Patent ID: 7207951

Claim:
A device for collection of a fluid sample, comprising a barrel having an opening at one end thereof, a plunger operable axially within the barrel, said barrel and said plunger defining a fluid chamber having a volume which varies on axial movement of the plunger within the barrel, and a flexible, hollow, elongate catheter extending from the fluid chamber through said opening in the barrel, said catheter being sufficiently flexible so as to be adapted to bend and follow the conformation of an internal cavity upon encountering walls of said cavity during insertion into said cavity without damaging tissue of said cavity, said catheter further being in operative engagement with said plunger for axial movement to extend and retract the catheter within respect to the barrel on axial movement of the plunger, and said catheter being in fluid communication with the fluid chamber so as to provide fluid flow to and from the fluid chamber through the catheter during extending and retracting, respectively, of the catheter.