Tick removal and capture tool

A tick removal medical tool has an arcuate scoop with a converging V-shaped groove that moves in under the rear of the tick. Upward and outward sloping edges of the groove gently lift a tick's abdomen, legs, thorax, head and mouthpieces in that order without squeezing or decapitating the tick. A compartment in a handle holds a removable live tick trap with a hinged front door. An arcuate edge of the door matches the arcuate scoop and sweeps the live tick into the trap. A thick concave urger at the door edge centers, lifts and sweeps the tick. A probe extending forward below the urger engages and lifts the tick as the probe is raised by the upward and outward sloping surfaces of the groove. The hollow handle holds supplies or receives an extended live trap with inward sloped exit preventors imprisoning multiple live ticks for analysis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ticks carry diseases. Particular species of ticks are more likely to carry particularly dangerous diseases. Ticks have three mouth parts extending from a head. One of the mouth parts is a hypostome, a knife with barbs that resist withdrawal. The barbed knife-like part has a groove that carries saliva into a host and carries blood out. Two other mouth parts are sharp-pointed chelicerae which work to pull the hypostome into the host until the head is pulled tight against the host's skin. The tick's body fills with blood and swells.

A tick can bite without pain and remain attached for hours or days. If the body is squeezed, blood and saliva flows back into the host. It is important to lift the tick and its head from the skin without squeezing the tick. It is also necessary to see the tick when lifting it and to lift the head to pull the mouth parts from the skin. It is important to capture the tick and to observe the captured tick to try to identify its species.

It is important to capture the tick alive and to observe the captured tick by the removing person or test laboratory to try to evaluate its species.

Other devices for removal of ticks from the skin kill the tick by drowning in fluids like baby oil, burned by heat, crushed by improper removal, electrocuted or frozen, all damaging or killing the tick, making it difficult or impossible to identify the species. Test laboratories teach live ticks are the preferred form for accurate identification.

The invention solves problems of pulling the complete tick from a body, seeing the tick as it is pulled, and capturing for observing the captured tick.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an all-inclusive medical device that includes means to locate, position, remove, sweep, capture, observe, identify, store, submit for testing, or dispose of a tick in a removable and replaceable locked container, without any secondary requirements that may include touching or handling a loose tick by a removing person.

The invention is an all-inclusive medical device for antiseptically removing parasitic ticks from both humans and animals. The device has a handle on an arcuate scoop with a tapered centered slot that assists in positioning the tick for removal. The hinged door attached to a trap, includes a compliant nudging member, and when closed, nudges and separates the tick from the skin and sweeps it into a now locked trap that is removable and can be held, tested, or disposed. There are no secondary operations needed.

An integral magnifying lens in the hinged trap door is positioned above the scoop allows observation of the tick for correct positioning in the scoop's slot. A compliant finger-like nudger attached to the center of the hinged trap door, when closing, arcs along the “v” notch contacting the tick-attaching mouth part and nudges, detaches and sweeps it into a trap that is now locked. a second magnifying lens can be included in the top of the trap helps in identifying the type of tick lodged in the trap. The removable trap may have an extension that fits into all or part of the handle storage space. The trap extension has a natural sticky glue coating along all of the internal walls of the trap. This configuration is designed for animals and the capture of dozens of ticks within each trap. The trap extension includes a funnel like opening with the smallest opening facing inwardly that does not allow for personal contact with the interior. The trap with extension is designed to capture and terminate ticks not for testing.

A handle, which is attached to the scoop and retains the trap assembly, includes a compartment for holding supplies like antiseptic wipes, bandages and other tick related information. A loop for attaching the device to a belt, backpack, collar, leash, or key chain is provided on the end of the handle. A printed sleeve or label fits over the handle identifies species of relevant ticks and sizes and can be used to compare with the captured tick in the removable trap. The invention is an all-in-one medical device that includes means to locate, position, remove, sweep, capture, observe, identify, store, submit for testing, or dispose without any secondary requirements that may include touching or handling a loose tick by the removing person.

A strap attached to the trap door allows for the trap to be opened after removal from the device. An extended strap is design to allow the trap for animals to be opened without removing from the device.

The invention is an all-inclusive tool for antiseptically removing ticks from both animals and humans. A handle on an arcuate scoop with a tapered slot assists in positioning the tick. A hinged sweeper cooperates with the scoop for lifting the tick's body and head for removal. A magnifying lens in the hinged sweeper above the scoop allows observation of the tick for correct placement in the scoop's slot. A fork on an edge of the hinged sweeper moves along the scoop, capturing and pulling the tick's head, and locks the tick into a closed trap. A second magnifying lens above the trap helps in identifying the type of tick lodged in the trap. A handle, which is attached to the scoop and trap assembly, includes a compartment for holding supplies. A loop for attaching the tool to a belt, backpack or key chain is provided on the end of the handle. A printed sleeve fits on the handle, identifies ticks and sizes and compares them with one or more ticks in the trap.

The invention is an all-in-one device that includes a means to locate, remove, capture, withdraw, observe, identify and store a tick without any contact between the tick and a removing person.

The invention includes a tick remover and trap having a tick scoop.

A V-shape notch in the scoop is wide at the front of the scoop and narrowing toward the center of the scoop.

A handle is connected to the back of the scoop. A compartment is in the handle at the back of the scoop. A trap is positionable in the compartment for retaining one or more removed ticks. The trap has a top, sides, a bottom, a back and a front. A door has a top, sides and a bottom and a hinge connecting the top of the door and to the trap.

The top of the door is connected to the trap near an intersection of the top and the front of the trap. The bottom of the door contacts the bottom of the scoop near the narrowing of the V-shaped notch for urging a tick toward the front of the trap. The scoop is curved and the bottom of the door is curved to sweep along the curved scoop to lift a tick, its legs and mouth parts from skin and to move a tick toward the trap.

Lower portions of the scoop sides are curved inward toward the curved bottom of the door to sweep a tick toward the trap.

The front of the trap is open to receive one or more ticks removed by the scoop and the door.

The door closes the open front of the trap. The door is held closed on the front of the trap by friction or cooperating snaps. The door has extensions on the back of the door extending from the sides and the bottom of the door for sweeping the scoop and urging a tick toward the trap.

The V-shaped notch has upward sloping edges for lifting a tick as the scoop relatively moved under a tick. The door has a nudger extending rearward from a center of the bottom of the door. The nudger is V-shaped, narrowing inward toward a center of the nudger.

A flexible finger extends below and forward of the nudger toward the trap. The flexible finger has flat lower surfaces and a depending middle projection. The flat lower surfaces engage the upward sloping edges of the V-shaped notch, and the depending middle projection rides in the V-shaped notch until the sloping side edges near an apex of the V-shaped notch lift the flexible finger, which in turn gently lifts the tick, its head and rostrum proboscis from skin.

The handle has a hollow body and has a longitudinally hinged lid connected to the hollow body. The hollow body is used for storage of auxiliary devices.

In one form, the trap is longitudinally extended, has longitudinally extended walls and extends into the hollow body beneath the lid. The trap includes angular inward and rearward extending barriers extending into the trap from longitudinal walls spaced slightly inward from the front of the trap adapted for preventing live ticks held deep in the trap from crawling outward beyond the barriers toward the front of the trap.

The new invention urges ticks outward from skin by engaging a tick from its rear and lifting legs of a tick onto a scoop, urging the tick along a V-shaped notch narrowing inwardly in the scoop, gently lifting the scoop and notch by moving the handle downward, following the tick inward along the scoop and into an open front end of a trap with a door hinged to a top of the trap, and capturing the tick in the trap by closing the door over the front end of the trap.

The method of the invention further includes nudging the tick away from the skin with upwardly sloping side edges of the V-shaped notch and with a nudger extending inwardly toward the trap along a bottom edge of the door. The new method further includes urging a tick upward from skin with the flexible finger extending forwardly from a bottom of the nudger.

Raising the flexible finger with the upwardly sloping side edges of the V-shaped notch lifts the tick head. The flexible finger is configured for gently lifting a head and rostrum proboscis of a tick from skin.

The method further includes rotating the scoop and trap upward and shaking a freed tick to a back of an elongated trap beyond inward sloping tick return-preventing extensions near the front of the trap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows the tick removal and capture tool10.FIG. 2shows the V-slot in the removal scoop50.FIG. 3is a detail of the removal scoop50.FIG. 4is a detail of the sweeper40that is hinged on the removal tool10. The tool10has a handle12with a compartment14and a lid16for holding objects such as narrow-jawed tweezers and other items that may be useful on a walk or hike. A loop18at the end of handle12is useful to attach to a line, hook, chain or caribiner. The front of handle12is connected to the trap20. The trap has ridges22on its sides24to provide secure finger and thumb gripping areas. An end26of the trap near the handle12is closed by a wall. The bottom28of the trap is also closed. The top30of the trap20has a wall32holding an integrally formed magnifying lens34for viewing a tick captured within the trap and observing features of the tick which may be indicative of its species.

A living hinge36at a front of top30connects to a sweeper40. The generally planar sweeper has a straight rear edge42which is attached to the living hinge36. A curvilinear free edge44surrounds the front and sides of the sweeper. A wall45inside the raised edges44has an integrally molded magnifying lens45. Lens45allows observation of the tick and the tick's body, legs and head as parts of the tool10are being arranged around a tick. A sweeper fork46extends downward around a tick from the front of the sweeper40. The sweeper fork has triangular teeth separated by an inward converging triangular gap48with an apex49.

The front tick removal part of tool10has a curvilinear scoop50. Scoop50has two forward and upward curving sections52and54which are spaced apart by a generally triangular V-slot53. The slot53terminates inwardly in an apex56. The curvilinear scoop50has a complex curved surface curved around a longitudinal radius and around a radius from a center of the living hinge36. Curved sides of the scoop50are constructed to closely cooperate with the curved edge44of the sweeper40to capture and trap a targeted tick.

FIGS. 5 and 6are a plan view and a vertical cross-sectional view of the tick removal and capture tool10showing the sweeper40and fork46in a raised home position before the tool is used. The trap20is open while the sweeper40is raised. Lens34in trap20and lens45in the sweeper are shown in the cross-section. The curvature of scoop50is also shown.

FIGS. 7 and 8are a plan view and a vertical cross-sectional view of the tick removal and capture tool10showing the sweeper40and fork46at about a 54° downward rotation after the scoop has been rotated and pressed downward under a tick to begin the removal of the tick by engaging the tick under its body and head in the cooperating apexes of the scoop and sweeper before engaging the tick under its head. The sweeper40is shown in the partially downward position. A tick60has been located. The scoop50of the tool10has been manipulated with the handle12so that the scoop is pressed downward on the skin around the place where the tick is attached. Using the handle to slide and rotate the spaced curving sections52under the tick, the tick is positioned in or near the apex56of the V-slot53between the curved sections of the scoop. The sweeper40has been rotated downward so that the fork46engages the tick near the apex56of the sweeper's V-slot.

FIGS. 9 and 10are a bottom view and a detail showing apex56of the scoop50and apex46of sweeper40as they are moved together under the tick and its head.FIGS. 9 and 10show the relative position of the sweeper's converging gap48and its apex49with respect to the apex56of the triangular slot53in the scoop50when the tick is ready to be lifted from the skin.

FIGS. 11 and 12are a plan view and a vertical cross-sectional view of the tick removal and capture tool10showing the sweeper40and fork46in the locked position as the front of trap20.

FIGS. 11 and 12show the position of the sweeper40when it is locked in the down position to hold the tick in trap20. The lens34in the top30of trap20and the lens45in sweeper40are used to view and identify, if possible, the tick held in the trap.

As shown inFIG. 13, the handle12may be encased in a slidable sleeve70with graphics helping to identify the tick.

The trap may be detachable from the handle. The trap with the hinged and locked sweeper may be separated from the handle and separately stored with the captured tick. A replacement trap with an attached hinged sweeper may replace the separated trap.

Each detachable and replaceable trap has a top, bottom, rear and side walls. A sweeper is hinged to the front of top. Side walls of the replaceable traps fit inside side walls extending forward from the handle. Bottom of the replaceable trap fits inside a forward extending bottom that is attached to the handle and to the side walls extending forward from the handle.

L-shaped locks extend inward from side walls to fix the trap in place until it is intentionally removed after capturing a tick. The scoop is attached to the bottom and side walls of the tool.

As shown inFIG. 14, the tool10may have a trap20with a depressed bottom80that holds a tick and prevents it from crawling out of an open trap when tool10, sweeper40and scoop50are used to lift and sweep another tick into the trap.

As shown inFIG. 15, the tool10may be molded in parts. The handle12, the trap top32and the sweeper40, and the front of the trap20and scoop50, may be molded as separate units.

FIGS. 16-23are views and details of an embodiment of a tool100with an insertable and removable trap120having an attached sweeping and locking door140attached by a living hinge136.

FIG. 16shows the trap120nested in a holder111which extends forward from a handle110. A holder has sides112with grooves113for gripping, a rounded bottom114and an open top116. Curved scoop150extends from holder111. Projections152are separated by V-slot153.

As shown inFIG. 17, the sides112having openings212which form springs214for holding inward projecting retainer beads216. The bottom has a rhomboidal-shaped opening115shown inFIG. 18to stabilize a similar projection125on a rounded bottom124of removable trap120. Rounded sides122of the trap terminate upwardly in grooves126to receive the elongated detent retainer beads216on side springs. A top130of trap120is flat. A back134completes the body of the trap and fits against the front wall of handle110. The sweeping and locking door140has a back edge142which is joined by a living hinge136to the top130of the trap120.

The fork146and guides148are rounded and contact the curved inside of scoop150as the sweeper door140is rotated downward and inward around living hinge136. The fork146and guides148aid in lifting and in preventing escape of a tick about to be swept into and captured in the trap120. Fork146and guides148then contact the inside of rounded bottom wall124of the trap, holding the sweeper door140closed.

The entire trap120and attached sweeper door140are transparent. With a little shaking, a trapped tick can be lodged in the clear projection125at the bottom of the trap120for close viewing and identification.

Side and rear views of the removable trap120and sweeper door140are shown inFIGS. 22 and 23.

FIG. 16is a perspective detail showing a removable trap seated and locked in a holder between a handle and a scoop.

FIG. 17is an exploded view showing the trap out of the holder.

FIG. 18is a bottom view showing a clear projection from a bottom of the trap in a similarly shaped opening in the bottom of the holder.

FIG. 19is a top plan view andFIG. 20is a side view of the tool.

FIGS. 21, 22 and 23are perspective, side and rear views of the removable trap.

FIG. 24shows a modified tick remover and trap.

FIG. 25is a side cross-section of the tick remover and trap.

The tool210has handle212with a removable and replaceable trap220. The handle212has a living hinge joined top214opening to a compartment216to hold bandages, antiseptic wipes and submission tags for marking and submitting the trap with its captured ticks to tick and disease identification facilities. A sleeve with instructions and graphics slides over the handle212to hold the top closed.

The arcuate scoop230that extends forward from the handle212has a tapered “V” slot232to slide under the back of a tick. A ring219at the back of the handle212attached to a belt or backpack. A living hinge222attaches a hinged trap door224to the top of the open front of the replaceable tick trap220. The top, bottom, sides and back of the trap220are solid. A magnifying lens226is centered in the hinged trap door224. An enlarged curved nudge228at the curved bottom of the trap door224cooperates with the arcuate scoop230to sweep the captured tick from the “V” slot232into the trap220. The trap door224is held closed by friction and complementary snaps until the door is pulled open with the trap door opening strip229attached to the outside of the rounded bottom of the door.

A hole234through the bottom of the trap housing218in handle231allows the trap220to be pushed upward out of the housing. Grips236at the sides of the handle housing are held when inserting the scoop and groove232beneath a back of a tick.

FIG. 26shows a tick remover with an extended trap.

FIG. 27is a front perspective view of the tick remover.

FIG. 28is a top view of the tick remover shown inFIG. 26with the top open and the trap removed.

FIG. 29is a top view of the axially elongated trap for fitting inside the holder shown inFIG. 28.

FIG. 30is a side view of the tick remover, sweep door, finger and opening strap.

Another construction shows an elongated trap250. The front is the same. After a tick is pushed back by the door, the tool210is tipped vertically and shaken to dislodge the ticks toward the back of the long trap. The sloping252walls, top and bottom stop the ticks from returning toward the door. Looking through the magnifying lens226on the door224, one observes that the front of trap250is empty before pulling on the opening strip229to open the door for another capture. The elongated trap250is particularly useful when lifting multiple ticks from animals.

The door224has snaps225to cooperate with snaps227on the trap220to hold the door closed.

FIG. 31is a top detail of the tick remover.

FIG. 32is a top perspective view of the tick remover with a sweeper door above the scoop.

A top view detail of the scoop230and “V” slot232inFIG. 31shows the top and the front portion of trap220or250in place. Trap250is being placed in or removed from the tool210as shown inFIG. 32. The sweeper door260as shown inFIG. 32has outer edges262that increase in dimension from near the top264of the door to the bottom266of the door. The sides of the door have stops265that prevent over downward travel of the door.

The bottom of the door has an opening268which tightly holds an assembly270that includes an opening strip272nudgers274.

FIG. 33is a top perspective view of the tick remover with a sweeper door being moved into the scoop.

As shown inFIG. 33, as the door220closes the curved door sides sweep along the curved scoop230. The nudger228leads the bottom edge266of the door260as it sweeps along the complementary curved scoop230. The V-shaped slot232walls234are sloped and tapered to cooperate with the nudger228in lifting and centering a tick. A living hinge222on the lifting strip219allows the door224to be pulled open in any direction without affecting the operation of the nudger228.

FIG. 34is a perspective detail of an inside of the sweeper door having a nudge with a “V” notch.

As shown inFIG. 34on the inside of the door220, the nudger228has a V-shaped notch276to aid in centering the tick and its legs that is being lifted and swept into the trap.

FIG. 35is a perspective detail of an inside of the sweeper door having a nudge with a “V” notch with a flexible finger for engaging a tick in the scoop.

As shown inFIG. 35, below the nudger228a flexible finger280is mounted. The finger has an upper part282with a bottom surface284that rides on and is lifted by the sloped surfaces of the “V” notch to the inner surface of the scoop. A lower central extension286fits within the “V” notch until it is lifted by the “V” groove to lift the tick from the inner end of the groove.

FIG. 36is an enlarged perspective detail of a lower part of a hinged door with a V-shaped nudge and a flexible finger on a nudge pushing or following a tick along the notch in the scoop as it moves beneath a tick.

As shown inFIG. 36, the flexible ridge finger284and the nudger274have upward and rearward sloping leading walls to help lift the tick. The ridge finger flexes upwardly following the scoop into the trap. The nudger and the finger cooperate to sweep the tick upwardly into the trap.

One construction of the assembly270is shown with the nudger274being a main part280of the assembly270. The lifting strip272and the nudger274and finger280are made of one molding and, together with the tightly holding rigid molding290, form the door insert assembly270.

The flexible finger280is extended forward of the nudger290. The nudger is shown in two spaced parts292,294to keep a lifted tick centered and moving toward the trap.

FIG. 37is a detail of the nudger and flexible finger.