Hero Scientific Ltd.

Robert Eric Levitz

Arie Oscar Holtz

Lazar Fruchter

Zvi Feldman

Boaz Arieli

Leah Forgosh

Rinat Adi

Michael Librus

Avi Fruchter

Avihu Izhak Sivan

Maoz Cohen

Raz Silberman

Zeev Fleishman

A method is provided that includes introducing a fluid sample () into a fluid container () of a filtration assembly () and passing the fluid sample () through a porous filter () by distally advancing a plunger () within the fluid container (), thereby capturing, on or within the porous filter () at least a portion of any particulate present in the fluid sample (). Thereafter, a cavity () is created within the fluid container () between a distal end of the plunger and a distal end () of the fluid container () by proximally partially withdrawing the plunger () within the fluid container (), while one or more vacuum-prevention openings () are open. An extraction liquid () is prepared by introducing one or more extraction reagents () into the cavity () and bathing the porous filter (). The extraction liquid () is tested for the presence of a biological target. Other embodiments are also described.

Testing devices

A method is provided for testing for presence of a biological particulate, the method including collecting, in a tube of an apparatus, biological fluid that potentially contains the biological particulate, the tube having (a) an upstream proximal opening and (b) a distal end that is permanently closed. A plunger of the apparatus is inserted into the tube via the upstream proximal opening. The plunger is advanced within the tube while sealably contacting the tube, so as to push the biological fluid through a filter and into a fluid-collection compartment of the apparatus. The method includes subsequently testing for the presence of the biological particulate that was trapped by the filter as the biological fluid in the tube was pushed through the filter. Other embodiments are also described.

Testing for particulates

A testing device () is provided for testing for the presence of particulate in a liquid (). The testing device () includes a liquid container () for containing the liquid (); a filter (), disposed in or downstream of the liquid container (); a liquid-pressure source (), which is arranged to apply pressure to drive the liquid () contained in the liquid container () through the filter (); and a filter chamber () that is (a) disposed downstream of the liquid container (), (b) shaped so as to define an inlet (), and (c) in fluid communication with the filter (). Other embodiments are also described.

A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample. The sampling device includes a filtration assembly and a filter-collection receptacle disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. The filtration assembly includes a tubular container and a plunger, which is insertable into the tubular container via a proximal container opening. The filtration assembly is configured such that movement of the plunger within the tubular container, when a liquid specimen sample is contained in the tubular container and a filter is disposed in the tubular container, pushes at least a portion of the liquid specimen sample through the filter. The sampling device is configured such that the filter is advanceable into the filter-collection receptacle while the filter-collection receptacle is disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. Other embodiments are also described.

Filtration sampling devices

Apparatus is provided including a tube and a plunger sized and shaped to be inserted into the tube. A distal end of the plunger is shaped to define one or more first passageways therethrough, and the plunger is shaped to define one or more compartments in fluid communication with the first passageways. A filter is coupled to the distal end of the plunger. The plunger is shaped to define a second passageway that passes through the plunger from a proximal end of the plunger to the distal end of the plunger, and is positioned to facilitate testing of the filter. The apparatus is configured such that while the plunger is advanced within the tube while fluid is within the tube, the fluid in the tube is pushed through the filter, through the first passageways, and into the one or more compartments. Other embodiments are also described.

A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample, including a filtration assembly, which includes a tubular container and a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger head and a plunger rod that is shaped so as to define an internal plunger space having a plunger-space proximal opening through a proximal end of the plunger rod. The sampling device is configured such that a filter is removable from the tubular container via the plunger-space proximal opening while the plunger head is within the tubular container. Other embodiments are also described.

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Beit Shemesh, Israel

Robert Eric Levitz