Patent ID: 7093508

Claim:
A method for sampling a circular shaped sample area from a sample source, the method comprising the steps of: I) providing a sampling device, the device comprising: an elongated, hollow handle configured to be grasped by the fingers; a tubular sample sleeve depending from an end of said handle wherein the end of said sample sleeve that is not connected to said handle forms a circular cutting blade; a spring ejection cover capping the end of said handle opposite said sample sleeve; a shaft depending from said spring ejection cover, said shaft in contact with a spring housed within an enclosure and connected to a linkage that connects to a plunger, said plunger being slidably movable within said sample sleeve between a retracted position that defines a lumen bounded by the tip of said plunger and said cutting blade and an expulsion position defined by said plunger being actuated past the cutting blade; II) placing a sample material on a cutting support; III) choosing a target area of the sample; IV) maintaining said plunger in said retracted position; V) holding the handle of the sampling device between the fingers of one hand; VI) using the other hand to hold the sample to restrict the movement of the sample; VII) positioning the cutting blade of the sampling device perpendicularly above said target area; VIII) bringing said handle downward until said cutting blade is in contact with the surface of the sample source; IX) applying downward pressure while rotating said handle to cut a core of said sample material; X) bringing the entire surface of the cutting blade into contact with the cutting support thereby urging the sample into the lumen of the sample sleeve; XI) lifting the sampling device from the sample material; XII) depressing the spring ejection cover to actuate the plunger from said retracted position towards the cutting blade; XIII) actuating the plunger beyond the cutting blade to fully eject the sample; and XIV) releasing the spring ejection cover thereby allowing the plunger to return to the retracted position.