Endoscopic location and vacuum assembly and method

An endoscopic assembly usable with an external first position indicator component and for collecting a sample from a desired location within a patient during an endoscopic procedure, the endoscopic assembly comprising:

• an elongated member having a proximal end portion configured to remain external to the patient during the procedure, an open distal end configured to be inserted into the patient, and a bore extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end;
• and
• a second position indicator component sized to slide within the bore and to slidably engage the elongated member, the second position indicator component being manipulable to move within the bore between first and second positions, in the first position the second position indicator component is located within the bore substantially adjacent to the distal end of the elongated member and the second position indicator component is communicable with the first position indicator component to aid the operator in positioning the distal end of the elongated member within the patient near the desired location, and in the second position the second position indicator component is spaced apart from the distal end of the elongated member toward the proximal end to create a sample collection area in the bore between the second position indicator component and the distal end of the elongated member, the second position indicator component being sized to closely fit within the bore to create a partial vacuum near the distal end of the elongated member when the second position indicator component is moved from the first position to the second position for collecting a sample from the desired location through the open distal end and retaining the sample within the sample collection area.

An endoscopic system usable with an external first position indicator component and for creating a partial vacuum at a desired location within a patient during an endoscopic procedure, the system comprising:

• a first elongated member having a distal end configured to be inserted into the patient and a proximal end portion configured to remain external to the patient during the procedure, the first elongated member having at least a first bore extending from the proximal end portion through the distal end;
• a second elongated member having a proximal end portion and a distal end, the second elongated member being slidably insertable into the first bore and selectively extendable beyond the distal end of the first elongated member, the second elongated member having a second bore extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end of the second elongated member;
• and
• a second position indicator component slidably engagable with the bore of the second elongated member, the second position indicator component being manipulable to move within the second bore between first and second positions, in the first position the second position indicator component is substantially adjacent to the distal end of the second elongated member and is communicable with the first position indicator component to aid the operator in positioning the distal end of the second elongated member in the patient to the desired location, in the second position the second position indicator component is spaced from the distal end of the second elongated member toward the proximal end portion to create a void between the second position indicator component and the distal end of the second elongated member, the second position indicator component being sized relative to the bore to create a partial vacuum near the distal end of the second elongated member at the desired location when the second position indicator component is moved from the first position to the second position.

A method for creating a partial vacuum at a desired location within a patient, the method comprising:

• providing an elongated member having proximal end portion, an open distal end and a bore extending therebetween;
• positioning a position indicator component within the bore of the elongated member and substantially adjacent to the open distal end;
• inserting the elongated member and the position indicator component into the patient;
• detecting the position of the position indicator component within the patient relative to a selected location in the patient;
• moving the position indicator component and the open distal end of the elongated member as a unit to the desired location within the patient;
• and
• creating the partial vacuum at the desired location by moving the position indicator component within the bore proximally away from the open distal end and toward the proximal end portion of the elongated member to create the partial vacuum in the bore near the open distal end of the elongated member at the desired location as the position indicator component moves from the first position to the second position.

A method for positioning a distal end of an endoscopic device at a desired location within a patient and collecting at least a first sample from the desired location, the method comprising:

• providing an elongated member having proximal end portion, an open distal end and a bore extending therebetween;
• positioning a position indicator component within the bore of the elongated member in a first position substantially adjacent to the open distal end;
• detecting the position of the desired location within the patient;
• detecting the position of the position indicator component;
• inserting the elongated member and the position indicator component into the patient;
• moving the position indicator component and the open distal end of the elongated member as a unit to the desired location within the patient;
• collecting samples by moving the position indicator component within the bore proximally away from the first position and to a second position toward the proximal end portion of the elongated member;
• and
• drawing the first sample into the bore from the desired location as the position indicator component is moved from the first position to the second position.