Sampling device and method for preparing the same
AssigneeRovers Holding B.V.
InventorMeindert Durk Zwart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a sampling device for sampling a body cavity, in particular for sampling the vagina and/or cervix. The sampling device comprises a tube having two open ends, a sample-collecting member and a plunger. The plunger is inserted in the tube, with the distal plunger end protruding from the distal tube end, and carries the sample-collecting member at the proximal tube end. The plunger is displaceable in the proximal direction in the tube from a retracted introduction position into an extended sampling position. In the introduction position, the sampling member is situated inside the tube and protrudes from the tube in the sampling position.
Claims22
A sampling device for sampling a body Cavity, the sampling device comprises:
- a tube having an open proximal tube end and an open distal tube end;
- a sample-collecting member;
- a plunger having a proximal plunger end, a distal plunger end, and an axial direction;
- and
- an extension limiter,
- wherein the plunger is inserted in the tube, with the distal plunger end protruding from the distal tube end, and the plunger carries the sample-collecting member at the proximal tube end;
- the plunger is displaceable in a proximal direction in the tube from a retracted introduction position to an extended sampling position;
- in the introduction position, the sample-collecting member is situated inside the tube,
- the sample-collecting member protrudes from the tube in the sampling Position;
- the extension limiter defines a maximum extension length over which the sample-collecting member can be extended from the proximal tube end;
- and
- the extension limiter comprises an extension lock which, viewed in the axial direction of the plunger, fixes a relative position of the plunger with respect to the tube at the maximum extension length.
(canceled)
A method of preparing a sampling device packaged in packaging, the sampling device comprising a tube, a sample-collecting member, a plunger, and an extension limiter, the tube having an open proximal tube end and an open distal tube direction, wherein the plunger is inserted in the tube, with the distal plunger end protruding from the distal tube end, the plunger carries the sample-collecting member at the proximal tube end, the plunger is displaceable in a proximal direction in the tube from a retracted introduction position to an extended sampling position, the sample-collecting member is situated inside the tube in the introduction position, the sample-collecting member protrudes from the tube in the sampling position, the extension limiter defines a maximum extension length over which the sample-collecting member can be extended from the proximal tube end, and the extension limiter comprises an extension lock which, viewed in the axial direction of the plunger, fixes a relative position of the plunger with respect to the tube at the maximum extension length, the method comprising:
- an unwrapping step in which the sampling device is removed from the packaging;
- an inspection step in which the sampling-collecting member, before or after the unwrapping step, is inspected by a patient to be sampled, with the sampling-collecting member protruding from the tube during the inspection step;
- and
- a retraction step in which the sampling-collecting member, by displacing the plunger in the distal direction with respect to the tube, is retracted into the tube into the introduction position, with the retraction step taking place after the inspection step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.