| abstract |
A microbiological sampling device has inner and outer catheter tubes with a specimen sampling brush within the inner catheter body. A plug of water soluble material closes a distal end of the outer catheter body to prevent contamination of the inner catheter body and the brush during introduction into an organism, as for example, when placed in the lungs. The plug can be ejected and the sampling brush extended within the lungs to enable the brush to collect uncontaminated bacteria samples which are brushed into the inner body whereupon the entire assembly can be withdrawn. The plug protects the specimen sampling brush during introduction and is readily dissolvable avoiding unwanted biological problems, yet sealing the assembly against contamination. |