Disclosed herein is a sample collection apparatus. The sample collection apparatus includes a self-sampling pad and a cell fixing container, wherein the sample collection pad includes a filter unit, the structure and material of which are such that cells, viruses and DNAs contained in vaginal secretions can be efficiently absorbed and attached to the filter unit and can be efficiently detached from the filter unit in a cell preserving solution after the filter unit is removed and put into the cell preserving solution. Thus, the filter unit includes at least one adsorbent layer which is formed of a hydrophobic material having low fineness and high resilience.

A personal hygiene device may have a main body with an absorbent material configured to absorb a fluid, a sensor disposed within the main body, and a controller configured to communicate with the sensor. The sensor has a conductor and an insulator containing at least a portion of the conductor, and the sensor is configured to detect a first electrical value and a second electrical value that is different from the first electrical value. The sensor is also configured to transmit a signal to the controller upon detection of the second electrical value.

A vaginal speculum, conical in shape made out of clear plastic resin or metal that when closed can easily and gently be inserted into the introitus (vaginal opening). In certain embodiments, a dilator is used to introduce and/or expand the speculum. Various mechanisms are disclosed for dilating the speculum, after it has been inserted, so as to allow inspection of the patient's cervix. Such dilation can be affected relative to multiple axes, or even in substantially continuous, radial fashion about the periphery of the speculum, for improved visualization. In addition, this speculum has a handle that is oriented such that a vaginal exam can be performed on a standard exam table. The handle also includes a receptacle that receives a standard pen light. A self-contained kit is also provided to facilitate cervical examinations and treatment.

The present disclosure relates to a body fluid collection device (1), the body fluid collection device (1) comprises a tube body (10), wherein the tube body (10) is used to contain the collected body fluid and is provided with an opened end (12); a tube plug (20), wherein the tube plug (20) is configured to be able to hermetically close the opened end (12) of the tube body (10); and a filter (30), wherein the filter (30) is arranged in the tube body (10) for filtering out specific components from a body fluid to be collected, wherein the filter (30) is configured to be capable of being attached to the tube plug (20) at the open end, and the tube plug (20) is hermetically connected to the filter (30).

The invention provides an article for detecting amniotic fluid, comprising a membrane layer, a transfer layer, an absorbent layer, and a base layer, wherein the transfer layer comprises an indicator composition. Further provided are methods of use of the article for obtaining an immediate, clear, and reliable identification of amniotic fluid leakage.

The present invention provides devices and systems for use at the point of care. The methods devices of the invention are directed toward automatic detection of analytes in a bodily fluid. The components of the device are modular to allow for flexibility and robustness of use with the disclosed methods for a variety of medical applications.

The present invention relates to a collecting device (1) for sampling at least one specimen from bodily cavities of humans and animals, comprising: an elongated flattened pouch (20) having: an open end (200), a top side (201) opposed to the open end (200), situated at a proximal end (101) of the collecting device (1), and two lateral sides (202, 204); andtwo creasing means (32, 34), each having a fixed end (301), which is fixed inside the pouch (20) at or in the vicinity of said top side (201) and a free end (303), which protrudes freely through said open end (200), configured such that upon pulling the free ends (303) of the two creasing means (32, 34) in opposite directions, the short side (201) of the pouch (20) is brought closer to the open end (200) while the pouch (20) adopts a creased shape (22). Preferably, the collecting device further comprises two sheets of fabric (40, 41), that are fastened to each other by fastening elements (25) such as welding lines situated at a distance of about 1 mm to 10 mm from proximal margins (401) of said sheets (40, 41) to form two proximal flaps (44, 46) fixed to each other by the fastening elements (25) such that the two flaps (44, 46) can transition form a closed state (47) to an open state (49). The present invention also relates to the use of the collecting device (1) for sampling of at least one specimen from bodily cavities of humans and animals, to a kit and methods for sampling and to a process for producing the collecting device (1).

The present invention relates to a swab applicator (1) for use with a sampling cloth (4) comprising a swab rod (2) and an elongated swab head (3) disposed at an end of the swab rod (2) and the swab rod and head are connected to one another at a breakable section (5) which comprises two connection walls (6) formed integrally with the swab rod (2) and head (3) and a through hole (7) extending transversally on the central longitudinal axis of the breakable section (5) and delimited by the connection walls (6), wherein each of the connection walls (6) has two lateral side faces that taper in the proximity of the breakable section (5) towards its central transverse axis resulting in a pre-determined minimum length and thickness of each of the two connection walls (6) proximally to the central transverse axis of the breakable section (5) such that the two connection walls (6) are strong enough to hold the swab rod (2) and swab head (3) together during normal use of the applicator (1) and breakable upon application of a breaking force to the swab rod (2). The invention also relates to a swab kit comprising the swab applicator (1) and the sampling cloth (4).

Provided are systems and methods for preserving a cervico-vaginal fluid sample.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for analyzing a liquid comprising a plurality of different substances. The apparatus includes an absorber that comprises one or more layers of absorbent material for absorbing the liquid and one or more sensors embedded within the one or more layers of absorbent material. The sensors are configured to provide information associated with the different substances included in the absorbed liquid, and a location of a respective sensor is determined based on a corresponding substance detected by the sensor and a diffusion property of the substance.