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.
Claims23
A method to aid in diagnosing breast cancer or pre-cancer comprising:
- placing a ductal access tool comprising a single lumen in a breast duct of a patient, wherein the single lumen has an inner diameter large enough to retrieve clusters of greater than 10 cells;
- infusing a fluid into the duct through the single lumen;
- and
- retrieving a ductal fluid sample from the accessed duct through the single lumen, wherein the ductal fluid sample comprises ductal epithelial cells and is free of ductal fluid from any other duct of the breast.
A method to aid in diagnosing breast cancer or pre-cancer comprising:
- placing a ductal access tool comprising a single lumen in a breast duct of a patient, wherein the single lumen has an inner diameter large enough to retrieve clusters of greater than 10 cells:
- infusing a fluid into the duct through the single lumen;
- and
- retrieving a ductal fluid sample from the accessed duct through the single lumen, wherein the ductal fluid sample comprises ductal epithelial cells and is free of ductal fluid from any other duct of the breast;
- and:
- examining the ductal fluid sample to determine absorption of a molecule by abnormal cells in the fluid.
A method for analyzing breast markers or epithelial cells, comprising:
- placing a ductal access tool comprising a single lumen in a breast duct of a patient, wherein the single lumen has an inner diameter large enough to retrieve clusters of greater than 10 cells;
- infusing a fluid into the duct through the single lumen;
- retrieving a ductal fluid sample from the accessed duct through the single lumen, wherein the ductal fluid sample comprises ductal epithelial cells and is free of ductal fluid from any other duct of the breast;
- and
- determining the presence or absence of a marker in the ductal fluid sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.