Patent ID: 7823321

Claim:
A sampling device comprising: a linear main shaft having a main axis and having a first end with an attachment point for attaching to a line and a second end with a pivot; a linear sampling tip, having one end pivotally coupled to the pivot on the second end of the main shaft, and an other end retrieving a sample tissue; a linear sliding sleeve, having a diameter larger than the main shaft and the linear sampling tip and located on the main axis and around the main shaft and sliding on the main shaft; and a spring, having a diameter larger than the main shaft and substantially the same diameter of the sliding sleeve and located on the main axis and around the main shaft between the attachment point and the pivot, and sliding on the linear main shaft and in contact with the sliding sleeve, wherein when the linear sampling tip is in a first location pivoted away from the axis of the main shaft, the sliding sleeve is held against the spring in tension at one end of the sliding sleeve and the sliding sleeve is held against a side portion of the linear sampling tip when the linear sampling tip is in a first location pivoted away from the axis of the linear main shaft such that the sampling device forms a hook, and wherein when pressure is applied against the linear sampling tip, the sampling tip rotates to align with the main axis of the linear main shaft and co-linear with the main shaft such that the spring pushes the sliding sleeve over the sampling tip.