Cervical inspection device, methods of control thereof, and cervical sampling brush

A cervical inspection device for performing a cervical smear test, the device comprising:

• a tubular body having a first end which is engagable by an operator and a second end which is configured to be insertable into a patient's vaginal canal, the tubular body having a central bore which extends along its longitudinal axis for receiving a cervical sampling brush therethrough;
• an expansion element at the second end of the tubular body;
• and
• control means operable from the first end of the tubular body for selectably expanding and/or contracting the expansion element;
• and characterised by
• the expansion element is expandable and/or contractable at the second end of the tubular body without altering a dimension of the tubular body, the expansion element forming a circumferentially-bound protective region beyond the central bore in an expanded condition thereof for the said cervical sampling brush to move through during the cervical smear test, and
• further comprising the cervical sampling brush comprising:
• an elongate stem;
• and
• a cervical sampling head having a central hub and a lateral support, the cervical sampling head having a plurality of flexible sampling bristles thereon;
• wherein in a sampling condition, the lateral support has a first lateral extent relative to the elongate stem, and in a retraction condition, the lateral support is movable or foldable towards an axis of the elongate stem to adopt a second lateral extent which is less than the first lateral extent, so as to be receivable into the tubular body without the plurality of flexible sampling bristles contacting the tubular body or the expansion element.