Skin test applicator
First Claim
1. A skin test applicator comprisingan applicator handle having a top for dripping and a bottom,a plurality of applicator test elements storable separately from said applicator handle, each of said test elements having a top and a bottom, and at least one skin-puncturing test head on the bottom of the test element for holding a desired testing agent for a diagnostic skin test when said test elements are pressed against a skin surface, andcomplimentary coupling means on the top of said test elements and the bottom of said applicator handle to permit said handle to operatively pick up and releasably hold any one of said test elements when it is desired to use said test elements.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A skin test applicator has a applicator handle (21) and separately storable test elements (13). A complimentary snap-fit attachment structure (33, 43) is provided on the applicator handle and test elements to permit the applicator handle to operatively pick up and hold one or more test elements from a suitable sterile storage tray. The skin test applicator reduces storage requirements and the amount of refuse that must be discarded immediately following the administration of a skin test for the diagnosis of an allergic response or other diagnostic test.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A skin test applicator comprising
an applicator handle having a top for dripping and a bottom, a plurality of applicator test elements storable separately from said applicator handle, each of said test elements having a top and a bottom, and at least one skin-puncturing test head on the bottom of the test element for holding a desired testing agent for a diagnostic skin test when said test elements are pressed against a skin surface, and complimentary coupling means on the top of said test elements and the bottom of said applicator handle to permit said handle to operatively pick up and releasably hold any one of said test elements when it is desired to use said test elements.
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3. A skin test applicator comprising
an applicator handle, a plurality of applicator test elements storable separately from said applicator handle, each of said test elements having at least one skin-puncturing test head for holding a desired testing agent for a diagnostic skin test when said test elements are pressed against a skin surface, and complimentary coupling means on said test elements and said applicator handle to permit said handle formed to operatively pick up and releasably hold at least two of said test elements at the same time.
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4. A skin test applicator comprising
an applicator handle, a plurality of applicator test elements storable separately from said applicator handle, each of said test elements having at least one skin-puncturing test head for holding a desired testing agent for a diagnostic skin test when said test elements are pressed against a skin surface, and complimentary coupling means on said test elements and said applicator handle to permit said handle to operatively pick up and releasably hold any one of said test elements when it is desired to use said test elements, said complimentary coupling means comprising complimentary snap-fit channel means wherein said applicator handle operatively engages and holds said test element when the snap-fit channel means on said applicator handle is pressed into snap-fit engagement with the complimentary snap-fit channel means on said test element and wherein said test element can be slidably removed from said applicator handle.
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9. A skin test applicator comprising
an applicator handle a plurality of test elements storable separately from said applicator handle, each of said test elements having a plurality of skin-puncturing test heads, said test heads being disposed in spaced relation on each of said test elements for receiving and holding desired testing agents for producing simultaneously applied and spaced apart diagnostic skin tests when said test element is pressed against a skin surface, complimentary coupling means on each of said test elements and on said applicator handle to permit said handle to operatively pick up and hold any one of said test elements when said test elements are used.
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15. An skin test applicator comprising
a plurality of separately storable test strips, each of said test strips having a plurality of skin-puncturing test heads disposed in spaced relation along said test strip for receiving and holding desired testing agents for producing simultaneously applied and spaced apart diagnostic skin tests when said test strip is pressed against a skin surface, an applicator handle having a gripping portion and laterally extending side portions which produce a bottom surface on said handle, the bottom surface of said handle having opposite lateral edges, a receiving channel having a defined width formed on the bottom surface of said applicator handle along each of the opposite lateral edges thereof, inwardly depressible pairs of locking tabs projecting from said test strips in a spaced relation that corresponds with the width of said receiving channels, said locking tabs having projecting locking ends that snap fit into one of said receiving channel when forced against said channel.
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17. A skin test applicator handle for skin test elements storable separately therefrom comprising
a grip portion, laterally extending side portions, and test element coupling means for releasably coupling to complimentary coupling means on the storable skin test elements to permit said handle to operatively pick up and releasably hold the test elements in spaced relation along the lateral side portions thereof.
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19. A test element for a skin test applicator comprising
an elongated base member having opposite lateral edges, at least two skin-puncturing test heads disposed in spaced relation along said base member, and coupling means on said base member to permit the test element to be operatively picked up and releasably held by a separate applicator handle having complimentary coupling means.
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22. A method for performing skin tests for an allergic response comprising
storing a plurality of test elements in a defined spacial relation, said test elements having upwardly facing coupling means and at least one skin-puncturing test head carrying a desired allergenic testing agent, gripping an applicator handle having a top for gripping and a bottom which includes coupling means complimentary to the coupling means on said plurality of test elements, the coupling means on the bottom of said applicator handle being adapted to pick up and releasably hold at least one of said plurality of test elements at a time, placing said applicator handle bottom down onto a test element of said plurality of test elements such that the complimentary coupling means on said applicator handle and said test element couple together to permit the applicator handle to pick up and releasably hold said test element, picking up said applicator handle and the test element coupled thereto and, with the applicator handle, pressing the test head of said test element against the skin of a patient to apply an allergenic testing agent thereto, removing the applicator handle and test element from the patient'"'"'s skin, releasing said test element from the applicator handle for the purpose of discarding said test element, and reusing said applicator handle to pick up and releasably hold another test element from said plurality of test elements.
Specification