Cytology Balloon

A system for collecting cells from a body cavity, the system comprising:

• an elongate catheter having proximal and distal portions and a defining a longitudinal axis therealong;
• a balloon coupled to the distal portion of the catheter, the balloon defining a cavity therein for being inflated to expand the balloon;
• a perforated sleeve surrounding the balloon and having a plurality of openings therethrough and proximal and distal ends, the proximal and distal ends being attached to the balloon;
• a first lumen defined by the catheter, the first lumen being in fluid communication with the balloon cavity;
• a second lumen defined by the catheter;
• a guidewire extending through the second lumen;
• and
• wherein the system includes a first radially compressed configuration and a second radially expanded condition, wherein the balloon contacts the sleeve in the expanded condition to force the sleeve radially outward.

A method for collecting cells from a body cavity, the method comprising:

• inserting, into a body cavity, an inflatable balloon having a sleeve attached thereto, the balloon being in a compressed condition and defining a longitudinal axis, and wherein the sleeve includes perforations therein and surrounds the balloon;
• delivering a fluid through a catheter into a cavity defined by the balloon;
• expanding the balloon in response to delivering the fluid into the cavity;
• contacting an inner surface of the sleeve with the balloon;
• in response to contacting the sleeve, expanding the sleeve radially outward;
• in response to expanding the sleeve radially outward, contacting a surface of the body cavity with the sleeve and the perforations thereof;
• reciprocating the sleeve against the surface of the body cavity to collect cells from the body cavity;
• and
• retracting the balloon and the sleeve from the body cavity.