A METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE MOLECULAR COMPOSITION OF A TARGET TISSUE OR ANOTHER BODY STRUCTURE, AND ITS DISGNOSTIC APPLICATIONS

摘要

The present invention relates to a sampling instrument adapted for taking a sample in situ and in vivo or taking a sample ex vivo of a target tissue or body structure, in a maximum quantity of less than 10^-6g, said instrument comprising an elongated active member (10) with a distal operative end ill) having at least one retaining surface (12) arranged for contacting directly said target tissue or body structure, capturing and retaining molecules of said target tissue or body structure thereto.