Endometrial sampler

Abstract

Abstract 1405556 Endometrial sampler KENDALL CO 18 Sept 1973 [29 Sept 1972] 43781/73 Heading A5R An endometrial sampler comprises a hollow tube 16 having a sampling end 18 containing a plurality of sampling ports 22 communicating with the interior of the tube, and a flexible sleeve 24 surrounding the tube and slidable with respeot to it, the sleeve and the tube being reciprocable with respect to one another between a sampling position, Fig 2, in which sleeve 24 exposes at least one of the sampling ports 22 and a second. position, Fig 1 (not shown) in which the sleeve engages a forward stop 20 on the tube and covers all the sampling ports. Approximately one inch from its front end 26 the sleeve 24 carries a slightly tapered collar 28 which acts as a cervical stop. A rear stop 17, formed by a shoulder on a connector 15, together with the cervical stop limits travel of the sampling end beyond the cervix (30), Fig 3 (not shown). Thus, when the tube 16 is fully advanced within the sleeve 24, Fig 2, the rear end 34 of the sleeve abuts the rear stop 17 and all the sampling ports 22 are exposed. The tube 16 has a closed, rounded tip 20 of larger external diameter than the remainder of the tube, the tip constituting a forward stop which limits the rearward travel of the tube within the sleeve 24. The sleeve is shorter than the length of the tube between the tip 20 and the rear stop 17 by about two inches and has an external diameter approximately equal to that of the tip, its front end 26 abutting smoothly against the tip 20, providing a smooth closed exterior surface. At the end remote from its sampling end, the tube 16 carries the connector 15 which is engageable with a source of suction, e.g. Figs 1, 5 (not shown), a syringe (12) having a retractable plunger (14), a pump or a bulb aspirator (not shown). the tube 16, preferably of stainless steel, has a portion adjacent its sampling end 18 which is smoothly curved through an acute angle. The tube may be of rigid or maleable material.

Inventors

No inventors recorded.

Bibliographic Details