Patent ID: 7165550

Claim:
A method for harvesting cells from a patient's cervix, comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a cervical isolation and delivery apparatus into a patient's vagina, said cervical isolation and delivery apparatus comprising: an elongated hollow tube having an internal chamber, an application end, and a front end; an elongated rod being a cylindrical body having an application end having a means for harvesting cells, and an engaging end, said elongated rod being slidably disposed within said internal chamber of said elongated hollow tube with said application end of said elongated rod positioned toward said application end of said elongated hollow tube and said engaging end of said elongated rod positioned toward said front end of said elongated hollow tube, wherein said elongated rod is in an extended position within said elongated hollow tube when said application end of said elongated rod is in proximity to said front end of said elongated hollow tube and is in a retracted position within said elongated hollow tube when said application end of said elongated rod is in proximity to said application end of said elongated hollow tube; and a cervical cap having a front opening, a bottom opening, and a means for connecting said cervical cap to said application end of said elongated hollow tube such that said internal chamber of said elongated hollow tube is in communication with said bottom opening of said cervical cap; (b) positioning said front opening of said cervical cap of said cervical isolation and delivery apparatus over the patient's cervix; (c) sliding said elongated rod through said elongated hollow tube such that said means for harvesting cells of said elongated rod slides from said internal chamber of said elongated hollow tube into said cervical cap and in contact with the patient's cervix; and (d) harvesting cells from the patient's cervix.