Patent ID: 8801628

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a case member having a first distal end portion and a first proximal end portion, the first distal end portion having a distal opening, and the first proximal end portion having an aperture; a plunger member sized and configured for sliding through the aperture, the plunger member having a second distal end portion configured to slide within the case member; an accumulator member disposed in the case member adjacent the plunger member, the accumulator member being compressed by the case member and configured for sliding through the distal opening as the plunger member slides through the aperture to enable expansion of the accumulator member and placement of the accumulator member within a vaginal cavity and proximal to a cervix of a patient, the accumulator member comprising absorbent material, a third distal end portion including a frusto-conical shaped tip section, and a third tip section having a collection substrate at the third distal end portion to enable collection of cells in multiple zones during regular activity of the patient while accumulator member is in the vaginal cavity without active scraping by external manipulation of the accumulator member, wherein the frusto-conical shaped tip section of the third distal end portion maintains the frusto-conical shape when positioned in the case member and outside the case member; and a flexible handle member attached to the accumulator member and extending through the plunger member to remove the accumulator member from the vaginal cavity after the collection of the cells, wherein the third tip section of the accumulator member emerges from the frusto-conical shaped tip section and a part of the accumulator is retained in the case member by the frusto-conical shaped tip section when the accumulator is engaged by the plunger member.