US4235244A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microbiological specimen sampling device
Assignee: Boston Scientific Corp
•
Filing: 1978-07-27
•
Granted: 1980-11-25
•
Expires: 1998-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A microbiological sampling device has inner and outer catheter tubes with a specimen sampling brush within the inner catheter body. A plug of water soluble material closes a distal end of the outer catheter body to prevent contamination of the inner catheter body and the brush during introduction into an organism, as for example, when placed in the lungs. The plug can be ejected and the sampling brush extended within the lungs to enable the brush to collect uncontaminated bacteria samples which are brushed into the inner body whereupon the entire assembly can be withdrawn. The plug protects the specimen sampling brush during introduction and is readily dissolvable avoiding unwanted biological problems, yet sealing the assembly against contamination.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. Abele
- 👤 Robert G. Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/04; A61B2010/0216
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device for obtaining contamination-free specimens, said device comprising a first outer catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end, a second catheter body having a distal end. a sample collector contained within said second catheter body, a removable water soluble plug engaging and sealing a portion of said first catheter body toward said distal end in position between said distal end of said first catheter body and said distal end of said second catheter body, means for moving said first catheter axially with respect to said second catheter body and means for extending said sample collector beyond both said catheter body distal ends to permit said plug to be discharged and said sample collector advanced to obtain a sample.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device for obtaining contamination-free specimens, said device comprising a first outer catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end, a second catheter body having a distal end. a sample collector contained within said second catheter body, a removable water soluble plug engaging and sealing a portion of said first catheter body toward said distal end in position between said distal end of said first catheter body and said distal end of said second catheter body, means for moving said first catheter axially with respect to said second catheter body and means for extending said sample collector beyond both said catheter body distal ends to permit said plug to be discharged and said sample collector advanced to obtain a sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sample collector is a brush.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said water soluble plug is a polyethylene glycol material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said plug is formed of a polyethylene glycol material formed in place from a melt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said material has a weight of from 5 to 100 milligrams.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device for obtaining contamination-free specimens, said device comprising a first outer catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end, a second catheter body having a distal end, a sample collector contained within said second catheter body, a removable plug engaging and sealing a portion of said first catheter body toward said distal end in position between said distal end of said first catheter body and said distal end of said second catheter body, means for moving said first catheter axially with respect to said second catheter body and means for extending said sample collector beyond both said catheter body distal ends to permit said plug to be discharged and said sample collector advanced to obtain a sample.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device for obtaining contamination-free specimens, said device comprising a first outer catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end, a second catheter body having a distal end, a sample collector contained within said second catheter body, a removable plug engaging and sealing a portion of said first catheter body toward said distal end in position between said distal end of said first catheter body and said distal end of said second catheter body, means for moving said first catheter axially with respect to said second catheter body and means for extending said sample collector beyond both said catheter body distal ends to permit said plug to be discharged and said sample collector advanced to obtain a sample.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a microbiological specimen sampling device for collecting bacterial specimens in a contamination-free manner, said device comprising a catheter having a distal end with a collector within that distal end, the improvement comprising a removable plug of a water soluble biocompatible material sealing said end against contamination when said distal end is introduced into the body of an individual.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a microbiological specimen sampling device for collecting bacterial specimens in a contamination-free manner, said device comprising a catheter having a distal end with a collector within that distal end, the improvement comprising a removable plug of a water soluble biocompatible material sealing said end against contamination when said distal end is introduced into the body of an individual.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein said water soluble biocompatible material is polyethylene glycol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a method of collecting bacterial samples without contamination, the process comprising selecting a double-tubed catheter having a collector within an inner tube with the inner and outer tubes each having distal ends coaxially arranged and axially spaced from each other, a plug of a water soluble biocompatible wax-like material plugging the distal end of said outer tube, introducing said device into a body cavity, moving said outer tube with respect to said inner tube to expel said plug into the body, moving said collector with respect to said device to enable said collector to collect a bacterial specimen, reversing movement thereof and bringing said specimen within said inner tube, and withdrawing said device from the body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a method of collecting bacterial samples without contamination, the process comprising selecting a double-tubed catheter having a collector within an inner tube with the inner and outer tubes each having distal ends coaxially arranged and axially spaced from each other, a plug of a water soluble biocompatible wax-like material plugging the distal end of said outer tube, introducing said device into a body cavity, moving said outer tube with respect to said inner tube to expel said plug into the body, moving said collector with respect to said device to enable said collector to collect a bacterial specimen, reversing movement thereof and bringing said specimen within said inner tube, and withdrawing said device from the body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said wax-like material is a polyethylene glycol.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with the method of claim 10 wherein said device is introduced into the lungs.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of forming a water soluble plug on an end of a catheter body, said method comprising, drawing a water soluble molten material into an end of said catheter and permitting said material to harden therein to form said plug, said plug being formed of a material which is biocompatible and dissolvable in the body.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of forming a water soluble plug on an end of a catheter body, said method comprising, drawing a water soluble molten material into an end of said catheter and permitting said material to harden therein to form said plug, said plug being formed of a material which is biocompatible and dissolvable in the body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said catheter has an outer diameter of no more than about 1.8 millimeter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said water soluble plug has a weight of from 5 to 100 milligrams and is capable of dissolving in the body in no more than ten minutes at body temperature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with the method of claim 14 wherein said water soluble plug is formed of a polyethylene glycol material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with the method of claim 12 wherein said material once positioned in said catheter is not displaced by melting during sterilization of said catheter body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
86 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device for obtaining contamination-free specimens, said device comprising a first outer catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end, a second catheter body having a distal end, a removable water soluble plug engaging and sealing a portion of said first catheter body toward said distal end in position between said distal end of said first catheter body and said distal end of said second catheter body, means for moving said first catheter axially with respect to said second catheter body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device for obtaining contamination-free specimens, said device comprising a first outer catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end, a second catheter body having a distal end, a removable water soluble plug engaging and sealing a portion of said first catheter body toward said distal end in position between said distal end of said first catheter body and said distal end of said second catheter body, means for moving said first catheter axially with respect to said second catheter body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device in accordance with claim 17 wherein said water soluble plug is a polyethylene glycol material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device in accordance with claim 17 wherein said plug is formed of a polyethylene glycol material formed in place from a melt.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A microbiological specimen sampling device in accordance with claim 17 wherein said material has a weight of from 5 to 100 milligrams.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a microbiological specimen sampling device for collecting bacterial specimens in a contamination-free manner, said device comprising a catheter having a distal end, the improvement comprising a removable plug of a water soluble biocompatible material sealing said end against contamination when said distal end is introduced into the body of an individual.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a microbiological specimen sampling device for collecting bacterial specimens in a contamination-free manner, said device comprising a catheter having a distal end, the improvement comprising a removable plug of a water soluble biocompatible material sealing said end against contamination when said distal end is introduced into the body of an individual.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-25 | 1984-05-26 | 1984-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-25 | 1988-05-26 | 1988-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-25 | 1992-05-26 | 1992-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |