Patent ID: 8057756

Claim:
A sampling probe comprising a drive module having a reciprocating drive coupling, and a syringe module removably coupled coaxially to the drive module to allow for different syringe modules to be interchangeably coupled to the drive module, wherein the syringe module includes a plunger barrel, a plunger movable in the plunger barrel, and a plunger rod extending from an end of the plunger barrel for removable coupling to the drive coupling of the drive module for effecting common reciprocating movement of the plunger rod with the drive coupling, and the drive module and syringe module have cylindrical outer surfaces of the same outer diameter such that together the modules provide the probe with a substantially continuous cylindrical outer surface of uniform diameter; wherein the drive module and syringe module include a drive module housing and a syringe module housing, respectively; and wherein the drive module housing houses a drive motor and a rotary-to-linear motion transfer device interposed between the drive motor and drive coupling.