This special gut microbe and chemical substance sampling technology, utilizing swallowable capsules, is for purpose of determining roles gut contents play in some 52 of most costly, in lives and dollars, of diseases with their known origin in the human gut. Gut microbes and substances are collected, analyzed, medicinal substances and objects deployed, and special provisions for attracting, capturing and preserving certain strains of microbes, and means for perturbing the gut environment and immune system are all intended to research, discover, and ultimately find both the causes and cures for the most devastating human diseases, and in the process, create gut microbiome profiles.

The invention relates to a device for obtaining biological material and/or biological information from a sample with a heterogeneous matrix, to the uses of said device, to methods implementing said device, and to kits for obtaining biological material and/or biological information from a sample with a heterogeneous matrix, comprising the different constituents of said device.

Provided is a test device for testing an analyte in a collected sample comprising: an enclosure having at least one sample receiving port for receiving the sample; a test strip located within the enclosure, the test strip containing at least one reagent for detecting the analyte and for providing an indication showing a test result for the sample, the enclosure including a detection arrangement for allowing detection of the indication of the test strip; a sample receiving matrix positioned behind the at least one sample receiving port and having a defined saturation capacity, the sample receiving matrix being impregnated with reagents for pre-treatment of the sample and being in liquid conductive communication with the test strip. Also provided is a method for use of said test device comprising: delivering one or more samples to the at least one sample receiving port to saturate the sample receiving matrix such that a quantified amount of the sample is transferred to the test strip and an indication of the test result is effected.

Fecal management methods and apparatuses (e.g., devices, systems, etc.) are described herein. The fecal management apparatuses may apply one or more fecal removal cycles of suction and irrigation (and in some examples air) to actively remove fecal material. The apparatus may control the timing of delivery of the fecal removal cycles as well as the parameters of the applied suction, irrigation and/or air within and between fecal removal cycles.

A biopsy tissue sample transport device and method of using thereof including a tissue storage assembly having a sample container, having a holding structure to hold a tissue sample, the holding structure having a sample access opening formed in a sidewall; a housing that receives the tissue storage assembly, the housing comprising an assembly insertion opening through which the tissue storage assembly is inserted into the housing; a sealing member configured to engage and substantially seal the sample access opening of the holding structure of the sample container of the tissue storage assembly; and a lid to engage and substantially seal the assembly insertion opening of the housing.

Provided herein is technology relating to processing samples and particularly, but not exclusively, to technology for containing and processing a stool specimen. The technology provides an enclosing holder for securing a sample container in a leak-proof manner e.g., during mechanical shaking.

In alternative embodiments, the invention provides compositions, e.g., formulations, used for gastric, gastrointestinal and/or colonic treatments or lavage, e.g., orthostatic lavage, e.g., for inducing the purgation (e.g., cleansing) of a gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including a colon; and methods for making and using them. In alternative embodiments, compositions and methods of the invention are used for the stabilization, amelioration, treatment and/or prevention of constipation, for the treatment of abdominal pain, particularly non-specific abdominal pain, and diarrhea, including diarrhea caused by a drug side effect, a psychological condition, a disease or a condition such as Crohn's Disease, a poison, a toxin or an infection, e.g., a toxin-mediated travelers diarrhea, or C. difficile or the pseudo-membranous colitis associated with this infection. In alternative embodiments, the invention provides pharmaceuticals and products (articles) of manufacture for delivering these compositions and formulations to an individual, e.g., a human or an animal. The invention also provides devices for delivering a fecal material to a patient.

A container (1) for collecting faecal specimens comprises an extraction portion (2) suitable for containing an extraction solution (3) and a closure portion (8) for closing the container (1). A connection means (9) is interposed between the extraction portion (2) and the closure portion (8) and configured to define a closed configuration of the container (1). A shaped wand (10) suitable for collecting the specimens is axially inserted into the extraction portion (2) when the container (1) is in the closed configuration. A filtering element (17) divides a solubilization chamber (18) from a sampling chamber (19) and is suitable for enabling a flow (F) of the extraction solution from the solubilization chamber (18) to the sampling chamber (19).

The present invention provides a device that can move inside a biological conduit such as an intestinal tract for sampling the content therein, and a process thereof. While moving along the intestinal tract, the device can continuously collect the content in the intestinal tract. One or more convoy belts having an adsorbent layer are configured to continuously absorb and preserve the collected intestinal content. The belt loaded with the sample may be used to establish a chemical, biochemical and microbiological spectrum along the length of the intestinal tract.

Configurable absorbent articles with improved bodily exudate separation and sampling are provided.