Patent ID: 8992861
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: B01L,C12M,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A device for capturing cells suspended in a liquid medium on to a filter membrane, for preparing samples for cytological analysis, the device comprising: a tube comprising first and second ends, the first end of said tube being closed by the surface of a filter membrane adhered to or welded to the thickness of the walls of said tube, a piston comprising a rod connected to a bearing at one end of the rod, said piston configured to fit inside the tube and to freely slide in the tube along an axis parallel to the walls of the tube, and a block of hydrophilic absorbent material placed inside the tube, the absorbent material positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the filter membrane and between the inner surface of the filter membrane and the piston bearing, wherein the bearing has a shape that matches the shape of the inner diameter of the tube, but has a size that is smaller than the inner diameter of the tube so that the edges of the bearing are not continuously contacting the surface of the inner wall of the tube and so that the piston can freely slide when inside the tube, and wherein the absorbent material can absorb the liquid medium, with the medium passing through the filter membrane and into the absorbent material while the cells are trapped on the outer surface of the filter membrane.