip 510 is similar to metal strip 510. Yet further, processing cartridge 534 is similar to processing cartridge 434.

[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the processing cartridge 534 may include an induction coil 540 disposed proximal to the fluid input 538. The induction coil 540 proximal to the fluid input 538 may assist with the perforation of septum 522. For instance, responsive to an oscillating magnetic field from the induction coil 540, the septum 522 may rupture, thereby releasing the liquid transport medium 514 from the sample collection cartridge 504, through the port 518 and into the processing cartridge 534.

[0038] Although FIG. 5 illustrates a single induction coil 540, examples are not so limited. Moreover, the induction coil 540 and/or multiple induction coils may comprise a portion of the processing cartridge 534, a portion of the sample collection cartridge 504, and/or comprise a device separate from the sample collection cartridge 504 and the processing cartridge 534. [0039] In a particular example, the heating instrument includes a first induction coil disposed within the processing cartridge proximal to the fluid input. FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which an induction coil (e.g., a first induction coil) is disposed within the processing cartridge proximal to the fluid input 538. In some examples, the processing cartridge includes a second induction coil proximal to the locking cap when the sample collection cartridge is coupled. FIG. 30 illustrates an example in which a second induction coil (e.g., 324-2) is disposed proximal to the locking cap (e.g., 316) and distal to the processing cartridge (e.g., 334) when the sample collection cartridge is coupled. As described with regards to FIG. 30, an induction coil disposed proximal to the locking cap 516 may assist with the activation of a gas generating medium, thereby facilitating the release of the liquid transport medium 514 from the sample collection cartridge 504.

[0040] As illustrated and described with regards to FIG. 3B, a third induction coil (e.g., 324-1 ) may be disposed within a threshold distance of the _sample collection tip of the sample swab 512. As described herein, such an induction coil may heat a metal strip 510 within the sample swab 512 so as to heat a biologic sample disposed on the sample swab 512 and/or to heat the liquid transport medium 514.

[0041] In some examples, as described with regards to FIG. 4, the sample collection cartridge includes a gas generating component, including a gas generating medium and an activating strip in contact with a side wall of the sample collection cartridge and the gas generating medium. For instance, an activating strip 520 may be in contact with a side wall of the sample collection cartridge 504 and the gas generating medium 508. In some examples, the gas generating medium is an inert gas selected from the group including sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, nitrocellulose, and sodium azide. For those inert gases that are water soluble, such as sodium bicarbonate and sodium azide, the gas generating medium may be stored within a water impermeable barrier. As discussed with regards to FIG. 4, activation and release of the gas generating medium 508 may increase the pressure within the sample collection cartridge 504 and release the liquid transport medium 514 therefrom. Examples are not so limited, and different and/or additional mechanisms may be used to expel the liquid transport medium 514 from the sample collection cartridge 504.

[0042] FIG. 6 illustrates an example system 601 , in which the processing cartridge includes a piercing apparatus, in accordance with the present disclosure. The example system illustrated in FIG. 6 includes similar components to system 501 , illustrated in FIG. 5. Similar components are numbered similarly. For instance, sample collection cartridge 604 is similar to sample collection cartridge 504. Also, liquid transport medium 614 is similar to liquid transport medium 514. Moreover, sample swab 612 is similar to sample swab 512, and metal strip 610 is similar to metal strip 510. Yet further, processing cartridge 634 is similar to processing cartridge 534.

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the processing cartridge 634 may include a piercing apparatus 642 to mechanically pierce the septum 622 to release the liquid transport medium 614 from the sample collection cartridge 604 to the processing cartridge 634. In various examples, the piercing apparatus 642 may be disposed within the fluid input 638 of the processing cartridge 634. The sample collection cartridge 604 may include a locking cap 616 disposed on a first end and a port 618 disposed on a second end of the sample collection cartridge 604. The septum 622 may seal the opening created by port 618. As described herein, an activating strip 620 may be in contact with a side wall of the sample collection cartridge 604 and the gas generating medium 608, such that activation of the gas generating medium 608 fills the sample collection cartridge 604 with gas.

[0044] Although examples herein describe and illustrate a single apparatus, various examples are contemplated in which a plurality of apparatuses may be received and/or processed by a sample processing device. For instance, referring to FIG. 6, the processing cartridge 634 which receives the sample collection cartridge 604 may be a part of a larger processing device that includes a plurality of processing cartridges, each similar in structure to processing cartridge 634. Each separate processing cartridge of the processing device may receive a sample collection cartridge, similar in structure to sample collection cartridge 604, such that a plurality of samples may be analyzed at a same time. As a non-limiting example, a processing device may contain eight processing cartridges, each corresponding to the processing cartridge 634. Each processing cartridge 634 may receive a sample collection cartridge, each corresponding to the sample cartridge 604. Such an arrangement may allow for simultaneous testing of a plurality of samples of a same type and/or simultaneous testing of a plurality of samples of different types.

[0045] Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific examples shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific examples discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

EXPERIMENTAL/MORE DETAILED EXAMPLES

[0046] As further illustrated in connection with the disclosure herein, different thermal conditions may be used to inactivate various pathogens. As described in Table 1 below, the temperature (in degrees Celsius) and time (in minutes, unless otherwise noted) to inactivate various families of viruses are disclosed. Using the sample swab including a heating instrument, the example viruses listed below may be inactivated by heating a liquid transport medium including a sample swab to the approximate temperature listed for the approximate duration of time listed.

Table 1 . Thermal effect to inactivate a virus, organized by family.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: a sample collection cartridge including a liquid transport medium and a sample swab; and a heating instrument including a metal strip extending a length of the sample swab.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heating instrument includes an induction coil disposed on an external surface of the sample collection cartridge.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heating instrument includes a metal cage disposed within the sample collection cartridge, the metal cage to receive the sample swab.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sample collection cartridge includes a locking cap disposed on a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second end including a port to couple with a processing cartridge.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the locking cap includes a metal contact to contact the metal strip in the sample swab when the locking cap is in a closed position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , including a gas generating component, wherein the gas generating component includes a gas generating medium, and an activating strip in contact with a side wall of the sample collection cartridge and the gas generating medium.

7. A method, comprising: receiving in a sample collection cartridge containing a liquid transport medium, a sample swab containing a biologic sample; and heating the liquid transport medium and biologic sample via a heating instrument disposed within the sample swab, the heating instrument including a metal strip extending a length of the sample swab.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the heating instrument includes an inductive coil, and the biologic sample includes a pathogen, the method including inactivating the pathogen by heating the heating instrument, wherein heating the heating instrument includes exposing the sample collection cartridge including the sample swab to a magnetic field using the inductive coil.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the heating instrument includes a metal contact on a locking cap of the sample collection cartridge and an electricity supply, and wherein heating the heating instrument includes heating the metal strip by applying the electricity supply to the metal contact on the locking cap.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the heating instrument includes a metal layer disposed on a surface of the sample collection cartridge and an inductive coil, and wherein heating the heating instrument includes exposing the sample collection cartridge to a magnetic field using the inductive coil.

11 . The method of claim 7, wherein the sample collection cartridge includes a first end including a locking cap and a second end opposite the first end, the second end including a port to couple with a processing cartridge, the method including releasing the liquid transport medium and the biologic sample from the second end of the sample collection cartridge by exposing the first end of the sample collection cartridge to a magnetic field from an inductive coil.

12. A system, comprising: a sample swab including a metal strip; a sample collection cartridge containing a liquid transport medium to receive the sample swab, wherein the sample collection cartridge includes a locking cap disposed on a first end and a port disposed on a second end opposite the first end; a heating instrument including the metal strip; and a processing cartridge including a fluid input to receive the port of the sample collection cartridge.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processing cartridge includes an induction coil disposed proximal to the fluid input.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein: the heating instrument includes a first induction coil disposed within the processing cartridge proximal to the fluid input; and the processing cartridge includes a second induction coil proximal to the locking cap when the sample collection cartridge is coupled.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein: the sample collection cartridge includes a gas generating component, including a gas generating medium and an activating strip in contact with a side wall of the sample collection cartridge and the gas generating medium, wherein the gas generating medium is an inert gas selected from the group including: sodium bicarbonate; potassium bicarbonate; nitrocellulose; and sodium azide.