Apparatus for collecting and/or growing protected biological specimens

摘要

A specimen collector includes an elongated outer hollow tube having a forward end and a rearward end, and an inner elongated rod having a forward and rearward end portions slidably mounted within the outer tube. A specimen collector swab is mounted to the forward end of the inner rod, while a rearward extension including a gripping means is attached to the rearward end of the inner rod in order to effect sliding movement of the inner rod relative to the outer tube. A coaxial space between the inner rod and the outer tube is divided by a plurality of axially spaced seals. The first or forward seal is mounted to the forward end of the outer cylindrical tube and is openable to permit the specimen collector or swab to pass through the seal when the inner rod is moved forward relative to the outer tube. This first or forward seal has a rounded or dome-like forward portion and a rearward cylindrical portion which terminates in a rearward end. The rearward end incorporates means for attaching the forward seal within the forward end of the outer tube. The forward domed portion of the seal is divided into a plurality of substantially identical petal-like appendages, each of which is pivotably movable between open and closed positions. A second seal is mounted at the forward end of the inner rod, just behind the specimen collector swab. A third seal is fixedly mounted to the inner surface of the outer tube and includes a centrally located aperture to permit the inner rod to move slidably therethrough.