Abstract:
An intra-vaginal self-administered cell collecting device and method includes inserting a tampon-like telescoping tube intra-vaginally. The tube includes an expandable preformed absorbent member having a textured cover. The absorbent member also includes a retrieval member extending therefrom. The tube is manipulated to expel the absorbent member intra-vaginally. The tube is removed and the absorbent member is retained intra-vaginally for a period of time. The absorbent member is retained from expanding from its preform when exposed to vaginal fluids by means of a cover on the absorbent material. The cover also captures soughed-off cells in the vaginal fluids. The absorbent material is retrieved manually by the retrieval member.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The disclosures herein relate generally to a Pap test device and more particularly to a cervical specimen self-sampling device. 
     The Pap test (sometimes called a Pap smear) is a way to examine cells collected from the cervix and vagina. This test can show the presence of infection, inflammation, abnormal cells, or cancer. 
     A Pap test is an important part of a woman&#39;s routine health care because it can detect abnormalities that may lead to invasive cancer. These abnormalities can be treated before cancer develops. Most invasive cancers of the cervix are preventable if women have Pap tests and pelvic exams regularly. Also, as with many types of cancer, cancer of the cervix is more likely to be treated successfully if it is detected early. 
     A woman should have this test when she is not menstruating; the best time is between 10 and 20 days after the first day of the menstrual period. For about 2 days before a Pap test, she should avoid douching, or using vaginal medicines or spermicidal foams, creams, or jellies (except as directed by a physician). These may wash away or hide abnormal cells. 
     A Pap test is simple, quick, and painless; it can be done in a doctor&#39;s office, a clinic, or a hospital. While a woman lies on an exam table, the clinician inserts a speculum into her vagina to open it. To do the test, a sample of cells is taken from in and around the cervix with a wooden scraper or a small cervical brush or broom. The specimen (or smear) is placed on a glass slide or rinsed in liquid fixative and sent to a laboratory for examination. 
     A physician may simply describe Pap test results to a patient as “abnormal.” Cells on the surface of the cervix sometimes appear abnormal but are not cancerous. It is important to remember that abnormal conditions do not always become cancerous, and some conditions are more of a threat than others. A woman may want to ask her doctor for specific information about her Pap test result and what the result means. 
     When the test was first devised by George Papanicolaou, M.D., it was considered to be a test of vaginal pool cells to possibly detect uterine cancer. Fortuitously, it better detected cervical cancer. Ideally, a Pap test should capture squamous cells, which are cells from the transformation zone of the cervix. This zone is where the squamous cells and endocervical cells (including glandular cells) border upon one another. The transformation zone is where most cervical cancers originate. 
     There are countless women who do not obtain Pap tests every year as is recommended. This is because the test is unpleasant, painful, and for many women, it is embarrassing and/or humiliating. There are self-tests which have been developed and marketed. A benefit of the self-test is that some women who would otherwise not obtain a Pap test for the reasons given above, will be more likely to administer the self-test. However, some shortcomings of presently available self-tests are that they utilize a technology centered around fixing cells immediately in a glass slide and are designed to avoid so-called “contamination” of vaginal cells. These tests are cumbersome and produce slides that are sometimes inadequate due to an air drying artifact. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a self-administered Pap test which can provide a reliable sampling of cells for analysis. The present embodiments consider that vaginal pool cells are just as valuable as those obtained by the standard pap smear procedure; abnormal cells turnover much faster and slough off faster than normal cells. By testing cells in the vaginal pool, one can determine just as accurately when an abnormality exists. It is believed that each of these cell types slough off and enter the pool of vaginal fluids, which occurs through natural body fluid movement. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment, accordingly, provides an intra-vaginal self-administered cell collecting device. To this end, the device includes a tampon like telescoping tube containing an expandable preformed absorbent member. A textured cover is provided on the absorbent member for capturing sloughed-off cells residing in vaginal fluids and for substantially retaining the perform of the absorbent material from expansion after exposure to the vaginal fluids. 
     The principal advantages of this embodiment are that a large number of cells are captured for analysis; there is a lack of the avoidance factor of desired vaginal cells; and the self-administered cell collecting device is convenient and easy to use. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a cell collecting device. 
     FIG. 2 is another perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an absorbent member. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of a sealed container. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a kit for self-administered cell collection. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An intra-vaginal self-administered cell collecting device is generally designated  10  in FIG. 1, and includes a tampon-like telescoping tube  12  containing an expandable preformed absorbent member  14 . The absorbent member  14  includes a textured cover  16 , FIG. 2, for capturing sloughed-off cells residing in vaginal fluids. In addition, the textured cover  16  substantially retains the preform of the absorbent member  14  from expanding when the absorbent material  14  is exposed to the vaginal fluids. This is because without the cover  16 , the absorbent material  14  will react by expanding after absorbing the vaginal fluids. This is inherent in the absorbent material, and in fact, is desired when the absorbent material is used to function as a tampon. However, in the present device, the tampon-like absorbent member  14  is restrained from expansion by the textured cover. 
     The textured cover  16 , FIGS. 1 and 2, is textured sufficiently to be mildly abrasive but not irritating. The purpose of the textured cover  16  is two-fold. First, the textured cover  16  is of a restrictive shape and size so as to restrain the absorbent member  14  from expanding when exposed to moisture or fluids, particularly vaginal fluids. Second, the textured cover  16  is textured to capture sloughed-off cells residing in the pool of vaginal fluids. Natural body fluid movement draws the cells into the vagina such that they desquamate into the vaginal pool including squamous cells, glandular cells and endocervical cells. 
     The textured cover  16  may be a separate mesh sleeve covering the absorbent member  14 , or a separate member, molded and applied onto the absorbent member  14 , or may be a molded outer portion of the absorbent member. As another alternative, it may be possible to add the textured cover  16  as a coating, i.e. spray applied to the absorbent member  14 . In any case, the cover  16  will be porous enough to permit vaginal fluids to pass through to the absorbent member  14 , will be textured enough to capture the sloughed-off cells, and will have shape stability capable of retaining the absorbent member  14  from expanding from its preform. 
     The telescoping tube  12  includes a first telescoping member  12   a  containing the preformed absorbent member  14 , and a second telescoping member  12   b  which slides within first telescoping member  12   a  for expelling the preformed absorbent member  14  from an open end  13  of first member  12   a . In this manner, when the tube  12  is placed intra-vaginally, movement of the second telescoping member  12   b  within the first telescoping member  12   a , expels the preformed absorbent member  14  intra-vaginally. The tube  12  is removed after the preformed absorbent member is expelled intra-vaginally, as described above. The absorbent member  14  is retained intra-vaginally for a period of from about 30 minutes to about 4 hours. The preformed absorbent member  14  is manually retrievable by means of a flexible retrieval member  18 , which is attached to and extends from the preformed absorbent member  14 . 
     Due to the cover  16  being textured, sloughed-off cells residing in vaginal fluids are acquired and captured on the cover  16 . Also, the cover  16  retains the absorbent member  14  from expanding from its preform when exposed to the vaginal fluids. 
     Following retrieval of absorbent member  14 , FIGS. 3 and 4, the absorbent member  14  is placed in a sealable container  20  which contains a well-known fixative  22 . The container  20  is sealed by sealing cover  24 . Even when in the fixative  22 , the absorbent member  14  continues to be retained from expanding from its preform due to the presence of cover  16 . The sealed container  20  is placed in a shipping package  26  for shipping the container  20  to a test facility which can provide the required test of the acquired cells to determine the status of the cells as is done with any other Pap test sample. 
     A kit  30 , FIG. 4, is provided for self-administered intra-vaginal cell collection. The kit  30  is enclosed in a package  32  and includes the cell collecting device  10 , the shipping package  26 , the sealed container  20  and a form  34  to be completed by the user and returned with the sealed container. The form  34  is returned to the consumer with the laboratory test results. The form  34 , the sealed container  20  and the shipping package  26  may include a bar code  35  to assist in maintaining user identification. 
     As can be seen, the principal advantages of these embodiments are that they provide an absorbent tampon device with a textured surface to encourage the sloughing of cells and absorption of these cells by the tampon. Surface texture on the absorbent tampon may be enhanced by surrounding the tampon with a polymer mesh or by compression molding of the absorbent material into a textured surface. The elongated applicator contains the tampon to facilitate placing the tampon adjacent to the cervix. The applicator has a length of approximately 15 cm and is approximately 1.4 cm in diameter. 
     The sealable container includes an opening larger than the tampon&#39;s maximum diameter when fully expanded and preferably twice as large as the fully expanded tampon to facilitate easy insertion of the tampon into the container by the consumer after the tampon is removed from the vaginal cavity. This container may be supplied with fixative fluid already in it so as to avoid the cost of a second solution container. Alternatively, the fixative may be delivered in a separate container that would ensure the fluid would not leak without having to seal the return container so tightly that it would be difficult for the end user to open. 
     The package is provided for delivery of the above-mentioned items to the consumer and for subsequent return of the tampon to a laboratory for analysis. The preferred embodiment includes a preprinted label on a non-descript box that could be delivered to the shipper without any embarrassment on the part of the consumer. The return information might be pre-printed on the outside of the package lid to minimize production costs. The package could be surrounded by a shrink-wrap cover that would prevent tampering and allow a colorful consumer focused appearance for the package that would attract attention to the product while on display for sale at a retail outlet. Instructions for use and appropriate warnings would be contained in the package or could be printed on the inside of the package lid for the consumer&#39;s convenience and reduced cost. 
     Also included is the form that is filled out by the consumer and returned with the sample with information required to inform the consumer of the results of the laboratory test. The form includes the bar code that matches the bar code on the sealable container to minimize the chance of mixing up samples. The form might also provide a unique password that would allow the consumer to access the test results at an Internet location without divulging any personal information. 
     Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiment may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.