Patent ID: 7517323
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A mucous gathering device, comprising: a) an elongated rotatable stem having a longitudinal axis, b) a rotary headpiece carried at an end of the stem for angular flexing as the stem rotates, c) the headpiece having a face sized for presentation to the cervix entrance as the headpiece rotates about an axis angled relative to the stem, d) said face having associated flexible means for gathering and retaining mucous proximate the cervix as the headpiece rotates, e) and a flexible rotary probe carried by the headpiece, said probe projecting forwardly and centrally relative to said associated flexible means and defining edges spaced apart to gather and propel mucous generally toward the headpiece in response to probe rotation in an opening defined by the cervix, f) and including first flexible drive elements operatively connected to the stem and projecting radially relative to the stem longitudinal axis, and second flexible drive elements operatively connected to the headpiece and projecting generally longitudinally relative to the stem and everywhere spaced from the stem, there being a universal pivot for the headpiece, the pivot spaced from all said elements, said first drive elements having free first terminals and said second drive elements having free second terminals, said free first terminals everywhere spaced from said free second terminals and spaced about said stem axis from the free second terminals, the second driven elements projecting in the paths of rotation of the first drive elements about said stem axis to become drivingly and flexibly interengaged with said first drive elements, all said elements projecting free of said universal pivot, g) said first and second drive elements, consisting of prongs, wherein each first drive element prong interengages a second drive element prong from a pair, wherein each pair of first and second prongs having cruciform interengagement.