ABEL Microsampler

The development of the ABEL Microsampler® followed a systematic medical device design process, beginning with in-depth user research to identify the limitations of existing nasal sampling methods and the unmet needs in the space.

Insights from over 30 healthcare professionals, including ENT specialists, respiratory clinicians, and nurses, were translated into formal design input requirements. These formed the foundation for the device’s development, ensuring alignment with real-world clinical and research needs.

Selection of the ABEL Microsampler®’s collection methodology was driven by a comprehensive literature review and extensive laboratory testing to identify the optimal approach for high-quality nasal fluid sampling. Efficient recovery of proteins and analytes, along with compatibility with modern diagnostic platforms, were identified as critical success factors for the device’s performance.

Bench studies were conducted to evaluate various absorbent materials and collection geometries, with specific focus on analyte preservation and recovery, ensuring samples remain viable for advanced biomarker analysis after collection.

Human factors and usability considerations guided the early concept phase, with particular focus on probe expansion, site-specific targeting, and ergonomic handling. The device was intentionally dimensioned to accommodate a broad range of nasal anatomies while minimising material use.

Iterative prototyping and bench testing were conducted at Diag-Nose Medical’s facility in Victoria, with each design cycle informed by clinician feedback and technical evaluation.

Material selection prioritised patient safety, durability, and biocompatibility, culminating in the selection of suitable medical-grade materials.

A built-in depth limiter was engineered as a critical safety feature to prevent over-insertion and mitigate risk of skull base trauma.

The final design underwent full verification, validation, and compliance testing to meet safety and regulatory standards.

With ARTG registration and FDA listing secured, the ABEL Microsampler® is an innovative device that enables consistent, site-specific nasal fluid collection, revolutionising respiratory research and precision diagnostics.

The ABEL Microsampler® was shaped by a clear vision: to make nasal sampling a more reliable and comfortable process whilst fulfilling its potential in novel diagnostics and therapeutic discovery.

Developed through extensive consultation with ENT specialists, lab staff, and users, its design reflects a holistic process grounded in real-world insight.

The device’s ergonomic form clearly communicates its purpose and function. Its slim handle and soft probe tip reinforce comfort and approachability, while the intuitive expanding mechanism enables precise, site-specific fluid collection.

In usability studies, first-time users consistently operated the device correctly, precisely targeting the intended site.

Compared to traditional swabs, the ABEL Microsampler® delivered significantly more consistent sample volumes, supporting richer nasal biomarker detection.

Its smooth, compact design was intentionally engineered to present the device as non-threatening.

Ongoing clinical studies have reported most participants having little to no anxiety over the sampling procedure, and most preferring to use the ABEL Microsampler® over traditional swabs for nasal sampling.

Safety and quality were foundational to ensure full compliance with FDA and TGA regulations. Safeguards, including controlled expansion and insertion depth limits, were engineered to prevent misuse and protect patient safety.

Materials were carefully selected for biocompatibility and durability, with dimensions optimised to accommodate a wide range of anatomies.

The design was also optimised to minimise material use, reducing environmental impact and reinforcing a commitment to sustainable innovation.

Diag-Nose Medical is a proud Victorian MedTech company dedicated to developing next-generation precision medicine platforms here in Melbourne.

By delivering better diagnostic data without costly equipment or repeat procedures, the ABEL Microsampler® showcases a great example of the benefits from investment into professional design.

It is being investigated for a wide range of use cases including asthma diagnosis, lung transplant matching, lung cancer diagnosis, asbestos exposure detection and respiratory drug discovery both locally and internationally.

The ABEL Microsampler® represents a significant breakthrough in medical device design for respiratory diagnostics.

Traditional nasal swabs suffer from variability in depth, site, and sample volume, limiting their utility for advanced molecular analysis. They often collect cells, which introduce noise when analysing low-abundance biomarkers; key targets for emerging diagnostics and drug development.

The ABEL Microsampler® addresses these challenges through its innovative, patent-pending expanding probe that captures reproducible, site-specific nasal fluid while preserving analyte stability.

This design elevates sampling consistency, improves biomarker yield, and significantly reduces pre-analytical variability, unlocking the true potential of nasal fluid for precision medicine.

The ABEL Microsampler® was designed with a strong focus on human factors and usability, resulting in a user-centered design that reduces collection errors, and enables high-quality sampling without specialist training.

This makes it ideal for use in primary care, community clinics, and remote or low-resource settings.

Its accessibility has the potential to transform respiratory research by broadening participation and improving sample quality across diverse populations.

For researchers and clinicians, it enables deeper insights into respiratory disease and faster, more informed treatment decisions.

For patients, its gentle design reduces anxiety and improves compliance, helping clinicians intervene earlier with targeted therapies.

These innovations have been formally recognised by the National Institutes of Health, receiving commendation during several proposal review meetings.

By uniting precision, ease of use, and accessibility, the ABEL Microsampler® redefines what is possible in nasal fluid diagnostics.

It equips clinicians with a novel tool to access critical biomarker data that was previously out of reach, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, expanding research capabilities, and advancing the future of personalised respiratory care.

The ABEL Microsampler® demonstrates how thoughtful, user-centred innovation can transform routine clinical procedures to deliver dramatically better outcomes for both patients and healthcare systems.

The impact of the ABEL Microsampler® spans clinical, commercial, societal, and environmental domains.

With chronic respiratory disorders affecting 1 in 3 Australians and healthcare costs exceeding $4.54 billion annually, improving sample quality offers a critical commercial opportunity for earlier diagnosis and personalised care.

Clinicians gain a powerful new tool that improves their ability to diagnose and monitor respiratory conditions, enabling them to tailor treatments with rich nasal biomarker data that was previously inaccessible.

Studies have shown that the quality of samples collected with the ABEL Microsampler® allows it to be analysed with greater precision than other samples obtained from traditional methods.

Early adopter interest from globally recognized research institutions has validated the design investment, with use cases spanning a wide range of applications.

Media coverage from outlets like 9News, Yahoo Finance, and the BBC has further boosted visibility and showcases the strength of Victoria’s design and innovation capabilities on an international stage.

From a sustainability perspective, the ABEL Microsampler® is designed with efficient material usage with its compact formfactor.

Compared to conventional swab collection kits, the ABEL Microsampler® can extract over 4x the sample volume, allowing for more testing to be conducted on the one sample, while still maintaining equivalent waste levels.

The device will support precision diagnostics to guide more accurate therapy selection, reducing pharmaceutical waste from ineffective or unnecessary treatments and contributing to a more sustainable healthcare system, where emissions account for 7% of Australia’s total CO₂ output.

The ABEL Microsampler® embodies how investing in a professional design process can contribute to a better, safer, and more prosperous future where advanced healthcare is more accessible, gentler on patients, and conscious of its impact on the environment.

With its impact reaching global markets, the ABEL Microsampler® elevates Victoria’s reputation for producing creative solutions to real-world design challenges.