Patent Publication Number: US-2013231588-A1

Title: Biological tissue collecting tool and biological tissue collection method using the same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a biological tissue collecting tool and a biological tissue collection method using the same. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Cotton swabs are widely used as a tool for collecting biological tissue from a biological aperture. For example, a cotton swab is used to collect a mucous membrane from the inside of a nostril, and then the collected mucous membrane is used to perform a simple flu test with a flue test kit. Such a simple test merely requires collection of a part of biological tissue, and whether the amount of collected biological tissue is large or small does not particularly matter. 
     Meanwhile, there are test methods where biological tissue is to be collected in a substantially fixed amount, and the collected biological tissue is used to determine a health state, for example. In a case where such a test method is used, collection of biological tissue in the aforementioned manner using a cotton swab is unfavorable since the amount of biological tissue to be collected by the cotton swab varies. 
     In view of the above, it has been proposed to mark a cotton swab with a scale, or to form a cotton swab such that the cotton swab can be cut into a predetermined length (see Patent Literature 1, for example). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2001-289844 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The above-described conventional art has a problem in that the accuracy of a determination made in a test cannot be improved. 
     To be specific, it was expected that, with the use of a cotton swab marked with a scale or a cotton swab formed such that the cotton swab can be cut into a predetermined length, the amount of collected biological tissue should be substantially fixed each time the tissue collection was performed. However, when a cotton swab is used to collect biological tissue, the biological tissue is collected by utilizing its adhesion to the cotton swab, and it is difficult to keep the tissue adhesion amount to a fixed amount each time the tissue collection is performed. As a result, even if the aforementioned types of cotton swabs are used, the amount of collected biological tissue significantly varies each time the tissue collection is performed. For this reason, conventionally, the accuracy of a determination made in a test cannot be improved. 
     In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to reduce a variation in the amount of collected biological tissue, thereby improving the accuracy of a determination made in a test. 
     Solution to Problem 
     In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a biological tissue collecting tool including: an exterior body having first space formed therein and having a first collection opening formed in a wall thereof, the exterior body having such a shape as to be insertable in a biological aperture; a collecting portion disposed in the first space such that the collecting portion is movable in the first space, the collecting portion being configured to collect a part of biological tissue that protrudes into the first space through the first collection opening; and an operating portion connected to the collecting portion, the operating portion allowing the collecting portion to be operated from outside of the exterior body. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present invention, a substantially fixed amount of biological tissue can be collected each time biological tissue is collected from a biological aperture, and therefore, a variation in the amount of collected biological tissue can be reduced. This consequently makes it possible to improve the accuracy of a determination made in a test. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a conceptual diagram showing a biological tissue collection method using a biological tissue collecting tool  10  according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the biological tissue collecting tool  10  according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view showing an exterior body of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view showing an interior body of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 3C  is a perspective view showing an operated body of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a biological tissue collecting tool  20  according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view showing an operated body of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective view showing an interior body of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 5C  is a perspective view showing an exterior body of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing an operated body  4  of the biological tissue collecting tool  20  according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a first collection opening  2  when the biological tissue collecting tool  20  according to Embodiment 2 is inserted in a nostril. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the first collection opening  2  when the biological tissue collecting tool  20  according to Embodiment 2 is inserted in the nostril. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the first collection opening  2  when the biological tissue collecting tool  20  according to Embodiment 2 is inserted in the nostril. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the first collection opening  2  when the biological tissue collecting tool  20  according to Embodiment 2 is inserted in the nostril. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the first collection opening  2  when the biological tissue collecting tool  20  according to Embodiment 2 is inserted in the nostril. 
         FIG. 12A  is a perspective view showing a biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in an opened state. 
         FIG. 12B  is a perspective view showing the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in a closed state. 
         FIG. 13A  is a front view of a first collection opening  22  of the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in an opened state. 
         FIG. 13B  is a front view of the first collection opening  22  of the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in a closed state. 
         FIG. 14A  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in an opened state, the cross-sectional view being perpendicular to an operating stick  26  and including the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 14B  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in a closed state, the cross-sectional view being perpendicular to the operating stick  26  and including the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 15A  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in an opened state, the cross-sectional view including the operating stick  26  and the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 15B  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in a closed state, the cross-sectional view including the operating stick  26  and the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in a closed state, which is inserted in a nostril, the cross-sectional view being perpendicular to the operating stick  26  and including the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 17A  shows the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 whose state has transitioned from the state shown in  FIG. 16  to an opened state. 
         FIG. 17B  is an enlarged view showing a relationship between a mucous membrane and the edge of a third collection opening  24 . 
         FIG. 17C  is an enlarged view showing a situation when the mucous membrane is cut off by the third collection opening  24 . 
         FIG. 18  illustrates an example of a method of subjecting the mucous membrane collected by the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 to a test. 
         FIG. 19A  shows a liquid being flowed into the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in another example of a method of subjecting the mucous membrane collected by the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 to a test. 
         FIG. 19B  shows the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 being shaken in a closed state in yet another example of a method of subjecting the mucous membrane collected by the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 to a test. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of a biological tissue collecting tool  40  according to Embodiment 4 in an opened state, the cross-sectional view being perpendicular to the operating stick  26  and including the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view showing a biological tissue collecting tool  50  according to Embodiment 5. 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view showing a state where a plurality of biological tissue collecting tools  30  according to Embodiment 3 are arranged for storage. 
         FIG. 23A  is a perspective view showing the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in combination with an operating tool. 
         FIG. 23B  is a transparent perspective view showing the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in combination with the operating tool. 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view showing a biological tissue collecting tool  60  according to Embodiment 6 together with a hand. 
         FIG. 25  shows a state where the biological tissue collecting tool  60  according to Embodiment 6 is inserted in a nostril. 
         FIG. 26A  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  60  according to Embodiment 6 in an opened state, the cross-sectional view including the operating stick  26  and the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 26B  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  60  according to Embodiment 6 in a closed state, the cross-sectional view including the operating stick  26  and the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 27  is a perspective view showing the biological tissue collecting tool  60  according to Embodiment 6 in another mode. 
         FIG. 28  is a perspective view showing the biological tissue collecting tool  60  according to Embodiment 6 in yet another mode. 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective view showing a biological tissue collecting tool  70  according to Embodiment 7 together with a hand. 
         FIG. 30  shows a state where the biological tissue collecting tool  70  according to Embodiment 7 is inserted in a nostril. 
         FIG. 31  shows a state where a wipe cover  61  is pulled backward while the biological tissue collecting tool  70  according to Embodiment 7 is kept inserted in the nostril. 
         FIG. 32  shows a state where the wipe cover  61  of the biological tissue collecting tool  70  according to Embodiment 7 is further pulled backward. 
         FIG. 33  shows a state where the wipe cover  61  is removed from the biological tissue collecting tool  70  according to Embodiment 7. 
         FIG. 34A  is a cross-sectional view of a biological tissue collecting tool  80  according to Embodiment 8 in a closed state prior to tissue collection, the cross-sectional view being perpendicular to the operating stick  26  and including the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 34B  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  80  according to Embodiment 8 in an opened state, the cross-sectional view being perpendicular to the operating stick  26  and including the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 34C  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  80  according to Embodiment 8 being in a transition from an opened state to a closed state, the cross-sectional view being perpendicular to the operating stick  26  and including the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 34D  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  80  according to Embodiment 8 in a closed state after tissue collection, the cross-sectional view being perpendicular to the operating stick  26  and including the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 35A  is a cross-sectional view of a biological tissue collecting tool  90  according to Embodiment 9 in a closed state prior to tissue collection, the cross-sectional view being perpendicular to the operating stick  26  and including the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 35B  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  90  according to Embodiment 9 in an opened state, the cross-sectional view being perpendicular to the operating stick  26  and including the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 35C  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  90  according to Embodiment 9 being in a transition from an opened state to a closed state, the cross-sectional view being perpendicular to the operating stick  26  and including the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 35D  is a cross-sectional view of the biological tissue collecting tool  90  according to Embodiment 9 in a closed state after tissue collection, the cross-sectional view being perpendicular to the operating stick  26  and including the first collection opening  22 . 
         FIG. 36  is a perspective view showing a biological tissue collecting tool  100  according to Embodiment 10. 
         FIG. 37A  shows the biological tissue collecting tool  100  according to Embodiment 10 in which a reagent body  81  has not been moved yet. 
         FIG. 37B  shows the biological tissue collecting tool  100  according to Embodiment 10 in which the reagent body  81  has been moved. 
         FIG. 38  illustrates a reaction confirmation window  85  of the biological tissue collecting tool  100  according to Embodiment 10, including: (a) an overall view; (b) an enlarged view of the vicinity of an exterior case  21 ; and (c) an enlarged view of the vicinity of the reaction confirmation window  85 . 
         FIG. 39  illustrates an example of a method of subjecting a mucous membrane collected by a biological tissue collecting tool  110  according to Embodiment 11 to a test. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIG. 1  shows a biological tissue collection method using a biological tissue collecting tool  10  according to Embodiment 1. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 3A to 3C , the biological tissue collecting tool  10  according to the present embodiment includes: a cylindrical exterior body  3  having such a shape as to be insertable in a biological aperture; a cylindrical interior body  8  disposed within the exterior body so as to be in close contact with the exterior body; and an operated body  4  movably disposed within the exterior and interior bodies. 
     The exterior body  3  has a first collection opening  2  in its side wall, and has first space formed therein. The overall shape of the exterior body  3  is such a cylindrical shape as to be insertable into a biological aperture, and the exterior body  3  has a closed end and an open end. The exterior body  3  is formed of a soft material such as a silicone, and the hardness of the soft material is less than or equal to 30°, and preferably in a range from 5° to 10°. That is, the exterior body  3  is formed of a very soft material. The hardness is measured by a former JIS K 6301 spring-type hardness test. 
     The interior body  8  has such a cylindrical shape as to be fitted in the first space of the exterior body  3 , and has a closed end and an open end. The interior body  8  is inserted in the exterior body, such that the closed end of the exterior body  3  and the closed end of the interior body  8  face in the same direction. In a state where the interior body  8  is inserted in the exterior body  3 , the inner wall of the exterior body  3  and the outer wall of the interior body  8  are in close contact with each other. The interior body  8  has a second collection opening  9  in its side wall, and has second space formed therein. The second space has such a shape as to allow a collecting portion  15  to be movably inserted therein. The second collection opening  9  has substantially the same shape as that of the first collection opening  2 , and is provided such that the position of the second collection opening  9  overlaps the position of the first collection opening  2 . 
     The interior body  8  is formed of a material (e.g., a synthetic resin) harder than the material of the exterior body  3 . Since the exterior body  3  is formed of a soft material as described above, the interior body  8  formed of a hard material is disposed within the exterior body  3  for the purpose of maintaining the shape of the exterior body  3  and making it possible to readily operate the operated body  4  within the exterior body  3  in the axial direction of the cylindrical exterior body  3 . 
     The operated body  4  has the collecting portion  15  at its one end and an operating portion  7  at its other end, the other end being positioned at the opposite side to the one end provided with the collecting portion  15 . The operating portion  7  allows the collecting portion  15  to be operated from the outside of the exterior body  3 . The operating portion  7  has a shape suitable to be held by finger tips or by a hand. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the operating portion  7  is exposed at the outside of the exterior body  3  and the interior body  8 . Specifically, the operating portion  7  protrudes to the outside of the exterior body  3  and the interior body  8  through the open end of the exterior body  3  and the open end of the interior body  8 . 
     The collecting portion  15  is configured to collect a part of biological tissue by being operated by means of the operating portion from the outside of the exterior body  3  and the interior body  8 . The biological tissue to be collected is in a state of protruding into the first space of the exterior body  3  through the first collection opening  2  of the exterior body  3  and the second collection opening  9  of the interior body  8 . The collecting portion  15  has a side wall being in close contact with the inner wall of the interior body  8 , and a third collection opening  5  is formed in the side wall. Further, the collecting portion  15  has a storage portion  6  at its one end. The storage portion  6  temporarily stores the collected biological tissue. The storage portion  6  is formed so as to be in communication with the third collection opening  5 . The side wall of the collecting portion  15  and the operating portion  7  are connected by a rod-like member. The third collection opening  5  is provided so as to be positioned closer to the closed ends of the exterior body  3  and the interior body  8  than the first collection opening  2  and the second collection opening  9 . 
     The operated body  4  is movably inserted in the first space of the exterior body  3  or the second space of the interior body  8 . Specifically, the operated body  4  can slidingly move within the second space in the interior body  8  in the axial direction of the cylindrical exterior body  3  and the cylindrical interior body  8 . 
     Hereinafter, with reference to  FIG. 1 , a description is given of an example in which the biological tissue collecting tool  10  having the above-described configuration is used to collect a part of tissue in a common nasal meatus at the back of an external nostril. 
     First, the biological tissue collecting tool  10  is in a state where the operated body  4  is pushed in the interior body  8  such that the operated body  4  is in contact with the inner wall of the interior body  8  at the closed end. Then, the biological tissue collecting tool  10  in such a state is inserted from an external nostril  1  into a common nasal meatus  11  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Next, the operating portion  7  is operated, such that the operated body  4  is pulled and moved in the axial direction of the cylindrical exterior body  3  toward the outside of the external nostril  1 . 
     During such an operation, when the third collection opening  5  of the operated body  4  is in a state of overlapping the first collection opening  2  of the exterior body  3  and the second collection opening  9  of the interior body  8 , a part of the tissue of the common nasal meatus  11  is in a state of protruding into the biological tissue collecting tool  10  through the first collection opening  2  of the exterior body  3 , the second collection opening  9  of the interior body  8 , and the third collection opening  5  of the operated body  4 . 
     When the operated body  4  in the above state is further moved toward the outside of the external nostril  1 , the rear edge (i.e., an edge at the closed end side) of the third collection opening  5  of the operated body  4  passes through the first collection opening  2  of the exterior body  3  and the second collection opening  9  of the interior body  8 . Accordingly, the rear edge of the third collection opening  5  serves as a cutting portion that scratches away the tissue of the common nasal meatus  11 , the tissue protruding into the biological tissue collecting tool  10 , and then the tissue obtained by the scratching is stored in the storage portion  6 . 
     In this state, the biological tissue collecting tool  10  is entirely pulled out of the external nostril  1 , and thus the biological tissue collection is completed. The biological tissue collected by the biological tissue collecting tool  10  can be directly used in a predetermined test. Alternatively, the operated body  4  may be removed from the biological tissue collecting tool  10 ; then the collecting portion  15  may be immersed in a liquid and shaken such that the collected biological tissue is dissolved into the liquid; and thereafter a resultant solution may be used in a predetermined test. 
     The exterior body  3  of the biological tissue collecting tool  10  is formed of a soft material, and therefore, even when the exterior body  3  is in close contact with the surface of the wall of the common nasal meatus  11 , the exterior body  3  is less likely to irritate the common nasal meatus  11 , i.e., less likely to cause sneezing or the like. Therefore, the above-described tissue collection can be performed very easily. 
     Although the exterior body  3  is cylindrical, the exterior body  3  is formed such that, as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 3A to 3C , the wall of the exterior body at the opposite side to the first collection opening  2  is thicker than the wall of the exterior body that is positioned above and below the first collection opening  2  with respect to the axial direction of the exterior body. Such a structure allows, when the biological tissue collecting tool  10  is inserted into the common nasal meatus  11 , the thicker wall to be pushed by the inner surface of the common nasal meatus  11 , and as a result, the first collection opening  2  is pushed against the inner surface of the common nasal meatus  11 . This facilitates the protrusion of a part of the tissue of the common nasal meatus  11  into the biological tissue collecting tool  10  through the first collection opening  2  and the second collection opening  9 . 
     The exterior body  3  of the biological tissue collecting tool  10  is formed of a soft silicone, and the operated body  4  and the interior body  8  of the biological tissue collecting tool  10  are formed of a hard resin. Therefore, even if the biological tissue collecting tool  10 , after having collected the biological tissue, is directly immersed in a liquid in a test tube and shaken such that the collected biological tissue is dissolved into the liquid, no alteration of the collected biological tissue occurs. 
     According to the present embodiment, the tissue of the common nasal meatus  11  that protrudes into the biological tissue collecting tool  10  through the first collection opening  2  of the exterior body  3  and the second collection opening  9  of the interior body  8  is collected. Therefore, a substantially fixed amount of tissue can be collected each time the tissue collection is performed. That is, with the use of the biological tissue collecting tool  10 , a test using biological tissue collected in a fixed amount can be performed as necessary, and the accuracy of a determination made in the test can be improved. 
     Embodiment 2 
       FIG. 4 ,  FIGS. 5A to 5C , and  FIG. 6  show a biological tissue collecting tool  20  according to Embodiment 2. The biological tissue collecting tool according to the present embodiment includes: the cylindrical exterior body  3  having such a shape as to be insertable in a biological aperture; the cylindrical interior body  8  disposed within the exterior body so as to be in close contact with the exterior body; and an operated body  4  movably disposed within the exterior and interior bodies. Since the exterior body  3  and the interior body  8  are the same as those described in Embodiment 1, a description thereof is omitted. 
     The operated body  4  has a collecting portion  15  at its one end. The collecting portion  15  is for use in collecting a part of biological tissue that protrudes into the first space of the exterior body  3  through the first collection opening  2  of the exterior body  3  and the second collection opening  9  of the interior body  8 . Further, the operated body  4  has an operating portion  7  at its other end, the other end being positioned at the opposite side to the one end provided with the collecting portion  15 . The operating portion  7  allows the collecting portion  15  to be operated from the outside of the exterior body  3 . The operating portion  7  has a shape suitable to be held by finger tips or by a hand. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the operating portion  7  protrudes to the outside of the exterior body  3  and the interior body  8  through the open end of the exterior body  3  and the open end of the interior body  8 . 
     The collecting portion  15  is substantially columnar and has a side wall whose shape is fitted to the shape of the inner wall of the interior body  8 , and a third collection opening  13  is formed in the side wall. Further, the collecting portion  15  has, at its one end, a contacting portion  16  configured to come into contact with the inner wall of the interior body  8  at the closed end. The third collection opening  13  is in communication with the interior of the contacting portion  16 , thus forming space. The space serves as a storage portion  6  for temporarily storing collected biological tissue. Further, the storage portion  6  is in communication with upper space  12  above the contacting portion  16 . The upper space  12  is space that is formed by cutting off a part of an end portion of the collecting portion  15 . The collecting portion  15  and the operating portion  7  are connected by a rod-like member. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the third collection opening  13  is provided so as to be positioned closer to the closed ends of the exterior body  3  and the interior body  8  than the first collection opening  2  and the second collection opening  9 . 
     Further, packing  14  is disposed at a boundary between the collecting portion  15  and the rod-like member so as to be in contact with the inner wall surface of the interior body. By disposing the packing  14  between the collecting portion  15  and the operating portion  7  in this manner, space between the packing and the closed end of the interior body can be sealed up. 
     The operated body  4  is movably inserted in the first space of the exterior body  3  or the second space of the interior body  8 . Specifically, the operated body  4  can slidingly move in the axial direction of the cylindrical exterior body  3  and the cylindrical interior body  8 . 
     The biological tissue collecting tool  20  according to the present embodiment may be used in the same manner as the biological tissue collecting tool  10  according to Embodiment 1, and thereby a part of tissue in the common nasal meatus at the back of an external nostril can be collected. Hereinafter, differences from a case where the biological tissue collecting tool  10  is used are described. 
     When the biological tissue collecting tool  20  is in a state where the operated body  4  is pushed in the interior body  8  such that the operated body  4  is in contact with the inner wall of the interior body  8  at the closed end, the contacting portion  16  of the operated body  4  is, as shown in  FIG. 7 , in contact with the inner wall of the interior body  8  at the closed end. 
     In this state, the operating portion  7  is operated such that the operated body  4  is pulled and moved in the axial direction of the cylindrical exterior body  3  toward the outside of the external nostril  1 . As a result, the upper space  12  between the contacting portion  16  and the interior body gradually expands as shown in  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 11 . At the time, the upper space  12  is caused to be under negative pressure since the packing  14  is disposed outside the collecting portion  15 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a part of the tissue of the common nasal meatus  11  passes through the first collection opening  2  of the exterior body  3  and the second collection opening  9  of the interior body  8 , and protrudes into the second space of the interior body  8 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 9 , when the third collection opening  13  of the operated body  4  is in a state of overlapping the first collection opening  2  of the exterior body  3  and the second collection opening  9  of the interior body  8 , a part of the tissue of the common nasal meatus  11  is in a state of protruding to the inside through the third collection opening  13  of the collecting portion  15 . At the time, the protrusion of the tissue is facilitated due to the upper space  12  being under negative pressure. 
     When the operated body  4  in the above state is further pulled and moved toward the outside of the external nostril  1  as shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the rear edge of the third collection opening  13  of the operated body  4  scratches away the protruding tissue of the common nasal meatus, and then the tissue is stored in the storage portion  6 . When the biological tissue collected in this manner is in a state of being stored in the storage portion  6 , there is not a risk that the biological tissue inadvertently flows out of the exterior body  3  since the first collection opening  2  and the second collection opening  9  are covered by the wall of the collecting portion  15 . Moreover, the contacting portion is positioned below the third collection opening  13  at one end of the storage portion  6 , and thereby a so-called pocket is formed, which assuredly prevents the inadvertent outflow of the biological tissue from the exterior body  3 . 
     Embodiment 3 
       FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 15B  show a biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3. The biological tissue collecting tool  30  includes an exterior case  21  having a first collection opening  22  and a collecting portion  23  movably disposed within the exterior case. 
     As clearly shown in  FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 15B , the exterior case (exterior body)  21  is a spherical case having a hollow center. The first collection opening  22 , which is a round opening, is formed in the side of the exterior case  21 . The collecting portion  23  also has a spherical shape having a hollow center. The diameter of the collecting portion  23  is smaller than that of the exterior case  21 , and the collecting portion  23  is rotatably disposed within the exterior case  21 . A third collection opening  24 , which is a round opening, is formed in the side of the collecting portion  23 . Although the size of the first collection opening  22  is substantially the same as the size of the third collection opening  24 , one of the openings may be slightly larger than the other one. However, the size of the third collection opening  24  is adjusted so that, when the collecting portion  23  rotates, the first collection opening  22  will be assuredly covered by the wall of the collecting portion  23 . 
     One end of a cylindrical retention holder  25  is fixed to the exterior case  21 , such that the retention holder  25  is perpendicular to a vertical line extending through the center of the first collection opening  22 . A columnar operating stick (operating portion)  26  is rotatably provided within the retention holder  25  so as to protrude from one end of the retention holder  25 . 
     The distal end of the operating stick  26  penetrates the exterior case  21 . Inside the exterior case  21 , a portion of the operating stick  26 , the portion extending perpendicularly to a vertical line extending through the center of the third collection opening  24 , is connected and fixed to the collecting portion  23 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14A  to  FIG. 15B , ring-shaped packing  27  having a round cross section is attached to the edge of the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21 . The packing  27  thus attached is, at the edge of the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21 , in contact with the outer surface of the collecting portion  23 . 
     Next, a biological tissue collection method using the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to the present embodiment is described. First, when the first collection opening  22  is in a state of being covered by the wall of the collecting portion  23 , the retention holder  25  is held by finger tips, and the exterior case  21  is inserted into a nostril such that the first collection opening  22  comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the nostril.  FIG. 16  shows a state where the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21  is in contact with the inner wall surface of the nostril. At the time, the inner wall surface of the nostril is in a state of protruding into the first collection opening  22 . To be exact, since there is a mucous membrane  29  on the inner wall surface of the nostril, the mucous membrane  29  is in a state of protruding into the exterior case  21  through the first collection opening  22 . 
     In this state, the operating stick  26  is rotated around the retention holder  25  in the direction of arrow A as shown in  FIG. 16 , such that the position of the first collection opening  22  and the position of the third collection opening  24  coincide with each other. As a result, as shown in  FIG. 17A , the mucous membrane  29  protruding into the exterior case  21  through the first collection opening  22  is in a state of protruding into the collecting portion  23  through the third collection opening  24  of the collecting portion  23 . At the time, the operating stick  26  is operated to rotate the collecting portion  23  in the direction of arrow B as shown in  FIG. 17A . Consequently, the mucous membrane  29  protruding into the collecting portion  23  is scratched away by the edge of the third collection opening  24  of the collecting portion  23  as shown in  FIG. 17C . Then, a mucous membrane piece  29   a  obtained by the scratching is stored in the inner space (i.e., a storage portion) of the collecting portion  23 . Here, the edge of the third collection opening  24  of the collecting portion  23  serves as a cutting portion that cuts off the mucous membrane. 
       FIG. 18  illustrates an example of a method of subjecting the mucous membrane collected in the above manner to a test. A beaker  31  contains a liquid  32  for use in extracting a detection material from the mucous membrane piece  29   a  (examples of the liquid  32  include formic acid and a buffer solution containing formic acid). The exterior case  21  is immersed into the liquid  32 , and then the operating stick  26  is operated to rotate the collecting portion  23  such that the position of the first collection opening  22  and the position of the third collection opening  24  coincide with each other, and thus the liquid  32  is flowed into the collecting portion  23 . Then, the operating stick  26  is operated again to rotate the collecting portion  23  such that the first collection opening  22  is covered by the wall of the collecting portion  23 . The exterior case  21  in such a state is shaken in the liquid  32  as indicated by arrow K. 
     As a result, a test material is extracted into the liquid  32  from the mucous membrane piece  29   a  stored in the collecting portion  23 . Thereafter, the extraction liquid may be subjected to a measurement by a testing apparatus, and thus the amount of the test material can be measured. At the time of extraction, the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21  is covered by the wall of the collecting portion  23 . Accordingly, the liquid  32  in the collecting portion  23  is in a predetermined volume that is determined by the volume of the inner space of the collecting portion  23 . In addition, the liquid  32  in the predetermined volume contains the mucous membrane piece  29   a  in a predetermined amount that is determined by the area of the first collection opening  22 . This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of a determination made in the test. 
       FIGS. 19A and 19B  illustrate another example of a method of subjecting the collected mucous membrane to a test. After the collection of the mucous membrane piece  29   a  into the collecting portion  23 , with the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21  facing upward, the operating stick  26  is operated to rotate the collecting portion  23  such that the position of the first collection opening  22  and the position of the third collection opening  24  coincide with each other. Then, as shown in  FIG. 19A , a dropper  33  is used to flow the liquid  32  into the collecting portion  23  through the first collection opening  22  and the third collection opening  24 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 19B , with the first collection opening  22  kept facing upward, the operating stick  26  is operated to rotate the collecting portion  23  such that the first collection opening  22  is covered by the wall of the collecting portion  23 . In this state, the exterior case  21  is shaken in the direction of arrow H. As a result, inside the collecting portion  23 , a test material is extracted from the mucous membrane piece  29   a  into the liquid  32 . Thereafter, the extraction liquid may be subjected to a measurement by a testing apparatus, and thus the amount of the test material can be measured. 
     The above description gives an example where the exterior case  21  and the collecting portion  23  are spherical. However, as an alternative, the exterior case  21  and the collecting portion  23  may be oval-spherical components, each of which has a long axis extending in the axial direction of the operating stick  26 . For example, each of the oval-spherical exterior case and the oval-spherical collecting portion may have a long axis longer than the diameter of the spherical exterior case, and may have a short axis whose length is the same as the diameter of the spherical exterior case. In this manner, the length of each of the exterior case and the collecting portion in the direction of the short axis perpendicular to the operating stick  26  can be made relatively short without reducing the area of the collection opening. This makes it possible to smoothly insert the exterior case into a biological aperture even if the biological aperture into which the exterior case is to be inserted is small. 
     Embodiment 4 
       FIG. 20  shows a biological tissue collecting tool  40  according to Embodiment 4. Hereinafter, only differences of the present embodiment from Embodiment 3 are described. In the present embodiment, protrusion-like rotation restriction portions  34   a  and  34   b  are provided on the inner wall surface of the exterior case  21 , and a protrusion-like rotation restriction portion  35   a  is provided on the outer wall surface of the collecting portion  23  so as to be positioned between the rotation restriction portions  34   a  and  34   b.    
     Accordingly, the rotation of the collecting portion  23  is restricted within a range that is defined by a movement range of the rotation restriction portion  35   a,  over which movement range the rotation restriction portion  35   a  is movable without coming into contact with the rotation restriction portion  34   a  or  34   b  of the exterior case  21 . In this manner, the rotation of the collecting portion  23  can be restricted within a necessary range. It should be noted that the positions of the rotation restriction portions  34   a  and  34   b  and the rotation restriction portion  35   a  are set so that the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21  can be opened and closed through the aforementioned movement of the collecting portion  23 . 
     Embodiment 5 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a biological tissue collecting tool  50  according to Embodiment 5. The biological tissue collecting tool  50  is configured such that an insertion assisting tool  36  is attached to the outer periphery of the cylindrical retention holder  25  of the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3. The insertion assisting tool  36  has a shape that is fitted to the internal shape of a nostril. Inside the insertion assisting tool  36 , space allowing the retention holder  25  to be inserted therein is formed as a cylindrical guide portion  36   a.  By inserting the insertion assisting tool  36  into a nostril together with the exterior case  21 , the retention holder  25  can be stably inserted in a predetermined part of the inside of the nostril. 
       FIG. 22  is a perspective view showing a state where a plurality of biological tissue collecting tools  30  according to Embodiment 3 are arranged for storage. In a storage case  37 , a plurality of unused biological tissue collecting tools  30  are arranged for storage. At the time, each biological tissue collecting tool  30  is in a state where the position of the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21  and the position of the third collection opening  24  of the collecting portion  23  are not coincident with each other. In this manner, dusts or the like are prevented from entering the collecting portion  23  through the first collection opening  22 . 
       FIGS. 23A and 23B  are perspective views, each showing the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 in combination with an operating tool. The operating tool includes an external cylinder  38  and an internal cylinder  39 . The internal cylinder  39  is configured such that the front end side of the internal cylinder  39  is inserted in the external cylinder  38  and the rear end side of the internal cylinder  39  protrudes to the outside of the external cylinder  38 . The internal cylinder  39  is inserted in the external cylinder  38  such that the internal cylinder  39  is movable in the front-rear direction as well as the circumferential direction. A retainer (not shown) configured to hold the operating stick  26  of the biological tissue collecting tool  30  is provided at the front end side of the internal cylinder  39 . Similarly, a retainer (not shown) configured to hold the retention holder  25  is provided at the front end side of the external cylinder  38 . 
     Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 23A , the retention holder  25  and the operating stick  26  of the biological tissue collecting tool  30  are held by the external cylinder  38  and the internal cylinder  39  of the operating tool, respectively. In such a state, the exterior case  21  is inserted into a nostril. At the time, the internal cylinder  39  is rotated while the external cylinder  38  is fixedly held. As a result, the third collection opening  24  of the collecting portion  23  moves to scratch away the mucous membrane  29 , and the mucous membrane piece  29   a  obtained by the scratching can be stored in the collecting portion  23 . 
     Embodiment 6 
       FIGS. 24 to 26B  show a biological tissue collecting tool  60  according to Embodiment 6. Hereinafter, differences of the biological tissue collecting tool  60  from the biological tissue collecting tool  30  according to Embodiment 3 are described. 
     A retention holder  51 , which has a hollow center therein, is fixed to the exterior case  21  so as to be perpendicular to the vertical line extending through the center of the first collection opening  22 . The columnar operating stick  26  is rotatably provided within the retention holder  51 . 
     A notch  52  is formed in the retention holder  51  at a position corresponding to a middle portion of the operating stick  26 , such that the middle portion of the operating stick  26  is exposed from the retention holder  51  at the same side as the first collection opening  22 . At the notch  52 , a disc-shaped operating portion  53  is fixedly connected to the exposed operating stick  26 . As shown in  FIGS. 26A and 26B , the collecting portion  23  can be rotated within the exterior case  21  by rotating the operating portion  53  perpendicularly to the operating stick  26 . 
     A finger rest  54  is provided at the opposite side to the first collection opening  22  and the notch  52 . The finger rest  54  is provided between the exterior case  21  and a position where the notch  52  and the operating portion  53  are provided. 
     In a case where the biological tissue collecting tool  70  is used, the retention holder  51  is held by one hand with an index finger  55  placed on the finger rest  54 . By holding the retention holder  51  in such a manner, the operating portion  53  can be rotated with a thumb. Thus, with use of only one hand, the biological tissue collecting tool  70  can be held and the operating stick  26  and the collecting portion  23  can be readily rotated. 
     In the present embodiment, the finger rest  54  on which the index finger  55  can be placed is provided at a middle portion of the retention holder  51  at the opposite side to the first collection opening  22 . Therefore, the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21  can be properly brought into contact with the mucous membrane  29  to be collected. This makes it possible to further stabilize the amount of biological tissue to be collected each time the tissue collection is performed, and thereby to improve the accuracy of a determination made in a test. Further, at the time of inserting the exterior case  21  into a nostril, the position of the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21  in the nostril can be estimated based on a positional relationship between the nostril and the finger rest  54 . This enhances operability and usability. 
       FIG. 27  shows the biological tissue collecting tool  60  according to the present embodiment in another mode. In this mode, the length from the exterior case  21  to the finger rest  54  is set to be longer than that of the biological tissue collecting tool  60  shown in  FIG. 24 . By preparing a plurality of biological tissue collecting tools  60  that are different from each other in terms of the length from the exterior case  21  to the finger rest  54 , differences among persons in terms of the length of the common nasal meatus can be accommodated. 
     In order to vary the length from the exterior case  21  to the finger rest  54 , the front side portion of the biological tissue collecting tool  60  up to the finger rest  54  (i.e., a portion close to the exterior case  21 ) may be formed as a detachable portion, and a plurality of such detachable front side portions having different respective lengths may be prepared. 
       FIG. 28  shows the biological tissue collecting tool  70  according to the present embodiment in yet another mode. In this mode, the diameter of a portion of the retention holder  51 , the portion being positioned at the rear of the finger rest  54 , is increased and thereby a grip  56  is formed, which facilitates the holding of the retention holder  51 . 
     Embodiment 7 
       FIGS. 29 and 30  show a biological tissue collecting tool  70  according to Embodiment 7. Hereinafter, differences of the biological tissue collecting tool  70  from the biological tissue collecting tool  60  according to Embodiment 6 are described. 
     The exterior case  21  and the outer periphery of the distal end side of the retention holder  51  of the biological tissue collecting tool  70  are covered by a pouch-shaped wipe cover  61  which has a closed front end and an open rear end. 
     The wipe cover  61  has the following shape: the front end portion has a spherical shape conforming to the shape of the outer periphery of the exterior case  21 ; and the remaining portion has a cylindrical shape whose diameter increases toward the rear end. The wipe cover  61  is formed of a net-like synthetic resin fiber or plant fiber. The wipe cover  61  is hydrophilic and has an irregular surface. By using the wipe cover  61 , the inside of a nostril can be cleaned. 
     A tearing beginning point  62  is formed at the distal end of the wipe cover  61 . The tearing beginning point is a point where the wipe cover  61  begins to be torn apart when pulled toward the rear end of the retention holder  51 . For example, the tearing beginning point  62  may be formed by forming a small opening at the distal end of the wipe cover  61 , or by forming a cut in the distal end of the wipe cover  61 , or by forming a thin thickness portion at the distal end of the wipe cover  61 . 
     A diameter expanding portion  63  is provided at the opposite side to the first collection opening  22  and the notch  52 . The diameter expanding portion  63  is provided between the exterior case  21  and a position where the notch  52  and the operating portion  53  are provided. The diameter of a portion of the retention holder  51  where the diameter expanding portion  63  is provided is greater than the diameter of a portion of the retention holder  51  that is closer to the distal end than the portion where the diameter expanding portion  63  is provided. 
     At the time of using the biological tissue collecting tool  70 , first, the wipe cover  61  is attached so as to cover the exterior case  21  and the distal end side of the retention holder  51  of the biological tissue collecting tool  70 . At the time, the rear end of the wipe cover  61  is positioned closer to the distal end of the retention holder  51  than the diameter expanding portion  63 . In such a state, the exterior case  21  covered by the wipe cover  61  is inserted into a nostril. Next, the entire biological tissue collecting tool  70  is rotated or moved back and forth within the nostril to clean the inside of the nostril. That is, materials existing inside the nostril that are unnecessary for a test are removed in advance. 
     After cleaning the inside of the nostril, the rear end of the wipe cover  61  is held and pulled toward the rear end of the biological tissue collecting tool  70  (toward the outside of the nostril). As a result, the tearing beginning point  62  at the distal end of the wipe cover  61  is torn apart first, and then the tear becomes larger as the wipe cover  61  is pulled toward the rear end of the biological tissue collecting tool  70 . Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 31  and  FIG. 32 , the wipe cover  61  is moved to be positioned at the rear of the exterior case  21 . 
     By pulling the wipe cover  61  toward the rear end of the biological tissue collecting tool  70  in the above manner, the exterior case  21  is exposed inside the nostril. Thereafter, the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21  is brought into contact with the inner wall surface of the nostril and the collecting portion  23  is rotated. In this manner, the mucous membrane  29  can be scratched away. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, the inside of the nostril can be cleaned through the wiping with the wipe cover  61  before the mucous membrane  29  is scratched away. Therefore, collection of unnecessary materials from the inside of the nostril is reduced in addition to that the amount of biological tissue to be collected each time the tissue collection is performed is stabilized. This makes it possible to further improve the accuracy of a determination made in a test. 
     Before the biological tissue collected by the biological tissue collecting tool  70  is subjected to a test, the wipe cover  61  can be removed from the biological tissue collecting tool  70  as shown in  FIG. 33 . 
     Specifically, when the rear end of the wipe cover  61  comes into contact with the diameter expanding portion  63  as shown in  FIG. 32  as a result of the wipe cover  61  being pulled toward the rear end of the biological tissue collecting tool  70 , the tearing of the wipe cover  61  progresses from the rear end toward the front end of the wipe cover  61  at the diameter expanding portion  63 . Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 33 , the torn wipe cover  61  can be readily removed from the biological tissue collecting tool. 
     Embodiment 8 
     A biological tissue collecting tool  80  according to Embodiment 8 is the same as the biological tissue collecting tool  60  according to Embodiment 6 except that the collecting portion of the tool  80  is different from the collecting portion of the tool  60 . Hereinafter, differences of the biological tissue collecting tool  80  from the biological tissue collecting tool  60  are described. 
       FIGS. 34A and 34B  are cross-sectional views, each showing a cross section of the exterior case  21  and the collecting portion of the biological tissue collecting tool  80  taken along a line perpendicular to the operating stick  26 . 
     The collecting portion of the biological tissue collecting tool  80  includes a first rotating piece  72  and a second rotating piece  73  which are rotatably arranged along the inner wall of the exterior case  21 . As shown in  FIGS. 34A and 34B , the first rotating piece  72  has a hemispherical shape (of 180°) which is obtained by dividing a sphere having a hollow center into half, and the second rotating piece  73  has a shape (of 120°) which is obtained by dividing a sphere having a hollow center into three equal parts. 
     The distal end of the operating stick  26  is fixed to the first rotating piece  72 . Similar to Embodiment 6, the operating stick  26  is provided with the disc-shaped operating portion  53 . Therefore, by rotating the operating portion  53  with a thumb, the first rotating piece  72  can be rotated within the exterior case  21  as shown in  FIGS. 34A to 34D . It should be noted that the second rotating piece  73  is not connected to the operating stick  26 . 
     In  FIG. 34A , the first collection opening  22  is covered by the spherical outer peripheral surface of the first rotating piece  72 , and the second rotating piece  73  is disposed at such a position as not to cover the first collection opening  22 . At the time, a first edge  72   a  of the first rotating piece  72  and a first edge  73   a  of the second rotating piece  73  are in contact with each other. In contrast, a second edge  72   b  of the first rotating piece  72  and a second edge  73   b  of the second rotating piece  73  are spaced apart from each other. At the time of inserting the exterior case  21  into a nostril, the first rotating piece  72  and the second rotating piece  73  are arranged so as to be in such as state as shown in  FIG. 34A . In  FIG. 34A , the first collection opening  22  is in contact with the mucous membrane  29 . 
     It should be noted that an air hole  71 , which is a through-hole, is formed in the outer wall of the exterior case  21 . The air hole  71  is provided at such a position as to face an area sandwiched between the second edge  72   b  of the first rotating piece  72  and the second edge  73   b  of the second rotating piece  73 . 
     Next, when the operating portion  53  is rotated clockwise in  FIG. 34A , the first rotating piece  72  rotates, accordingly. As a result, as shown in  FIG. 34B , the second edge  72   b  of the first rotating piece  72  and the second edge  73   b  of the second rotating piece  73  come into contact with each other. In contrast, the first edge  72   a  of the first rotating piece  72  and the first edge  73   a  of the second rotating piece  73  become spaced apart from each other, so that the first collection opening  22  is opened inside the nostril. During the transition from the state shown in  FIG. 34A  to the state shown in  FIG. 34B , space  74  is formed between the first edge  72   a  of the first rotating piece  72  and the first edge  73   a  of the second rotating piece  73 , and the space is under negative pressure. 
     Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 34B , a part of the mucous membrane  29  in the nostril protrudes into the exterior case  21  through the first collection opening  22 . 
     Air existing in the space sandwiched between the second edge  72   b  of the first rotating piece  72  and the second edge  73   b  of the second rotating piece  73  in  FIG. 34A  is released to the outside of the exterior case  21  through the air hole  71  during the transition from the state shown in  FIG. 34A  to the state shown in  FIG. 34B . 
     In the state shown in  FIG. 34B , when the operating portion  53  is further rotated clockwise in  FIG. 34B , the first rotating piece  72  rotates accordingly, and also, the second rotating piece  73  rotates clockwise since the second edge  73   b  of the second rotating piece  73  is pushed by the second edge  72   b  of the first rotating piece  72 . As a result, the second edge  73   b  of the second rotating piece  73  passes through the first collection opening  22 , and a scratching portion  75  provided at the outer periphery of the first edge  73   a  of the second rotating piece  73  scratches away the mucous membrane  29  protruding into the first collection opening  22  as shown in  FIG. 34C . 
     Subsequently, in the state shown in  FIG. 34C , when the operating portion  53  is further rotated clockwise in  FIG. 34C , the first collection opening  22  becomes covered by the spherical outer peripheral surface of the second rotating piece  73  as shown in  FIG. 34D . At the time, the mucous membrane  29  obtained by the scratching is stored in storage space  74   a  which is space formed between the first edge  72   a  of the first rotating piece  72  and the first edge  73   a  of the second rotating piece  73 . In this state, the exterior case  21  is pulled out of the nostril. 
     It should be noted that the air hole  71 , which is formed in an area different from the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21 , is preferably provided at such a position as not to face the storage space  74   a,  because if the air hole  71  faces the storage space  74   a,  then the mucous membrane piece  29   a  obtained by the scratching is released to the outside of the exterior case  21  through the air hole  71 . 
     Embodiment 9 
       FIGS. 35A and 35B  are cross-sectional views, each showing a cross section of the exterior case  21  and the collecting portion of a biological tissue collecting tool  90  according to Embodiment 9 taken along a line perpendicular to the operating stick  26 . The biological tissue collecting tool  90  according to the present embodiment is similar to the biological tissue collecting tool  80  according to Embodiment 8. Hereinafter, differences of the biological tissue collecting tool  90  from the biological tissue collecting tool  80  are described. 
     The collecting portion of the biological tissue collecting tool  90  includes a contact preventer configured to prevent the first edge  72   a  of the first rotating piece  72  and the first edge  73   a  of the second rotating piece  73  from coming into contact with each other. The contact preventer is configured such that a protrusion  76  provided at the operating stick  26  is engaged with a groove  77  formed in a portion of the second rotating piece  73 , the portion facing the operating stick  26 . The groove  77  is a recess having a width that is greater than the width of the protrusion  76 . 
     In  FIG. 35A , similar to  FIG. 34A , the first collection opening  22  is covered by the spherical outer peripheral surface of the first rotating piece  72 . However, due to the presence of the contact preventer, the first edge  72   a  of the first rotating piece  72  and the first edge  73   a  of the second rotating piece  73  are not in contact with each other. At the time, the protrusion  76  is positioned at a side edge of the groove  77  at the second edge  73   b  side. In this state, the exterior case  21  is inserted into a nostril. 
     Next, the operating portion  53  is rotated clockwise in  FIG. 35A . Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 35B , space  74  is formed between the first edge  72   a  of the first rotating piece  72  and the first edge  73   a  of the second rotating piece  73 , and the second edge  72   b  of the first rotating piece  72  and the second edge  73   b  of the second rotating piece  73  come into contact with each other. At the time, the protrusion  76  is positioned at a side edge of the groove  77  at the first edge  73   a  side. Such a position of the protrusion  76  in the groove  77  is maintained as shown in  FIGS. 35C and 35D  until the mucous membrane  29  is collected. 
     In the state shown in  FIG. 34D  or  FIG. 35D , in order to retrieve the collected mucous membrane  29  from the exterior case  21 , the operating portion  53  is further rotated clockwise such that the space  74  faces the first collection opening  22 . In such a state, the mucous membrane piece  29   a  may be caused to flow into, for example, pure water. 
     In the biological tissue collecting tool  80  according to Embodiment 8, if the operating stick  26  is rotated counterclockwise at the time of retrieving the mucous membrane piece  29   a  from the exterior case  21 , then there is a risk that the first edge  72   a  of the first rotating piece  72  and the first edge  73   a  of the second rotating piece  73  come into contact with each other, which may result in that the collected mucous membrane piece  29   a  becomes compressed. However, in the biological tissue collecting tool  90  provided with the contact preventer, such compression of the collected mucous membrane piece  29   a  can be avoided since the first edge  72   a  of the first rotating piece  72  and the first edge  73   a  of the second rotating piece  73  are prevented from coming into contact with each other. To be specific, in the biological tissue collecting tool  90 , if the operating stick  26  in the state shown in  FIG. 35D  is erroneously rotated counterclockwise, then the protrusion  76  first comes into contact with the side edge of the groove  77  at the second edge  73   b  side. Thereafter, in such a state, the second rotating piece  73  is rotated. Therefore, there is not a risk that the first edge  72   a  of the first rotating piece  72  and the first edge  73   a  of the second rotating piece  73  come into contact with each other. 
     Embodiment 10 
       FIG. 36  shows a biological tissue collecting tool  100  according to Embodiment 10. Hereinafter, differences of the biological tissue collecting tool  100  from the biological tissue collecting tool  60  according to Embodiment 6 are described. 
     In the biological tissue collecting tool  100 , the operating stick  26  is formed of a cylindrical member having a hollow center. The cylindrical operating stick  26  accommodates a columnar reagent body  81  therein, such that the reagent body  81  is movable within the operating stick  26  in the axial direction. The reagent body is a columnar member formed of a water-absorbing fiber. The reagent body is pre-impregnated with a reagent, the reagent changing its color when reacting with a test object. A push-in operating portion  84  is connected to one end of the reagent body  81  (at the opposite side to the exterior case  21 ). With the use of the push-in operating portion  84 , the reagent body  81  can be moved within the operating stick  26  toward the exterior case  21  and the collecting portion  23 . 
     At a position where the distal end of the reagent body  81  faces the outer wall surface of the collecting portion  23 , the outer wall surface is formed as a rupture membrane (not shown). Accordingly, when the reagent body  81  is moved toward the exterior case  21  and the collecting portion  23  as shown in  FIGS. 37A and 37B , the distal end of the reagent body  81  passes through the rupture membrane and is inserted into the collecting portion  23 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 38 , the wall of the retention holder  51  is partially eliminated at a position between the exterior case  21  and the operating portion  53 , and a reaction confirmation window  85  is provided in the wall at the position. Through the reaction confirmation window  85 , the state of the reagent body  81  can be confirmed. In order to facilitate the confirmation, the operating stick  26  is formed of a transparent material. 
     A gel-like neutralizer  86 , which melts when heated, is disposed within the collecting portion  23 . Further, a gel-like reaction body  87 , which melts when heated, is disposed on top of the neutralizer  86 . The neutralizer herein includes, for example, formic acid, and the reaction body herein includes, for example, an alkali that neutralizes formic acid. 
     Described next is a test method in which: the biological tissue collecting tool  100  according to the present embodiment is used to collect a mucous membrane from a nostril; and then whether amyloid beta exists in the mucous membrane, or how much amount of amyloid beta exists in the mucous membrane, is determined. 
     First, a mucous membrane is collected from a nostril by using the biological tissue collecting tool  100  in a manner similar to the usage of the biological tissue collecting tool  60  according to Embodiment 6.  FIG. 37A  shows a state of the biological tissue collecting tool  100  when the collection of the mucous membrane is completed. 
     In this state, heat is applied to the biological tissue collecting tool  100  by means of, for example, a heater from above the exterior case  21  in  FIG. 36 . As a result, first, the reaction body  87  disposed at an upper position in the collecting portion  23  melts into a liquid. Accordingly, amyloid beta that may exist in the mucous membrane collected by the collecting portion  23  reacts with the reaction body  87  and is decomposed, so that the amyloid beta transforms from an aggregate into simple substances. 
     When the heating by the heater is further continued, the neutralizer  86  disposed at a lower position in the collecting portion  23  melts into a liquid. As a result, the reaction body  87  is neutralized. 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 37B , the push-in operating portion  84  is held to move the reagent body  81  toward the exterior case  21  and the collecting portion  23 , so that the distal end of the reagent body  81  protrudes into the collecting portion  23  by tearing through the rupture membrane. As a result, the distal end of the reagent body  81  is immersed into the liquid in the collecting portion  23 . Since the reagent body  81  is pre-impregnated with a reagent that reacts with amyloid beta, the reagent body  81  changes its color if amyloid beta exists in the collected mucous membrane. Since the reagent body  81  is formed of a water-absorbing fiber, the liquid in the collecting portion  23  is absorbed by the fiber due to a capillary phenomenon and rises through the reagent body  81 . Consequently, the state of the reaction of the reagent can be observed through the reaction confirmation window  85 . 
     According to the present embodiment, from when the mucous membrane is collected to when the reaction of the reagent occurs, the collected mucous membrane is kept inside the biological tissue collecting tool  100 , and thus hygienic quality can be improved. 
     Embodiment 11 
     Hereinafter, differences of a biological tissue collecting tool  110  according to Embodiment 11 from the biological tissue collecting tool  100  according to Embodiment 10 are described. 
     In the biological tissue collecting tool  110 , neither the neutralizer  86  nor the reaction body  87  is disposed within the collecting portion  23 . 
     First, a mucous membrane is collected from a nostril by using the biological tissue collecting tool  110  in a manner similar to the above-described manner. Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 39 , with the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21  facing upward, the operating portion  53  is rotated such that the position of the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21  and the position of the third collection opening  24  of the collecting portion  23  coincide with each other. 
     Next, with the use of a dropper  88 , the reaction body  87  in liquid form is flowed into the collecting portion  23 . As a result, an aggregate of amyloid beta is decomposed into simple substances. Then, with the use of another dropper (not shown), the neutralizer  86  in liquid form is flowed into the collecting portion  23  to neutralize the reaction body  87 . Thereafter, the operating portion  53  is rotated again, so that the first collection opening  22  of the exterior case  21  is closed by the wall of the collecting portion  23 . 
     Subsequently, similar to Embodiment 10, the push-in operating portion  84  is used to cause the distal end of the reagent body  81  to protrude into the collecting portion  23 , and then the state of the reaction of the reagent is observed through the reaction confirmation window  85 . 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     According to the present invention, a substantially fixed amount of biological tissue can be collected each time biological tissue, for example, a nostril mucous membrane, is collected from a biological aperture such as a nostril, and therefore, a variation in the amount of collected biological tissue can be reduced. This consequently makes it possible to improve the accuracy of a determination made in a test. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  100 ,  110  biological tissue collecting tool 
       1  external nostril 
       2  first collection opening 
       3  exterior body 
       4  operated body 
       5  third collection opening 
       6  storage portion 
       7  operating portion 
       8  interior body 
       9  second collection opening 
       11  common nasal meatus 
       12  upper space 
       13  third collection opening 
       14  packing 
       15  collecting portion 
       16  contacting portion 
       21  exterior case 
       22  first collection opening 
       23  collecting portion 
       24  third collection opening 
       25  retention holder 
       26  operating stick 
       27  packing 
       29  mucous membrane 
       31  beaker 
       32  liquid 
       33  dropper 
       34   a,    34   b  rotation restriction portion 
       35   a  rotation restriction portion 
       36  insertion assisting tool 
       36   a  cylindrical guide portion 
       37  storage case 
       38  external cylinder 
       39  internal cylinder 
       51  retention holder 
       52  notch 
       53  operating portion 
       54  finger rest 
       55  index finger 
       56  grip 
       61  wipe cover 
       62  tearing beginning point 
       63  diameter expanding portion 
       71  air hole 
       72  first rotating piece 
       73  second rotating piece 
       72   a  first edge 
       72   b  second edge 
       73   a  first edge 
       73   b  second edge 
       74  space 
       74  storage space 
       75  scratching portion 
       76  protrusion 
       77  groove 
       81  reagent body 
       84  push-in operating portion 
       85  reaction confirmation window 
       86  neutralizer 
       87  reaction body 
       88  dropper