Patent US2780528A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0296248A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4788985A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for cell sampling in a body cavity
Assignee: MEDTEST CORP
•
Filing: 1987-11-10
•
Granted: 1988-12-06
•
Expires: 2007-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A simple, inexpensive and accurate device of collecting human cells from a body cavity for cytodiagnosis comprising an absorbent carrier which contains an internal, rupturable fluid sac, a means for rupturing the fluid sac and an absorbent outer covering for collection of the cell sample.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick R. Manning
- 👤 Donald W. West
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
Single use apparatus for collecting cells from a body cavity for cytodiagnosis, the apparatus being self-administrable by a user and disposable after analysis of the collected cells, comprising: an elongated absorbent carrier sized to be substantially completely inserted into the body cavity; sterile fluid containing means located in said absorbent carrier to store a predetermined amount of sterile fluid, said containing means having at least a rupturable component; protective means associated with said absorbent carrier to prevent said rupturable component from being inadvertently ruptured by radial compression of said absorbent carrier; actuating means located at the back end of said absorbent carrier to be operated by the user for causing said rupturable component to be ruptured while said absorbent carrier is substantially completely positioned in the body cavity of the user; and an absorbent outer covering on said absorbent carrier for dislodging and retaining cells from the surface of the body cavity of the user, rupture of said containing means releasing sterile fluid to moisten said absorbent outer covering to aid in collecting and preserving a cell sample.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
Single use apparatus for collecting cells from a body cavity for cytodiagnosis, the apparatus being self-administrable by a user and disposable after analysis of the collected cells, comprising: an elongated absorbent carrier sized to be substantially completely inserted into the body cavity; sterile fluid containing means located in said absorbent carrier to store a predetermined amount of sterile fluid, said containing means having at least a rupturable component; protective means associated with said absorbent carrier to prevent said rupturable component from being inadvertently ruptured by radial compression of said absorbent carrier; actuating means located at the back end of said absorbent carrier to be operated by the user for causing said rupturable component to be ruptured while said absorbent carrier is substantially completely positioned in the body cavity of the user; and an absorbent outer covering on said absorbent carrier for dislodging and retaining cells from the surface of the body cavity of the user, rupture of said containing means releasing sterile fluid to moisten said absorbent outer covering to aid in collecting and preserving a cell sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sterile fluid is sterile saline.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sterile fluid containing means comprises a rupturable sac sized to contain therein sterile fluid in an amount ranging from about 0.25 ml to about 3.0 ml., and said carrier with said covering is sized to substantially lie within the human female cervix and vaginal vault.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the absorbent outer covering comprises gauze or cotton.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the absorbent outer covering comprises cotton covered with gauze.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sterile fluid containing means is a rupturable sac, and said absorbent carrier includes a channel for containing said rupturable sac, the channel sharing a substantially common longitudinal axis the said absorbent carrier and having a length less than that of said carrier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said protective means comprises a substantially rigid tube mounted in the interior of said absorbent carrier, and wherein said tube defines said channel and is provided with means for fluid communication between said channel and said absorbent outer covering.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said actuating means for rupturing said rupturable sac comprises a plunger which is capable of longitudinal motion in the interior of said channel and which is capable of compressing said rupturable sac.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 8 and further comprising an end cap rigidly attached to the back end of said absorbent carrier and having a hole therein, the hole being in communication with the channel and being capable of slidably holding said plunger.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plunger and the hole have a non-circular cross section and said plunger is engageable with said end cap upon rotation of said plunger, thereby permitting rotation of said absorbent carrier upon rotation of said plunger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the outer periphery of said end cap extends beyond the outer periphery of said absorbent carrier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said actuating means for rupturing said rupturable sac includes means carried by said plunger for preventing rupture of said rupturable sac by inadvertant actuation of said plunger.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said actuating means for rupturing said rupturable sac comprises a projection forming a part of said absorbent carrier, said projection being directed into the interior of said channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for rupturing the rupturable sac further comprises a plunger capable of longitudinal motion in the channel and capable of compressing and thereby rupturing the rupturable sac against the projection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the absorbent carrier has a substantially parabolic or conical forward end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising means for rotating said absorbent carrier about its longitudinal axis after sterile fluid has been released form said sterile fluid containing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US29061A
Cited
DE142903C
Cited
US1822566A
Cited
US3155091A
Cited
US3388043A
Cited
US3450129A
Cited
US3614245A
Cited
US3519364A
Cited
US3792699A
Cited
CA990020A
Cited
US3796211A
Cited
US3842166A
Cited
USRE29061E
Cited
US3932223A
Cited
US3979263A
Cited
US3918435A
Cited
US4014748A
Cited
US4157709A
Cited
US4150950A
Cited
US4286596A
Cited
US4223093A
Cited
US4245653A
Cited
US4252904A
Cited
US4415288A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-12-06 | 1992-06-06 | 1992-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-12-06 | 1996-06-06 | 1996-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-12-06 | 2000-06-06 | 2000-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |