Claims
- 1. The combination of a device for disaggregating cytological material contained within a sample vial, and a tube for receiving dissaggregated cytological material from the device, which comprises:
- (a) the device comprising:
- (i) an elongated hollow body configured and dimensioned to be slidably inserted into the sample vial, the body having a top end, a bottom end and sides;
- (ii) sealing means for forming a liquid-impervious seal between the sample vial and the body when the body is inserted into the sample vial;
- (iii) a shear plate disposed across the bottom end of the body, the shear plate defining a plurality of holes of predetermined size effective to disaggregate the cytological material and to permit the disaggregated cytological material to traverse the shear plate and enter the body when the body is inserted into the sample vial; and
- (iv) a curved hose having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end being coupled to the top end of the body so that the disaggregated cytological material is permitted to flow from the top end of the body into and through the hose; and
- (b) the tube having an open end, a closed end, an interior surface and an exterior surface, the tube at its open end being configured and dimensioned to be securable to the top end of the body;
- such that when the tube is secured to the body, the hose is configured and dimensioned so that its distal end contacts the interior surface of the tube.
- 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the shear plate is positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body.
- 3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the device comprises two shear plates.
- 4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the two shear plates are parallel.
- 5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the holes defined by the two shear plates are not aligned.
- 6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a mesh screen located adjacent to the shear plate, the mesh screen being configured and dimensioned to prevent cytological material larger than a predetermined size from entering the body.
- 7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises securing means for securing the top end of the body to the open end of the tube.
- 8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the securing means comprise a flange.
- 9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the flange is configured and dimensioned to be insertable into the open end of the tube and to contact the interior surface of the tube.
- 10. The combination of claim 1, wherein the sealing means comprise a protrusion extending from the sides of the body.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/953,035, filed Sep. 29, 1992 pending.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1270511 |
Aug 1958 |
FRX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Translation of FR 1 270 511. |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
953035 |
Sep 1992 |
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