Isolated ductal fluid sample
AssigneeCytyc Health Corporation
InventorDavid Hung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sample for diagnosis of breast cancer can be prepared by isolating a ductal fluid sample from one duct of a breast of a patient. The isolated ductal fluid is not mixed with ductal fluid from any other duct of the breast. Generally the target duct is not spontaneously discharging. The isolated ductal fluid sample can be examined to determine the presence or absence of a marker associated with cancer or pre-cancer. An isolated ductal fluid sample not mixed with ductal fluid from any other duct of the breast permits identification of the duct which is diseased and provides increased sensitivity for existing diagnostic and analytic techniques.
Claims30
A method for preparing a sample for use in diagnosis of breast cancer or pre-cancer comprising:
- isolating a ductal fluid sample from one duct of a breast of a patient, said isolated ductal fluid not mixed with ductal fluid from any other duct of the breast.
An isolated ductal fluid sample collected from a breast duct in a breast, said isolated ductal fluid not mixed with ductal fluid from any other breast duct.
A method for analyzing breast markers or epithelial cells, comprising:
- determining the presence or absence of a marker in an isolated ductal fluid sample collected from a breast duct in a breast, said isolated ductal fluid not mixed with ductal fluid from any other breast duct.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.