Patent ID: 7059207

Claim:
A motorized apparatus to collect a sample comprising: a hollow clamshell casing having a top portion, a bottom portion and a tubular handle portion connecting said top portion to said bottom portion; a sample collet system connected to said bottom portion of the casing adapted to receive a sample sleeve; said sample sleeve extending downward from the casing, a distal end of said sample sleeve forming a cutting edge circumscribing a circular cutting region; an ejection rod being reciprocally slideable within said sample sleeve from a retracted position to an expulsion position past said cutting edge; an electric gear motor disposed within the casing; motor actuation means to drive a first and second spur gear disposed within the casing and thereby rotating said sample sleeve to collect a sample from a substrate when the cutting edge contacts said substrate; ejection means to move said ejection rod from the retracted position to the expulsion position to displace said sample from the sample sleeve; and a collet locking mechanism disposed below said bottom portion of said casing, for removal of said sample collet system, or replacement of said sample sleeve and/or said ejection rod.