Fluid-jet catheter and its application to flexible endoscopy

Sample collecting apparatus comprising a catheter tube, a pressure tube within the catheter tube, a pump connected to the pressure tube for pumping saline solution through the pressure tube, a saline solution source connected to the pump, an end piece having a flow reverser attached to a distal end of the catheter tube for redirecting flow of saline solution and having a lateral opening for attracting the targeted tissue into the lateral opening and for dissecting clusters of cells from the targeted tissue, a cell recovery tube connected to the end piece for transporting the dissected clusters of cells, a cell cluster trap connected to a proximal end of the cell recovery tube for collecting and storing the clusters of cells, a controller connected to the pump for controlling actuation of the pump, and a power supply connected to the pump and to the controller for supplying power to the pump for obtaining, dissecting and storing clusters of cells from within a body.

A sample collection method comprising obtaining, dissecting and storing clusters of cells from targeted tissue by inserting a catheter in a body, transmitting fluid pressure through the catheter, drawing tissue partially into a chamber and partially dissecting the tissue and forming clusters of cells, entraining the clusters of cells through the catheter to a cell cluster trap and storing the clusters of cells in the cell cluster trap.

Diagnostic or therapeutic fluid jet applicator apparatus comprising a tubular structure having distal and proximal ends first and second lumens extending between the ends of the tubular structure, the first and second lumens having proximal ends near the proximal end of the tubular structure and having distal ends near the distal end of the tubular structure, an operative opening between the lumens at the distal end of the tubular structure, a pressure source connection at the proximal end of the tubular structure for connecting the pressure source to the proximal end of the first lumen, a cell trap connection at the proximal end of the tubular structure for connecting a cell trap to the proximal end of the second lumen, a drain connection at the proximal end of the tubular structure for removing fluids from the proximal end of the second lumen.

A diagnostic or therapeutic method comprising directing fluid jets to a tissue, abraiding the tissue, entraining cell clusters from the abraided tissue in a fluid and conveying cell clusters in the fluid, trapping cell clusters from the fluid and discharging the fluid.