Applicator device for a flat element for sampling of microorganisms, such as a petri dish

A portable hand-operated and passive applicator device, which is set on a surface (2) from which a sample is to be taken, said applicator device comprising:

• a frame (6,7) comprising a base (7) defining a support surface (9) on said surface (2), and a side opening (7a) for introducing and extracting laterally a replaceable flat sampling element (1) in a reverse upright position for sampling a microorganism on the surface (2), and complementary retaining means (13) located inside said base, arranged for slidably engaging an external border (5) of said sampling element (1);
• a pusher (10) slidably mounted on a plate (6) in said frame (6,7) in a direction perpendicular to said support surface (9), wherein said pusher comprises a bearing head (11) for slidably engaging the back of said sampling element when said sampling element is in its reverse position, in order to contact the sampling element with the surface (2);
• and
• biasing means (12) mounted between said pusher (10) and said frame, for returning said pusher towards the support surface (9),
• wherein said sampling element comprises a disk defining an internal recess (3) and the external border (5), and a layer of a culture medium (4) contained in said internal recess which defines a sampling surface (4a) above said border, when said sampling element is in a normal upright position for culturing the sampled microorganism.