Inventors:
Robert Hasselbrack - Seattle WA
Assignee:
Accupap, Inc. - Seattle WA
International Classification:
A61B 1000
Abstract:
An elongated plastic aspirator tube has a proximate end portion adapted for quick connection to a suction-generating device, such as a rubber squeeze bulb or a syringe, for collection of cell-containing mucus from the uterine endocervical canal, and a flattened distal end portion forming a spatulate scraper for collecting cells exfoliated from the transformation zone of the uterine cervix. The spatulate scraper includes a frontal lobe through which the bore of the aspirator tube opens, an adjacent lateral lobe abuttable against the ring of the cervix projecting into the vagina for positively positioning the apertured distal end of the frontal lobe at approximately the external os and a concave transition portion forming a scraping edge joining and faired into the adjacent edges of the two lobes. In a simple "one step" procedure, mucus from the endocervical canal is aspirated into the tube and the entire circumferential extent of the transformation zone scraped by rotation of the tube for collection of freshly exfoliated cells to be deposited on the flat surface of a slide. A circumferential rib divides the barrel of the tube into a long straight handle portion having longitudinally extending ridges assuring a slip-free grip and a shorter cylindrical stem carrying the spatulate scraper for spreading the collected samples uniformly and thinly on the slide surface.