MX2008001027A - Sampling means - Google Patents

Abstract

Sampling Means A sampling means for obtaining an organic sample (85) from an animal. The sampling means includes a punch means (18) adapted to be securable in use with a first part (70) of an applicator (100). A housing means (8) is adapted in use to be accommodated, or provided, by a second part (2) of the applicator (100). Operation of the applicator (100) in use being adapted to move said punch means (18) through a required part (80) of an animal to extract a sample (85) thereof. The punch means (18) being receivable within said housing means (8) to enable said housing means (8), with said punch means (18) and said sample (85), to be removable from said second part (2) of said applicator (100), and wherein the sampling means is not associated with an animal tag.

Description

MEANS OF SAMPLING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements or to a sampling means and more particularly, although not exclusively, to a sampling means for obtaining an organic sample from an animal for the purpose of its analysis and its use for the unique identification of the animal. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In New Zealand and elsewhere, several databases have been created that require a unique identifier of each registered animal. Although several distinguishable characteristics can be used, the provision of an organic sample, in particular a tissue, because DNA testing is one of the preferred options. Up to the present time, various purposes have been exposed or suggested, whereby an organic sample of an animal is taken, which is then retained with the ear tag that is attached to the animal or an animal is marked in Simultaneously with a sampling operation and the sample container can be removed from the label, as described in U.S. Patent No. 6, 509,187. However, the merging of tagging and sampling operations has been found to have disadvantages when animal tagging is not required. REF. 189683 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An objective of the present invention is to overcome or at least alleviate the problems with the sampling means or methods available in the present time and / or at least to provide the public with a useful choice. The additional objectives will be apparent from the following description. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sampling means for obtaining an organic sample from an animal and including a perforation means that is adapted to be secured in use with a first part of an applicator, a adapted housing means in use to be accommodated, or provided, by a second part of an applicator, the operation of the applicator in use is adapted to move the piercing means through the required part of the animal in order to extract a sample thereof, and may be received within the housing means in order to allow the housing means, with the piercing means and the sample, to be removed from the second part of the applicator, and where the sampling means is not associated with an animal tag. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a sampling means for obtaining an organic sample from an animal is provided, the sampling means comprises a perforation means and a separate housing means, the perforation means can be adapted to be moved completely through a part of the animal in order to obtain a sample thereof and the piercing means and the housing means may be clutched together in order to contain the sample in the housing means, in wherein the sampling means is not associated with an animal tag and wherein the piercing means is adapted to be placed on a first part of the applicator and the accommodation means is adapted to be placed on a second part of the applicator, and the operation of the applicator causes the piercing means to be moved through the animal part and to clutch with the housing means. The sampling means could further comprise a removable retaining means which is located in the second part of the applicator and the accommodation means is located in the removable holding means. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a sampling method provides a sample of organic material from an animal, the method includes: (i) providing a perforating means adapted to be moved by means of a first part of the applicator through part of an animal in order to obtain a sample; (ii) provide a housing means adapted to be accommodated by a second part of the applicator; (iii) adapting the piercing means and the accommodation means so that they can be clutched together, so that the piercing means with the sample could be placed inside the housing means and wherein the housing means and the means of The perforations are adapted so that they can be removed from the second part of the applicator. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sampling method for obtaining a sample of organic material from an animal, the method comprising: (i) placing a perforating means on a first part of the applicator; (ii) placing a housing means on a second part of the applicator; (iii) inserting a part of an animal between the first and second parts of the applicator; (iv) activating the applicator to cause the piercing means to penetrate and pass through the animal part in order to take a sample from the part of the animal, and to engage the housing means, so that the sample is placed in the means of accommodation; and where the sampling method does not happen simultaneously with the application of a label to the animal's part. Optionally, the method further provides for the removal of a retention means from the second part of the applicator, in which the accommodation means can be located. Preferably, the piercing means comprises an elongated body. Normally, the elongate body has a recess that engages with the first part of the applicator. Preferably, the elongate body and the recess are configured, such that the elongated body prevents or minimizes contact between the animal part and the first part of the applicator, and usually, avoids or minimizes contact between the first part of the applicator and any of the body fluids of the animal that are exposed by the sampling method. Commonly, the first part of the applicator is a pin that is located in a recess in the piercing means. Normally, the piercing means includes a sample chamber. Preferably, the sample chamber is in the form of a recess in the piercing means. It is possible that more than one sample chamber could be provided on the perforation medium. Preferably, one of the housing means and the piercing means has a closure capable of being opened that allows access to the sample chamber through the closure, for example, to allow verification or checking of the sample collected in the chamber. .

Normally, the closure comprises a deformable member. Preferably, the deformable member is flexed elastically, so that the closure is self-sealing after access to the sample. Preferably, the closure capable of being opened comprises two deformable members. Normally, the two deformable members engage with each other when the closure is closed and separate, at least partially, when the closure is opened. Preferably, the deformable member is inclined towards the sample chamber. Normally, the closure capable of being opened is located in the housing means, and preferably at the opposite end of the housing means from which the perforating means engages with the housing means. Preferably, the closure can be opened through a DNA verification probe. Preferably, the other of the housing means and the piercing means comprises a portion adapted to engage with a laboratory tray, such as a DNA check tray. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a sampling means and / or sampling method is substantially as described or as illustrated herein in the accompanying figures.

The additional aspects of this invention that must be considered in all their new aspects, will be apparent from the following description given by way of example of the possible modalities thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a perspective view of an applicator with a punch, adapter and housing mounted on the applicator prior to the sampling operation; Figure 2 is a plan view of the punch seen from the opposite end of a punch tip; Figure 3 is a perspective view from the side and above the punch; Figure 4 is a side view of the punch; Figure 5 is a side of the punch similar to Figure 4, although with the punch rotated 90 °; Figure 6 is a top view of the accommodation; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the housing; Figure 8 is a first side view of the housing; Figure 9 is a second side view of the housing with the housing turned 90 ° compared to Figure 8; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view through the housing; Figure 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the part indicated as "A" in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a perspective view from the side and above the adapter; Figure 13 is a plan view of the adapter; Figure 14 is a perspective view from the side and below the adapter; Figure 15 is a side view of the adapter; Figure 16 is a perspective view from the side and above once the sample has been taken with the punch engaged with the housing and the housing in the adapter; Figure 17 is a plan view of the punch, the housing and the adapter shown in Figure 16; Figure 18 is a perspective view from the side and below the punch, housing and adapter shown in Figure 16; Figure 19 is a side view of the punch, the housing and the adapter shown in Figure 16; Figure 20 is a partial cross-sectional view of the applicator in a first position with the punch, adapter and housing positioned in the applicator before a sample is taken; Figure 21 is a partial cross-sectional view of the applicator similar to that shown in Figure 20 although with an animal ear inserted in the applicator; Figure 22 is a partial cross-sectional view of the applicator showing the applicator in a second position during a sampling application; Figure 23 is a partial cross-sectional view of the applicator showing the applicator in a third position during a sampling operation; Figure 24 is a partial cross-sectional view through the applicator with the applicator shown in a fourth position during a sampling operation; Figure 25 is a partial cross-sectional view through the applicator showing the applicator returning to the first position once a sample has been taken; and Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view showing the punch and housing located in a laboratory tray once the sample has been taken and during a DNA verification operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention allows rapid and effective taking of an organic sample from an animal for subsequent analysis. The analysis could be DNA testing in order to provide a unique identification of the animal, such as in a registration database. However, alternatively or additionally, the analysis could be the verification of disease or any other desired purpose. In order to facilitate the taking of the sample, the present invention could use a well-known type of ear tag applicator subject to any suitable modification. An applicator that is well known, is the applicator Zee Tags ™ which is detailed in the New Zealand Patent Specification No. 335702, this specification is incorporated herein in its entirety, where appropriate by reference. This applicator is normally used in placing two-piece labels on the animal's ear. The applicator has two arms that are connected together in a rotatable manner, so that a male tag is placed on the applicator pin, the male tag is adapted to be inserted through the ear of the animal in order to engage with a female tag maintained on the second opposite arm of the applicator. The first and second arms of the applicator are then adapted to twist one outwardly from the other at the appropriate time leaving the label on the ear of the animal and providing convenient identification.

Figure 1 shows an applicator 100 including a first arm 2 having a holding plate 3 and a second arm 70 with a pin 60. The pin 60 extends from the second arm 70 towards the first arm 2 and towards the recess 61 in the holding plate 3 and the recess 62 in the second arm 2. The applicator 100 is used, in a conventional manner, for the placement of identification tags on animals. When animal identification tags are applied, a female portion of the tag is located between the holding plate 3 and the first arm 2 and is held in place by the holding plate 3. A male portion of the tag is placed on the tag. 60. However, in order to take an organic sample from an animal, the female portion of the tag is replaced by an adapter 4, a housing 8 is located within the hole 6 (see Figures 12-15) in the adapter 4 and a punch 18 is mounted on pin 60. Figures 2-5 show punch 18 in greater detail. As shown in Figures 2-5, the punch 18 has a tip portion 40 adapted to be able to pass through the required part of the animal for the collection of a suitable sample of tissue or other organic material. Generally, the tip 40 is frusto-conical in shape and has a recess 21 in the end 14 of the tip 40. The opposite end of the tip 40 defines an edge 30. Extending from the end 29 of the punch 18 to the edge 30 of the tip 40, there are three flange sections 19 that are spaced about the same distance around the main body section 41 of the punch 18. The body section 41 is hollow and defines a recess 42 that is adapted to receive the pin 60. The punch 18 could be manufactured from any suitable material and for example, could be manufactured from a plastic material using a molding process. Although the flange sections 19 are spaced the same distance around the body section 41, it is possible that the sections could not be spaced the same distance apart. Figures 6-9 show the housing 8 in greater detail. The housing 8 has a body section 35 which is generally tubular and defines an internal chamber 13. At the end 36 of the body section 35, there is a flange 9 having a lower edge 10. In addition, an elongated flat portion 37 it extends from the flange 9 and could be used as a handle or holder for handling the housing 8. The flat portion 37 could be designed to be rotated from the flange in order to allow it to be easily removed. In addition, or alternatively, the flat portion 37 could be used to carry a code (eg, a bar code) and / or an indication that allows the sample and / or animal to be identified. The code and / or indicia can be applied to the flat portion 37 and the body section 35 by direct printing on the surfaces or through an adhesive label. Normally, the same code and / or indicia can also be applied externally in the body section 35 of the housing, so that the housing 8 still carries the code and / or indicia once the flat portion 37 of the flange 9 is removed. At the other end 15 of the body section 35 is a closure 12. The closure 12 can to be opened and shown in greater detail in Figures 10 and 11. The closure 12 comprises two members 16, 17 which extend from the end 15 of the body section 35 inwards in the direction of the diameter 38 of the body section 35 and inwards along the longitudinal axis 51 in the direction of the chamber 13, so that the sides 54, 55 of the members 16, 17, respectively, which are outside the chamber 13, define in cross section a generally "V" shape. It can be seen that the free ends 52, 53 of the members 16, 17, respectively, bear against each other to seal the closure 12. However, if a suitable object were inserted in the form V defined by the sides 54, 55 with sufficient force, the members 16, 17 would be deformed, so that the free ends 52, 53 are separated from each other to create a hole in the closure 12 inside the chamber 13. The housing 8 can be manufactured from any material suitable, and in the same way as with the punch 18, it could be manufactured, for example, from a plastic material such as by a molding process. The adapter 4 is shown in greater detail in Figures 12-15. The adapter 4 has a flange 5 defining a hole 6, which extends through the flange 5 and through the protrusion portion 7 located below the flange 5. The hole 6 is configured to receive the body section 35 of the housing 8 and the hole has a projection 11 that can be engaged by the edge 10 on the flange 9. When the housing 8 is inserted into the adapter 4, the body section 35 extends through the hole 6, the housing 8 can be rotated relative to the adapter 4, so that the flat portion 37 of the housing 8 is located in either of the two recesses 45, 46 in the flange 5, which extend radially outwardly from the opening 6. and they are diametrically opposed to each other. Figures 16-19 show how the flat portion 37 is located in the recesses 46 when the housing is inserted into the adapter 4. In a similar manner, the flat portion can be located, alternately, in the recess 45. In use , the pin 60 is inserted into the hole in the end 29 of the punch 18, so that the pin 60 is located in the recess 42. The holding plate 3 is raised and the adapter 4 is inserted in the arm 2, so that that the flange 5 is located between the plate 3 and the upper surface 63 of the arm 2 and so that the protrusion 7 is located in the recess 62 in the arm 2. The housing 8 could be inserted in the adapter 4 before the introduction of the adapter 4 on the arm 2. However, alternatively, using the slot sections 47 on the edge of the flange 5, it is possible for an operator to hold the adapter 4 and rotate it 90 ° in the plane of the flange 5, so that one of the recesses 45, 46 is aligned in the recess 6 1 of the holding plate 3. This allows the housing 8 to be inserted into the adapter 4 with the flat portion 37 located in the recess 45, 46 which is located in the recess 61. When the housing 8 is located in the adapter 4 , the adapter 4 can then be rotated using the slot sections 47 towards the position shown in Figure 1. Figure 20 is a side view of the applicator 100 in the position of Figure 1 although with the punch 18, the adapter 4, the housing 8 and part of the first arm 2 shown in cross section. From this, it can be seen that before taking the sample from an animal, the housing 8 is located in the adapter 4, so that the lower edge 10 of the flange 9 is separated from the shoulder 11 of the adapter 4. Once the punch 18, the housing 8 and the adapter 4 are placed on the applicator 100, part of the animal, which is usually an ear 80, is introduced into the applicator between the first and second arms 2, 70, as shown in Figure 21. After the insertion of the ear 80, the fastening sections 101, 102 are fixed by the operator and pressed together, as indicated by the arrow 90 in Figure 22. This causes the first and second arms 2, 70 move towards each other and the pin 60 with the punch 18 positioned on it move in the direction of the arrow 91 towards the ear 80 until the end 14 of the tip 40 clings with the ear 80. The additional movement of the fasteners 101, 102 in the direction of the arrow 90 causes the tip 40 to pass through the ear 80 and the tip 40 to enter the chamber 13 of the housing 8 through the hole in the end 36, as shown in FIG. Figure 23. It can also be shown that it is observed Figure 23 shows that as the tip 40 passes through the ear 80, a section of tissue 85 was removed from the ear 80 and retained in the recess 21 at the tip 40. If it was desired to collect more than one sample of an animal, it would be possible that tip 40 could include two or more recesses. The tip 40 of the punch 18 and the body section 35 of the housing 8 are configured, so that the tip 40 is in a tightening fit or in a friction fit in the chamber 13. This could be achieved, for example, by designing the body section 35 and the tip 40, so that the internal diameter of the chamber 13 is smaller than the diameter of the edge 30 and the tip 40 and / or the body section 35 are designed so that they can be deformed, so that the edge 30 can enter the chamber 13, but so that the tip 40 resists the removal of the chamber 13. Additional movement of the fasteners 101, 102 in the direction of the arrow 90 displaces the first and the second arms 2, 70 together and moves the housing 8 towards the adapter 4 until the lower edge 10 of the flange 9 bears against the projection 11 in the hole 6 and the punch 18, is pushed towards the chamber 13, so that the punch 18 be safely located in the 13 through the edge 30 of the tip 40 that engages with the internal side walls of the chamber 13. The edge 30 also acts as a seal to minimize the risk of the sample being contaminated. This position is shown in Figure 24. When the punch 18 is pushed into the housing 8 to the position shown in Figure 24, the flange portions 19 help centralize the punch 18 within the housing 8 and reduce the likelihood of any turning. of the punch 18 relative to the housing 8, which could potentially break the seal formed by the edge 30 and / or could cause the punch 18 to be separated from the housing 8. Furthermore, when the punch 18 is in the position shown in Figure 24, the body section 41 is sufficiently long so that it still acts as a protection between the ear 80 and the pin 60 to avoid or minimize the possibility of contamination of the pin 60 by the ear 80. This has The advantage of helping to avoid the possibility of cross infection or cross contamination between animals. When the position shown in Figure 24 is reached, the applicator 100 is designed to be twisted in order to prevent tearing or tearing of the ear 80 of the animal, as shown in Figure 25. This allows immediate removal of the ear 80 between the first and second arms 2, 70 once the sample 85 has been taken. Once the sample 85 is taken from the ear 80, the operator can remove the housing 8 and the punch 18 of the adapter 4, either by turning the adapter 90 °, subsequently, removing the housing 8 and the punch 18 using the flat portion 37 as a handle to facilitate removal or by raising the holding plate 3 to completely remove the adapter 4 together with the housing 8 and the punch 18. Once the housing 8 and the punch 18 are removed from the adapter 4, the DNA check can be carried out on the sample 85. In order to perform the DNA check, the end 29 of the punch 18 is inserted into a sample recess 88 in a laboratory tray 20, so that the end 36 of the housing 8 is located at the top of sample recess 88 and body section 41 of punch 18 extends towards recess 88. However, before the combined punch and housing are introduced into laboratory tray 20, the flat portion 37 is normally removed from the flange 9. Although the flat portion 37 is removed from the punch 18 and the housing 8 combined, the code and / or indicia are also located on the body section 35 for identification of the sample or of the animal from which the sample was taken. When the combined punch and housing are in position in the laboratory tray 20, a pipette 150 can be inserted in the form V formed by the surfaces 54, 55 of the members 16, 17, so that the end 151 deforms the members 16, 17, so that the free ends 52, 53 separate and allow the end 151 to pass between the free ends 52, 53 in order to enter the chamber 13. Commonly, in the DNA testing process, the pipette 150 is used to introduce a liquid into the chamber 13 using the pipette. Removing the pipette 150 from the chamber 13 and from between the members 16, 17 allows the members 16, 17 to be returned to the position shown in Figure 26. Then, the DNA checking process normally involves heating the sample and liquid, which causes the tissue of the sample 85 to be broken and mixed with the liquid. Another pipette (not shown) is then introduced through the closure 12, in the same way as the pipette 150, in order to extract some quantity of liquid, which now contains the DNA of the sample 85, for verification or verification. The use of a tray 20, or the like, with a plurality of compartments will of course facilitate the sampling process of an adequate number of animals at a time before the individual samples are verified and the identification of the data linked with the animal. specific from which this particular sample has been taken. Therefore, it is noted that the present invention facilitates the obtaining of an organic sample 85 from an animal and the retention of the sampling means 8, 18 in the applicator 100 for its removal and subsequent verification. It will be appreciated that there is a significant difference between the present invention and the previous proposals, which are combined in a marking and sampling operation. In particular, the drilling medium 18 of the present invention passes completely through the portion of the animal, usually, the ear of the animal from which the sample is being taken. In addition, the piercing means 18 is adapted to be placed directly on a suitable pin of application 60 and since a piercing means 18 is used by sampling, the risk of any cross-contamination between the animals will not exist, or will be minimal, since the applicator pin 60 will be protected by the piercing means 18. In addition, the provision of a removable adapter 4 facilitates the use of an otherwise standard applicator, although it is considered that the applicator 100 could be specifically provided for the purposes of the present invention, in this case, the adapter could be a permanent fastener which is opposite to a removable adapter 4. Therefore, it is appreciated that unlike other methods, nothing is left in the ear of the animal or in another part of the body, such as a male tag. In the above description, wherein the reference has been made to the specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents, then, these equivalents are incorporated herein as if they were singled out. Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to the possible modalities thereof, it will be understood that modifications or improvements could be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the currently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. These changes and modifications could be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its concurrent advantages. Therefore, it is intended that these changes and modifications be included within the present invention. It is noted that in relation to this date the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (55)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A sampling means for obtaining an organic sample from an animal, the sampling means includes a means of drilling and a means With a separate housing, the piercing means is adapted to be moved completely through a part of an animal in order to obtain a sample thereof, and the piercing means and the housing means can be clutched together with the object of containing the sample in the housing means, characterized in that it is not associated with an animal tag and wherein the perforation means is adapted to be placed on a first part of an applicator and the accommodation means is adapted so that is placed on a second part of an applicator, and the operation of the applicator causes the perforation means to be moved through the part of the anima l and that clutch with the accommodation means.
2. 2. A sampling means for obtaining an organic sample from an animal and including a perforation means that is adapted to be secured in use with a first part of an applicator, a means of accommodation adapted in use so that be accommodated, or provided, by a second part of the applicator, the operation of the applicator in use is adapted to displace the piercing means through a required part of an animal in order to extract a sample thereof, and so that it can being received within the housing means to allow the housing means, with the piercing means and the sample, to be removed from the second part of the applicator, and characterized in that the sampling means is not associated with an animal tag.
3. The sampling means according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that it comprises a removable retention means which is located in the second part of the applicator and the accommodation means is placed in the removable retention means.
4. The sampling means according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piercing means includes a tip, and the tip cuts through the part of the animal to extract the sample.
5. 5. The sampling means according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tip engages internally with the housing means.
6. The sampling means according to claim 5, characterized in that the tip is in a tightening fit in the housing means.
7. The sampling means according to claim 6, characterized in that the width of the tip is larger than the internal width of the housing means and the tip and / or the housing means can be deformed.
8. The sampling means according to claim 7, characterized in that the tip and / or the housing can be deformed, at least partially, in an elastic manner.
9. The sampling means according to any of claims 4-8, characterized in that the tip has a generally frusto-conical shape.
10. The sampling means according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drilling means includes a sample chamber.
11. The sampling means according to claim 10, characterized in that the sample chamber is in the form of a recess in the perforation means.
12. The sampling means according to claim 11 when it finally depends on any of claims 4-9, characterized in that the recess is at one end of the tip.
13. The sampling means according to any of claims 10-12, characterized in that the piercing means includes more than one sample chamber.
14. 14. The sampling means according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the housing means and the piercing means has a closure that can be opened to allow access into the housing means.
15. 15. The sampling means according to claim 14, characterized in that the closure includes a deformable member.
16. 16. Sampling means according to claim 15, characterized in that the deformable member can be flexed elastically, so that the closure is self-sealing.
17. The sampling means according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the closure includes two deformable members.
18. The sampling means according to claim 17, characterized in that the two deformable members engage with each other when the closure is closed and are at least partially separated when the closure is opened.
19. The sampling means according to any of claims 15-18, characterized in that the deformable member is inclined towards the interior of the housing.
20. 20. The sampling means according to claim 19 when it finally depends on claim 11, characterized in that the deformable member is inclined towards the sample chamber.
21. 21. The sampling means according to any of claims 14-20, characterized in that the closure is in the housing means.
22. The sampling means according to claim 21, characterized in that the closure is at an opposite end of the housing means from which the perforating means engages with the housing means.
23. 23. The sampling means according to any of claims 14-22, characterized in that the closure can be opened by a laboratory instrument.
24. 24. The sampling means according to claim 23, characterized in that the laboratory instrument is a pipette.
25. 25. The sampling means according to any of claims 14-24, characterized in that the other of the housing means and the piercing means includes a portion adapted to engage with a sample recess in a laboratory tray.
26. 26. The sampling means according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piercing means includes an elongated member.
27. 27. The sampling means according to claim 26 when dependent on any of claims 4-9, characterized in that the tip is at one end of the elongate member.
28. 28. The sampling means according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that the elongate member has a mounting formation adapted to allow the piercing means to be placed on an applicator.
29. 29. The sampling means according to claim 28, characterized in that the assembly formation comprises a recess that is adapted to receive a pin of an applicator.
30. 30. The sampling means according to claim 28 or 29 when dependent on claim 27, characterized in that the tip is at the opposite end of the elongate member of the mounting formation.
31. The sampling means according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the perforation means and the accommodation means includes an alignment means that aids in the relative centering of the perforation means and the accommodation means when the medium Drilling clutch with the housing means.
32. 32. The sampling means according to claim 31, characterized in that the alignment means centers an axis of the perforation means with an axis of the accommodation means.
33. 33. The sampling means according to claim 31 or 32, characterized in that the alignment means includes an alignment formation on the perforation means cooperating with the accommodation means to assist in relative alignment.
34. 34. The sampling means according to claim 35, characterized in that the alignment formation cooperates with an internal side wall of the housing means.
35. 35. The sampling means according to claim 34 when it depends on any of claims 26-30, characterized in that the alignment formation is placed in an external position on the elongated member.
36. 36. The sampling means according to claim 35 when dependent on claim 27 or 30, characterized in that the alignment formation is on a different section of the elongate tip member.
37. 37. The sampling means according to any of claims 33-36, characterized in that a number of alignment formations is provided.
38. 38. The sampling means according to claim 37, characterized in that there are three alignment formations.
39. 39. Sampling means according to claim 37 or 38, characterized in that the alignment formations are spaced at the same distance around the perforation means.
40. 40. The sampling means according to any of claims 33-39, characterized in that the alignment formation extends in a direction along the axis of the piercing means which corresponds to the clutch direction of the piercing means with the accommodation means.
41. 41. Sampling means according to claim 40, characterized in that the alignment formation extends along the longitudinal axis of the piercing means.
42. 42. A sampling method that provides a sample of organic material from an animal, characterized in that it comprises: (i) providing a piercing means adapted to be moved by means of a first part of the applicator through part of an animal for get a sample; (ii) providing a housing means adapted to be accommodated by a second part of the applicator; (iii) the piercing means and the housing means can be clutched together, so that the piercing means with the sample could be placed within the housing means and wherein the housing means and the piercing means are capable of be removed from the second part of the applicator.
43. 43. A sampling method for obtaining a sample of organic material from an animal, characterized in that it comprises: (i) placing a perforation means on a first part of the applicator; (ii) placing a housing means on a second part of the applicator; (iii) inserting a part of an animal between the first and second parts of the applicator; (iv) activating the applicator to cause the piercing means to penetrate and pass through the animal part in order to take a sample from the part of the animal, and to engage the housing means, so that the sample is placed in the means of accommodation; (v) removing the perforating means and the accommodating means from the applicator, and where the sampling method does not occur simultaneously with the application of a label to the animal part.
44. 44. The method of compliance with the claim 42 or 43, further characterized in that it comprises placing a retention means on the second part of the applicator and the accommodation means is placed in or on the retention means.
45. 45. The method according to the claim 44, further characterized in that it comprises the removal of the retaining means from the second part of the applicator with either the perforating means and the accommodated housing means or after the removal of the perforating means and the lodged housing means.
46. 46. The method according to any of claims 42-45, further characterized in that it comprises providing a closure that can be opened in one of the piercing means and the housing means, and the introduction of a laboratory instrument through the closure able to be opened in order to extract at least a portion of the sample for analysis.
47. 47. The method according to claim 46, further characterized in that it comprises the removal of the laboratory instrument from the closure capable of being opened, by means of which, the closure is self-sealing after the removal of the laboratory instrument.
48. 48. The method according to claim 46 or 47, characterized in that the closure is opened by the clutch of the laboratory instrument with the closure.
49. 49. The method according to any of claims 46-48, further characterized in that it comprises providing the other of the piercing means and the accommodation means with a tray clutch portion and the location of the tray clutch portion in a Check tray before inserting the laboratory instrument through the closure.
50. 50. The method according to any of claims 46-49, characterized in that the closure is provided in the housing means.
51. 51. The method according to any of claims 46-50, characterized in that the laboratory instrument is a pipette.
52. 52. The method according to any of claims 46-51, characterized in that the sample is prepared for analysis in the housing means before the portion of the sample is extracted.
53. 53. The method according to any of claims 42-52, characterized in that the piercing means covers at least a portion of the first part of the applicator to avoid contact between the first part of the applicator and the part of the animal that will be sampled. .
54. 54. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the perforation means prevents contact between the first part of the applicator and any of the body fluids of the animal that are exposed as a result of the sampling method.
55. 55. Sampling means or sampling method, characterized in that it is substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying figures.