Apparatus and method for taking cultures endoscopically

Claim 1

In combination: a cannula having an opening therethrough; and an apparatus to take a culture sample from within a body cavity through the cannula opening, said apparatus comprising: means for collecting and transferring a culture sample from within a body cavity, said collecting and transferring means including an elongate extension with a swab thereon, said elongate extension facilitating introduction of the swab into a body cavity; means for shielding the swab to facilitate introduction thereof into a body cavity, said shielding means being movable into said cannula opening; and cooperating means on the shielding means and at least one of the elongate extension and swab for guiding relative movement thereof between a) a shielded position wherein transportation of the swab into and out of a body cavity is facilitated and b) an exposed position wherein the swab is exposed sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity from which a culture sample is to be taken.

Claim 15

An apparatus to take a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula having a through passageway with a diameter, said apparatus comprising: an elongate extension having a swab thereon to pick up and transfer a culture sample from within a body cavity; means for shielding the swab to facilitate introduction thereof into a body cavity with said shielding means comprising an introducer tube having a length and a proximal and distal end, said introducer tube having a wall defining an introducer tube through passageway wherein the wall of the introducer tube has an outside diameter that is less than the diameter of the through passageway on the cannula through which the introducer tube extends to allow the introducer tube to be directed to an operative position within the cannula wherein the swab can access a cavity from which a sample is to be taken with the swab; and cooperating means on the shielding means and at least one of the elongate extension and swab for guiding unobstructed relative movement thereof between a) a shielded position wherein transportation of the swab into and out of a body cavity is facilitated and b) an exposed position wherein the swab is exposed sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity from which a culture sample is to be taken.

Claim 16

An apparatus to take a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula having a through passageway with a diameter, said apparatus comprising: an elongate extension having a swab thereon to pick up and transfer a culture sample from within a body cavity; means for shielding the swab to facilitate introduction thereof into a body cavity with said shielding means comprising an introducer tube having a length and a proximal and distal end, said introducer tube having a wall defining an introducer tube through passageway wherein the wall of the introducer tube has an outside diameter that is less than the diameter of the through passageway on the cannula through which the introducer tube extends to allow the introducer tube to be directed to an operative position within the cannula wherein the swab can access a cavity from which a sample is to be taken with the swab; and cooperating means on the shielding means and at least one of the elongate extension and swab for guiding unobstructed relative movement thereof between a) a shielded position wherein transportation of the swab into and out of a body cavity is facilitated and b) an exposed position wherein the swab is exposed sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity from which a culture sample is to be taken.

Claim 19

An apparatus to take a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula, said apparatus comprising: an elongate extension having a swab thereon to pick up and transfer a culture sample from within a body cavity; means for shielding the swab to facilitate introduction thereof into a body cavity with said shielding means comprising an introducer tube having a length and a proximal and a distal end, said introducer tube having a wall defining a through passageway; cooperating means on the shielding means and at least one of the elongate extension and swab to guide unobstructed movement of the swab relative to the shielding means between a) a shielded position wherein transportation of the swab into and out of a body cavity is facilitated and b) an exposed position wherein the swab is exposed sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity within a body from which a culture sample is to be taken; and means on the elongate extension for maintaining the swab in the shielded position and limiting lengthwise movement thereof relative to the introducer tube.

Claim 20

An apparatus to take a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula, said apparatus comprising: an elongate extension having a swab thereon to pick up and transfer a culture sample from within a body cavity; means for shielding the swab to facilitate introduction thereof into a body cavity with said shielding means comprising an introducer tube having a length and a proximal and a distal end, said introducer tube having a wall defining a through passageway; cooperating means on the shielding means and at least one of the elongate extension and swab to guide unobstructed movement of the swab relative to the shielding means between a) a shielded position wherein transportation of the swab into and out of a body cavity is facilitated and b) an exposed position wherein the swab is exposed sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity within a body from which a culture sample is to be taken; and means on the elongate extension for maintaining the swab in the shielded position and limiting lengthwise movement thereof relative to the introducer tube.

Claim 24

An apparatus to take a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula, said apparatus comprising: an elongate extension having a swab thereon to pick up and transfer a culture sample from within a body cavity; means for shielding the swab to facilitate introduction thereof into a body cavity through the cannula wherein the shielding means comprises an introducer tube having a length and a proximal and a distal end, said introducer tube having a wall defining a through passageway; cooperating means on the shielding means and at least one of the elongate extension and swab to guide relative movement thereof between a) a shielded position wherein transportation of the swab into and out of a body cavity is facilitated and b) an exposed position wherein the swab is exposed sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity within a body from which a culture sample is to be taken wherein the cooperating means comprises a surface on the introducer tube wall and a stopper on the elongate extension to engage the surface of the introducer tube wall and move lengthwise thereagainst to guide movement of the elongate extension and swab between the shielded and exposed positions wherein the stopper is positioned between the swab and a removable boss on the elongate extension when the swab is in the shielded position.

Claim 25

An apparatus to take a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula, said apparatus comprising: an elongate extension having a swab thereon to pick up and transfer a culture sample from within a body cavity; means for shielding the swab to facilitate introduction thereof into a body cavity through the cannula wherein the shielding means comprises an introducer tube having a length and a proximal and a distal end, said introducer tube having a wall defining a through passageway; cooperating means on the shielding means and at least one of the elongate extension and swab to guide relative movement thereof between a) a shielded position wherein transportation of the swab into and out of a body cavity is facilitated and b) an exposed position wherein the swab is exposed sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity within a body from which a culture sample is to be taken wherein the cooperating means comprises a surface on the introducer tube wall and a stopper on the elongate extension to engage the surface of the introducer tube wall and move lengthwise thereagainst to guide movement of the elongate extension and swab between the shielded and exposed positions wherein the stopper is positioned between the swab and a removable boss on the elongate extension when the swab is in the shielded position.

Claim 26

An apparatus to take a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula, said apparatus comprising: an elongate extension having a swab thereon to pick up and transfer a culture sample from within a body cavity wherein the elongate extension and swab are provided with at least one radio-opaque strip thereon so when the elongate extension and swab are in a body cavity they are detectable by an X-ray taken of a body cavity; means for shielding the swab to facilitate introduction thereof into a body cavity, said shielding means being movable into the cannula; and cooperating means on the shielding means and at least one of the elongate extension and swab to guide relative movement thereof between a) a shielded position wherein transportation of the swab into and out of a body cavity is facilitated and b) an exposed position wherein the swab is exposed sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity from which a culture sample is to be taken.

Claim 27

An apparatus to take a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula, said apparatus comprising: an elongate extension having a swab thereon to pick up and transfer a culture sample from within a body cavity wherein the elongate extension and swab are provided with at least one radio-opaque strip thereon so when the elongate extension and swab are in a body cavity they are detectable by an X-ray taken of a body cavity; means for shielding the swab to facilitate introduction thereof into a body cavity, said shielding means being movable into the cannula; and cooperating means on the shielding means and at least one of the elongate extension and swab to guide relative movement thereof between a) a shielded position wherein transportation of the swab into and out of a body cavity is facilitated and b) an exposed position wherein the swab is exposed sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity from which a culture sample is to be taken.

Claim 28

An apparatus to take a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula, said apparatus comprising: an elongate extension having a swab thereon to pick up and transfer a culture sample from within a body cavity wherein the elongate extension is comprised of a non-heat conducting pyrogenic material; means for shielding the swab to facilitate introduction thereof into a body cavity; and cooperating means on the shielding means and at least one of the elongate extension and swab to guide unobstructed movement of the swab relative to the shielding means between a) a shielded position wherein transportation of the swab into and out of a body cavity is facilitated and b) an exposed position wherein the swab is exposed sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity from which a culture sample is to be taken.

Claim 29

An apparatus to take a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula, said apparatus comprising: an elongate extension having a swab thereon to pick up and transfer a culture sample from within a body cavity wherein the elongate extension is comprised of a non-heat conducting pyrogenic material; means for shielding the swab to facilitate introduction thereof into a body cavity; and cooperating means on the shielding means and at least one of the elongate extension and swab to guide unobstructed movement of the swab relative to the shielding means between a) a shielded position wherein transportation of the swab into and out of a body cavity is facilitated and b) an exposed position wherein the swab is exposed sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity from which a culture sample is to be taken.

Claim 30

A method of obtaining a culture sample from within a body cavity through the cannula, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a cannula into a body cavity; introducing an elongate extension having a swab thereon into the cannula; exposing the swab through the cannula sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity from which a culture sample is to be taken; isolating the culture sample from contaminants prior to withdrawal of the swab from the cannula; and transferring a sample from the body cavity to a culture medium without contaminating the culture sample.

Claim 31

A method of obtaining a culture sample from within a body cavity through the cannula, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a cannula into a body cavity; introducing an elongate extension having a swab thereon into the cannula; exposing the swab through the cannula sufficiently to allow it to access a body cavity from which a culture sample is to be taken; isolating the culture sample from contaminants prior to withdrawal of the swab from the cannula; and transferring a sample from the body cavity to a culture medium without contaminating the culture sample.

Claim 39

A method of obtaining a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula, said method comprising the steps of: directing an elongate extension having a swab thereon into an introducer tube having proximal and distal ends and a hollow passageway therethrough; inserting the cannula into a body cavity; introducing the elongate extension having the swab thereon and the introducer tube into the cannula; exposing the swab through the cannula by removing a boss on the elongate extension bearing against the proximal tube end and sliding the elongate extension lengthwise through the introducer tube so that the swab is exposed to a body cavity from which a culture sample is to be taken; isolating a culture sample from contaminants prior to withdrawal of the swab from the cannula; and transferring the culture sample from the body cavity to a culture medium without contaminating the culture sample.

Claim 40

A method of obtaining a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula, said method comprising the steps of: directing an elongate extension having a swab thereon into an introducer tube having proximal and distal ends and a hollow passageway therethrough; inserting the cannula into a body cavity; introducing the elongate extension having the swab thereon and the introducer tube into the cannula; exposing the swab through the cannula by removing a boss on the elongate extension bearing against the proximal tube end and sliding the elongate extension lengthwise through the introducer tube so that the swab is exposed to a body cavity from which a culture sample is to be taken; isolating a culture sample from contaminants prior to withdrawal of the swab from the cannula; and transferring the culture sample from the body cavity to a culture medium without contaminating the culture sample.

Claim 41

A method for obtaining a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula, said method comprising the steps of sequentially: inserting a cannula into a body cavity; providing an introducer tube defining a hollow passageway and having proximal and distal ends; directing an elongate extension having a swab thereon into the hollow passageway of the introducer tube; inserting the introducer tube and elongate extension into the cannula; removing a boss on the elongate extension bearing against the proximal introducer tube end; sliding the elongate extension through the introducer tube passageway exposing the swab to a body cavity to place a culture sample on the swab; retracting the swab from the body cavity into the distal introducer tube end without contaminating the culture sample; transferring the introducer tube and elongate extension into a culture medium; and snapping the introducer tube and elongate extension leaving the swab in the culture medium.

Claim 42

A method for obtaining a culture sample from within a body cavity through a cannula, said method comprising the steps of sequentially: inserting a cannula into a body cavity; providing an introducer tube defining a hollow passageway and having proximal and distal ends; directing an elongate extension having a swab thereon into the hollow passageway of the introducer tube; inserting the introducer tube and elongate extension into the cannula; removing a boss on the elongate extension bearing against the proximal introducer tube end; sliding the elongate extension through the introducer tube passageway exposing the swab to a body cavity to place a culture sample on the swab; retracting the swab from the body cavity into the distal introducer tube end without contaminating the culture sample; transferring the introducer tube and elongate extension into a culture medium; and snapping the introducer tube and elongate extension leaving the swab in the culture medium.