FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an excreta specimen collection device that is particularly suitable for the collection of urine specimens, especially from females and infirm patients, but that may also be used in the collection of specimens of faeces.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The collection of specimens of urine and, less commonly faeces, is known to present difficulties to patients and medical staff, the difficulties being particularly prevalent in the collection of urine samples from female and infirm patients.

A number of different collection devices adapted to be supported by the rim of a toilet bowl have been proposed in the past but those of which applicant is aware all have one or more drawbacks.

One general type of device is described in prior United States patents 5, 146,637 to Bressler et al ; 6,358, 477 to Webb et al ; and 3,501, 781 to Ott.

Each of these provides a collection funnel that spans a major part of the area of the toilet bowl and, in two of these proposals the lower end of the collection funnel terminates in a removable collection receptacle. The device is therefore large and, if made as a disposable item, costly. If not, there is the problem of sterilizing the funnel part adequately to maintain hygienic conditions and also'to avoid contamination of subsequent specimens collected utilizing the funnel. The size and configuration of these devices also presents handling difficulties.

A second general type of device is described in United States patents 4,137, 573 to Kroeger; 5,060, 317 to Bertelsen ; and 6,151, 972 to Venter et al.

Each of these devices has a collection trough supported at the front of the rim of a toilet bowl by a bracket of some form or another and a collection receptacle in one form or another that may optionally be disposable. These devices are inconvenient, if not ineffective, in the collection of a midstream urine sample and cannot be used practically for the collection of a faeces sample. Once again, handling of the collection device cannot easily be achieved in a hygienic and convenient manner without a good chance of physical contact being made with some of the specimen taken.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide an excreta specimen collection device that may be employed to have enhanced versatility in its use and that facilitates handling of samples taken using it in a hygienic manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention there is provided an excreta specimen collection device comprising a support frame adapted to be supported on the rim of a toilet bowl and a specimen collection receptacle adapted to be releasably supported by the support frame in a position within the toilet bowl, the device being characterized in that the support frame is operatively generally horizontal and is adapted to extend transversely across a toilet bowl such that two end regions thereof are supported on opposite sides of the toilet bowl rim and in that the lateral position of the specimen collection receptacle within the toilet bowl is operatively adjustable to a predetermined extent.

Further features of the invention provide for the support frame to be adapted to be loosely supported on the toilet bowl rim so as to be adjustable in P0249 2003-04-09

position in a forwards and rearwards direction; for the support frame to have a central region that is operatively horizontally lower than the end regions thereof that are supported by the toilet bowl rim in which case one side of the lower central region preferably has a length selected to cooperate with the edges of a toilet bowl rim to ensure location of the frame in an approximately central position with the other side of the lower central region being substantially shorter for enabling the frame to be located suitably forwards or rearwards relative to the toilet bowl rim; for said central region to be defined by a pair of parallel rails extending operatively generally horizontally and transversely relative to a toilet bowl with the collection receptacle being adjustable in position along the length of said parallel rails ; for the collection receptacle to clip loosely into its operative position relative to the support frame, and in particular, where appropriate, the rails ; for the collection receptacle to be disposable in nature and preferably to be a deep, thin walled, vacuum formed plastics collection receptacle ; and for at least one end of the frame to have a handle whereby the frame can be manually manipulated.

In a particularly preferred form of the invention the frame is formed as a generally endless bent length of metal section, typically a stainless steel wire, in which case the central regions of the section defining said rails are of different lengths as defined above. The stainless steel wire can be suitably coated in the regions that are to contact the toilet bowl rim, that is to say particularly in the end regions, as may be required.

The invention also provides as separate items, a support frame and a collection receptacle adapted to cooperate releasably with each other to form a collection device as defined above. Such a collection receptacle preferably has formations enabling it to be releasably clipped to the support frame.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

P0249 2003-04-09

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings :- Figure 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention illustrating its relationship to a toilet bowl that is shown in dotted lines (the toilet seat being omitted for clarity of illustration) ; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional front view of the upper portion of a toilet bowl supporting the device illustrated in Figure 1 and showing the toilet seat in position; and, Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a collection receptacle showing its relationship to the rails of the supporting frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a specimen collection device has a frame, generally indicated by numeral (1), and a generally rectangular, deep specimen collection receptacle (2) that is disposable and therefore releasably attached to the frame for use.

The frame is of generally elongate rectangular shape in plan view with two sides (3,4) and two ends (5, 6). The frame is formed of a bent length of suitable gauge stainless steel wire or rod the ends of which (not shown) are joined together in order to render it substantially endless. The length of the frame is chosen so that it projects over opposite sides of the rim (7) of a toilet bowl (8) so as to be capable of being supported over the toilet bowl in a generally horizontal orientation.

The central region of the one side (3) is bent downwards to define a longer operatively generally horizontal rail (9) and the central region of the other side (4) is bent downwards to the same extent to define a shorter operatively generally horizontal rail (10). The two rails are spaced apart; parallel ; and adapted to be in the same generally horizontal plane in the operative position, as shown.

The longer rail has a length selected to ensure that generally vertical portions (11) defining its ends serve to cooperate with the inside of the toilet bowl rim to ensure that neither end of the frame falls into the bowl inadvertently. The longer rail thus serves to locate, to some extent, the frame laterally relative to the toilet bowl. It is, however, short enough to be accommodated within a wide range of different sizes of toilet bowls.

The shorter rail (10) has a length chosen to enable the frame to be located at a suitable forwards position in a toilet bowl to enable a stream of urine to be collected. The shorter rail is nevertheless long enough to enable the lateral position of the receptacle (2) to be adjusted to a suitable extent that will be discussed further below.

The one end (6) of the frame is bent to form a laterally extending handle (12) whereby the entire collection device can be manually manipulated.

The collection receptacle (2) in this embodiment of the invention is an extremely thin walled plastics vacuum formed receptacle that is elongate in the direction extending between the two rails and has a finger grip (13) at each end. The finger grip is formed so that it serves additional functions and, in particular, it is shaped to form a spout at each end for facilitating the pouring of a liquid sample from the receptacle. Still further, the plastics material joining the finger grip to the receptacle itself is shaped to form a clip (14) to enable it to clip onto the rails as shown clearly in Figure 3. The clipping action is preferably easily releasable for purposes that will be further

discussed below. The collection receptacle is made to be disposable on a single use basis.

In use, a collection receptacle is clipped into position on the rails of the frame and, with the toilet seat (15) lifted off the toilet bowl rim, the frame is supported in a position in which it extends laterally across the toilet bowl, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The position of the receptacle relative to the rails can be adjusted according to the function that it is to serve in any particular instance. In the event that a conventional urine specimen is to be collected the receptacle will generally be positioned centrally along the length of the rails and the frame will be positioned so that the receptacle is centrally positioned across the width of the toilet towards the front thereof. The shorter rail is clearly located towards the front to enable this to be achieved.

A urine specimen can then be collected in the usual way and the receptacle can be manually manipulated by holding the handle (12) of the frame. It will be appreciated that this feature of the present invention contributes substantially towards the hygienic collection and handling of a urine specimen. Any required tests that can be carried out immediately can then be performed, such as a litmus or other indicator test that is conducted in real time. Alternatively, or in addition, as may be required, a specimen can be decanted into a container having a closure for sending it to a remote laboratory, once more simply by manipulating the handle of the frame.

Surplus urine can simply be poured into the toilet and the receptacle disposed of in a refuse bin. Release of the receptacle from the frame is achieved simply by manipulating handle to cause the receptacle to impact, for example, the edge of a refuse bin to release it from the rails and allow it fall into the bin.

A new receptacle can then be installed in position on the frame for use by a subsequent patient. It is important to note that the only need to touch a receptacle, and then generally only by way of the finger grip, is at the time

when a new receptacle is installed in position on the frame. The possibility of contact with a specimen is thus extremely remote.

The frame can, of course, be cleaned and sterilised in any suitable way, the stainless steel contributing significantly to the ease with which this can be carried out. It is, however, rarely necessary to clean the frame since it generally stays clean during use. Also, the sterility or otherwise of the frame cannot impact on the test results of a specimen taken since it does not come into contact with the specimen at all.

In the event that a midstream urine specimen is required, the receptacle can be positioned on the rails somewhat off-centre towards one side of the toilet bowl and a patient can easily move to cause a midstream urine specimen to be collected.

In the event that a faecal specimen is required, the frame can be located with the collection receptacle more towards the rear of the toilet bowl with the frame being orientated with the handle on the opposite side of the bowl so that the shorter rail is located towards the rear toilet bowl.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof. In particular, it is envisaged that the receptacle could be made in a form in which, after serving its purpose, it could be flushed down the toilet. Also, the frame could be made in any other suitable manner.