Flexible core needle for bronchoscopy
OwnerMichael J. Simoffinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible core needle, which may be used with an endoscope, and has an insertion tube defining a working channel. The flexible core needle includes a housing defining a sample chamber and an internal blade selectively movable between a closed position and an open position to collect a lesion sample. The flexible core needle may have an actuator passing within a flexible feeder, such that the actuator controls movement of the internal blade between the closed position and the open position. Suction may be applied while the internal blade is open to collect the lesion sample. Methods of using the flexible core needle to collect samples are also presented.
Claims15
A flexible core needle usable with an endoscope having an insertion tube defining a working channel, the flexible core needle comprising:
- a housing defining a sample chamber;
- and
- an internal blade selectively movable between a closed position and an open position, within the sample chamber, to collect a lesion sample.
A flexible core needle for collecting a lesion sample comprising:
- a housing defining a sample chamber;
- an internal blade selectively movable between a closed position and an open position to collect the lesion sample;
- and
- a flexible feeder operatively attached to the housing.
A method of collecting tissue samples with an endoscope and a flexible core needle, the method comprising:
- moving a tip of the endoscope to a location proximate a lesion;
- advancing the flexible core needle, with an internal blade closed within a housing, through the endoscope;
- opening the internal blade to expose a sample chamber of the housing;
- drawing a histologic sample of the lesion into the sample chamber;
- closing the internal blade with the histologic sample contained therein;
- and
- retracting the flexible core needle, with the histologic sample within the sample chamber and the internal blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.