Abstract: The device includes a first tubular support (11) carrying on its outside surface means for fixing to a handling tool, a second tubular support (18) mounted coaxially inside the first support (11) for rotation about its axis. A flexible strip (55) carrying a monitoring probe at one of its ends is engaged in a slideway support carried by the second support (18) and including an end part (65) mounted to pivot about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis (25) of the second support (18). The strip (55) is moved translationally along the axial direction (25) by a conveyor bolt (53). The inside surface of the tubular piece (3) is monitored by moving the probe fixed to the end of the flexible strip (55) rotationally about the axis (25) and in axial translation, inside the annular space (8) between the sleeve (5) and the tubular piece (3).

Abstract: A method and device for removal of a specimen (30), especially a parallelepipedal specimen, from within the internal wall of the vessel of a nuclear reactor which is at the end of its service and whose core has previously been dismantled, but which retains a high residual radioactivity. A rotating platform (10) carrying tools (23, 24) for cutting out by electrical discharge is inserted into the vessel (1), maintained under protective water (7). A first electrode produces a recess in a direction perpendicular to the internal wall (21) of the vessel, delimiting the external contour of the specimen, and a second electrode cuts the rear of the latter to a specified depth, before the withdrawal thereof from the wall. The specimen thus obtained is then extracted from the vessel.