DIAGNOSTIC TAMPON AND THE USE THEREOF FOR COLLECTING CELLULAR MATERIAL

• US 3,850,160 A
• Filed: 02/06/1974
• Issued: 11/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Judy Wynne Denson
• Original Assignee: Judy Wynne Denson
• Inventors: Denson, Judy Wynne
• Primary Examiner(s): Medbery, Aldrich F.
• Application Number:
  US05/440,166
• Time in Patent Office: 293 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2B,263,270,285
• US Class Current: 600/572
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/2051 characterised by the material or the structure of the inner absorbing core
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/528 Atypical element structures, e.g. gloves, rods, tampons, toilet paper

Abstract

A diagnostic tampon comprising a supporting body, the surface of which is covered with a film of polycarbonate or a porous sheet composed of pure, biologically inert mixed esters of cellulose. The tampon is particularly adapted for collecting cellular material including bacterial, fungal and parasitic elements, from body cavities, in particular the vaginal cavity, for subsequent examination.

Claims

1. A tampon including a means for obtaining cell specimens for diagnosis which comprises a supporting body that is flexible, appropriately shaped and stiff enough to be inserted into a body cavity, said supporting body having a covering portion comprising an external film of polycarbonate or a porous sheet composed of biologically inert mixed esters of cellulose secured to the surface of said supporting body.

2. A vaginal tampon for obtaining cell specimens for diagnosis which comprises a cylindrical shaped, supporting body having a film of polycarbonate secured to the surface thereof.

3. A METHOD FOR COLLECTING AND EXAMINING CELLULAR MATERIAL FROM THE VAGINAL CAVITY WHICH COMPRISES:

A. INSERTING A TAMPOND, THE SURFACE OF WHICH IS COVERED WITH A FILM OF POLYCARBONATE, INTO THE VAGINAL CAVITY;

B. WITHDRAWING THE TAMPOND;

C. REMOVING THE FILM FROM THE TAMPOND AND PLACING IT ON A SLIDE;

D. FIXING AND STAINING THE CELLULAR MATERIAL ON THE FILM;

AND E. EXAMINING THE STAINED CELLULAR MATERIAL ON THE SLIDE.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein after step (d) the film is dissolved with an inert solvent before examining the stained cellular material on the slide.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of bromoform, chloroform, ethyl dichloride, methylene chloride, and 1,1,2-trichloroethane.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the solvent is chloroform.