Specimen-gathering apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A specimen gathering device comprising:
- an elongate housing having a bore therethrough, a first end, a second end, and a spring compression member disposed within said bore;
a moveable piston means disposed within said bore having a proximal end disposed within said bore, and a spring engagement member located within said bore, said spring compression member being located between said proximal end and said spring engagement member;
a push rod having a handle end extending exterior to said first end of said housing and a proximal end disposed within said bore and in contact with said piston means spring engagement member;
a spring means in spring engagement with said spring management member and said spring compresion member urging said piston means toward said first end;
an ejectable scoop member having a scoop end and an insert end, said insert end removably mounted within said second end so that said ejectable scoop member is removed from said second end when said piston is moved toward said second end and said proximal end forces said ejectable scoop member out of said second end; and
a sealing member, sized to sealingly engage a pre-selected container having an open end, said sealing member fixed to the exterior of said elongate housing and oriented to seal said second end within said container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A specimen gathering method and apparatus having a piston operated ejectable scoop member. Preferably, the specimen gathering device inserts into a container and releasably seals the container. The apparatus is useful for gathering and transporting stool and other biological specimens.
79 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A specimen gathering device comprising:
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an elongate housing having a bore therethrough, a first end, a second end, and a spring compression member disposed within said bore; a moveable piston means disposed within said bore having a proximal end disposed within said bore, and a spring engagement member located within said bore, said spring compression member being located between said proximal end and said spring engagement member; a push rod having a handle end extending exterior to said first end of said housing and a proximal end disposed within said bore and in contact with said piston means spring engagement member; a spring means in spring engagement with said spring management member and said spring compresion member urging said piston means toward said first end; an ejectable scoop member having a scoop end and an insert end, said insert end removably mounted within said second end so that said ejectable scoop member is removed from said second end when said piston is moved toward said second end and said proximal end forces said ejectable scoop member out of said second end; and a sealing member, sized to sealingly engage a pre-selected container having an open end, said sealing member fixed to the exterior of said elongate housing and oriented to seal said second end within said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for the sanitary collection of stool or other biological samples comprising:
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(a) collecting a portion of the sample in an ejectable scoop member held in a scoop member housing; (b) inserting the sample containing scoop member into a cylindrical container having an open end and a closed end; (c) dislodging the sample from the scoop member into the container; and (d) disengaging the ejectable scoop member from said scoop member housing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification