Patent ID: 6514224
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A device for taking a biological or cytological smear from the human or animal body comprising a casing tube in which there is longitudinally movably arranged a swab carrier whose distal end is provided with a swab, and a displacement device which is arranged at the proximal end of the device and which further comprises a grip element arranged at the proximal end of the casing tube and an actuating grip connected to the proximal end of the swab carrier and by the actuation of which the swab carrier is movable relative to the casing tube at least between a first longitudinal position in which the swab is disposed entirely in the interior of the casing tube and a second longitudinal position in which the swab projects at least in part out of the distal end of the casing tube to receive the smear, wherein the swab carrier comprises at least distal and proximal carrier portions, which are releasably connected together by way of a coupling portion characterized in that the coupling portion (12) is introduced into the proximal carrier portion which is of a tubular configuration, wherein it extends in the proximal direction through the actuating grip and in the distal direction into a first axial opening at the proximal end of the distal carrier portion, and wherein the coupling portion locks the carrier portions relative to each other in their longitudinal direction by a positively locking, frictional locking and/or adhesive connection to the distal carrier portion and to the proximal carrier portion and/or the actuating grip in such a way that the connection thereof is releasable by pulling the distal end of the coupling portion in the proximal direction out of the first axial opening.