Swab for collection of biological samples

Claim 2

A swab for collecting biological samples comprising: an elongate handle having a proximal portion including a proximal end and a distal portion including a distal end, said handle including a shaft portion at said distal portion and a gripping portion at said proximal portion wherein said gripping portion is more rigid than said shaft portion; and a swabbing tip at said distal end for contacting and collecting a biological sample, said swabbing tip being formed of closed cell polymeric foam, said swabbing tip being softer and more resilient than said handle, said swabbing tip including surface discontinuity means for facilitating biological sample gathering, said surface discontinuity means including at least one concave groove in the surface of said swabbing tip said shaft portion being resilient enough to deflect under forces applied to said swabbing tip while collecting biological samples in a patient's throat.

Claim 3

A swab for collecting biological samples comprising: an elongate handle having a proximal portion including a proximal end and a distal portion including a distal end, said handle including a shaft portion at said distal portion and a gripping portion at said proximal portion wherein said gripping portion is more rigid than said shaft portion; and a swabbing tip at said distal end for contacting and collecting a biological sample, said swabbing tip being formed of closed cell polymeric foam, said swabbing tip being softer and more resilient than said handle, said swabbing tip including surface discontinuity means for facilitating biological sample gathering, said surface discontinuity means including at least one protuberance projecting outwardly from the surface of said swabbing tip said shaft portion being resilient enough to deflect under forces applied to said swabbing tip while collecting biological samples in a patient's throat.

Claim 4

A swab for collecting biological samples comprising: an elongate handle having a proximal portion including a proximal end and a distal portion including a distal end, said handle including a shaft portion at said distal portion and a gripping portion at said proximal portion wherein said gripping portion is more rigid than said shaft portion; and a swabbing tip at said distal end for contacting and collecting a biological sample, said swabbing tip being formed of closed cell polymeric foam, said swabbing tip being softer and more resilient than said handle, said swabbing tip including surface discontinuity means for facilitating biological sample gathering, said surface discontinuity means including at least one protuberance projecting outwardly from the surface of said swabbing tip said shaft portion being resilient enough to deflect under forces applied to said swabbing tip while collecting biological samples in a patient's throat.

Claim 5

A swab for collecting biological samples comprising: an elongate handle having a proximal portion including a proximal end and a distal portion including a distal end, said handle including a shaft portion at said distal portion and a gripping portion at said proximal portion wherein said gripping portion is more rigid than said shaft portion, said gripping portion including gripping means for facilitating holding said gripping portion and controlling the position of said swabbing tip while collecting a biological sample, said gripping means including a plurality of external channels on said gripping portion; and a swabbing tip at said distal end for contacting and collecting a biological sample, said swabbing tip being formed of closed cell polymeric foam, said swabbing tip being softer and more resilient than said handle, said shaft portion being resilient enough to deflect under forces applied to said swabbing tip while collecting biological samples in a patient's throat.

Claim 6

A swab for collecting biological samples comprising: an elongate handle having a proximal portion including a proximal end and a distal portion including a distal end, said handle including a shaft portion at said distal portion and a gripping portion at said proximal portion wherein said gripping portion is more rigid than said shaft portion, said gripping portion including gripping means for facilitating holding said gripping portion and controlling the position of said swabbing tip while collecting a biological sample, said gripping means including a plurality of external channels on said gripping portion; and a swabbing tip at said distal end for contacting and collecting a biological sample, said swabbing tip being formed of closed cell polymeric foam, said swabbing tip being softer and more resilient than said handle, said shaft portion being resilient enough to deflect under forces applied to said swabbing tip while collecting biological samples in a patient's throat.

Claim 9

The method of collecting biological samples of claim 4 wherein said closed cell polymeric foam is polyethylene foam.

Claim 10

The method of collecting biological samples of claim 4 wherein said swabbing tip is sterile.

Claim 11

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 4 wherein said swabbing tip includes a convexly shaped surface portion.

Claim 12

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 4 wherein said swabbing tip includes an ellipsoidally shaped surface portion.

Claim 13

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 4 wherein said swabbing tip includes a spherically shaped surface portion.

Claim 14

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 4 wherein said swabbing tip includes surface discontinuity means for facilitating biological sample gathering.

Claim 15

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 10 wherein said surface discontinuity means has an elongate shape having a major axis running along its longer dimension.

Claim 16

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 11 wherein said major axis is at an angle within the range of about 45° to 90° with respect to the elongate handle at said distal end.

Claim 17

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 10 wherein said surface discontinuity means includes at least one concave groove in the surface of said swabbing tip.

Claim 18

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 10 wherein said surface discontinuity means includes at least one protuberance projecting outwardly from the surface of said swabbing tip.

Claim 19

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 4 wherein said handle includes a shaft portion at said distal portion and a gripping portion at said proximal portion wherein said gripping portion is more rigid than said shaft portion.

Claim 20

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 15 wherein said shaft portion is curvalinearly shaped.

Claim 21

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 15 wherein said gripping portion is curvalinearly shaped.

Claim 22

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 15 wherein said shaft portion is curvalinearly shaped and said gripping portion is curvalinearly shaped.

Claim 23

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 18 wherein a plane containing said shaft portion and a radius of curvature for said shaft portion is coextensive with a plane containing said gripping portion and a radius of curvature of said gripping portion.

Claim 24

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 18 wherein said shaft portion is convexly shaped when viewed from the origin of the radius of curvature of said gripping portion.

Claim 25

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 18 wherein the origin of a radius of curvature of said shaft portion is opposed from the origin of a radius of curvature of said gripping portion.

Claim 26

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 15 wherein said gripping portion has a substantially rectangular cross section.

Claim 27

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 15 wherein said gripping portion includes gripping means for facilitating holding said gripping portion and controlling the position of said swabbing tip while collecting the biological sample.

Claim 28

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 23 wherein said gripping means includes a plurality of external channels on said gripping portion.

Claim 29

The method for collecting biological samples of claim 5 wherein said foam has a density of substantially about 2 pounds per cubic foot.