Patent ID: 7094220

Claim:
An applicator for non-contaminating application of a medical utensil, said applicator comprising: a tubular compartment with a first open end, the compartment being adapted to receive at least a part of an utensil and being formed with a wall having an inner surface facing the utensil and an outer surface, the wall being provided with a flexible zone so as to allow the inner surface of the wall to be squeezed into engagement with the utensil upon a pressure applied to the outer surface of the wall; a clamping element including a first handle member joined to the applicator and being arranged to move between a first position in which said handle member applies pressure to the utensil arranged in the compartment by movement of said handle member toward said outer surface and a second at rest position in which the pressure is released, said handle member arranged to avoid engagement with other parts of the applicator so that movement between said first and second positions is unhindered; and a second handle member joined to the applicator and arranged to move between a first position in which said second handle member applies pressure to the utensil arranged in the compartment by movement of said handle member toward said outer surface and a second position in which the pressure is released, said second handle member being separated from the first handle member such that, during movement thereof and in both said first and second positions, said first and second handle members remain free of engagement with one another.