Patent ID: 7128877

Claim:
A sample collection device for collecting a biological sample from a mammary organ of a subject, comprising: a breast engaging member sized and dimensioned for engaging a breast of the subject to establish fluid connection between the engaging member and a nipple or alveolar duct of the breast; pressure changing means connected with said breast engaging member for changing pressure at a surface of the nipple or within the alveolar duct to induce or facilitate breast fluid expression from the nipple or alveolar duct; and a solid phase sample collection medium in fluid connection with said breast engaging member interposed between said breast engaging member and said pressure changing means for receiving a sample of expressed breast fluid from the nipple or alveolar duct, said solid phase sample collection medium selected from the group consisting of microscopic glass slides, capillary tubes, collection tubes, columns, micro-columns, wells, plates, membranes, filters, resins, inorganic matrices, beads, particulate chromatographic media, plastic microparticles, latex particles, coated tubes, coated templates, coated beads, coated matrices, and combinations thereof.