Abstract: A method and an apparatus for selectively coagulating blood vessels or tissue containing blood vessels involves the placement of the blood vessels or tissue containing blood vessels between the prongs of a forceps with the jaws of the forceps containing a plurality of electrodes which are energized by radio-frequency power. A plurality of sensors are associated with the electrodes and in contact with the vessels or tissue in order to measure the temperature rise of the tissue or blood vessels and to provide a feedback to the radio-frequency power in order to control the heating to perform coagulation of the vessels or tissue. In a further development, the upper prong of the device is split into two parts with a cutting blade between the two upper parts in order to provide for cutting of the coagulated vessels subsequent to the coagulation. The cutting may be accomplished either mechanically or with an electrosurgical cutting device.

Abstract: A method is provided for obtaining cervical cell culture specimens. The method makes use of a test device which may be used in conjunction with the manual cervical examination prior to delivery. The device includes an elastically resilient sheath adapted to grip a finger and a sterile pad of absorbent material on one end adapted to collect and retain the cell culture specimen. A kit is provided as well, the kit including a support member for maintaining the device in an unrolled, elongated, unrolled configuration and is designed so as to maintain sterile conditions and minimize contamination during storage and transport.