Cytology brush apparatus with improvements

摘要

A tissue collection apparatus maximizes the collection and retention of tissue samples from within a patient. The apparatus comprises a handle with a hollow catheter flexibly extending distally from the handle. A cytology brush is stored within the hollow at a distal end of the cannula, and can be extended and retracted from the cannula by manipulating the handle. The cytology brush has a cylindrical proximal brush, a cylindrical distal brush, and a tissue collection gap longitudinally separating the proximal and distal brushes. The bristles of the brushes can have different material properties and can have an effective diameter greater than the cannula. In use, tissue samples accumulate within the bristles and within the tissue collection gap. When retracted into the hollow of the cannula, the apparatus maximizes the amount of tissue collected by folding the bristles over the tissue collection gap to shield the tissue samples collected within.

主权项

1. An apparatus for the collection and retention of tissue samples from within a patient, said apparatus comprising:
a handle; a flexible cannula extending distally from the handle with a first inner lumen therein extending from the handle to a distal end of the cannula, the first inner lumen having an inner surface and a distal lumen opening at a distal end of the cannula; and a brush for collecting tissue samples, the brush movable in and out of the distal lumen opening in response to actuation of the handle, the brush comprising:
i) a shaft extending from the inner lumen to define a longitudinal axis extending through the cannula to the handle,ii) a proximal portion of bristles extending cylindrically from the shaft,iii) a distal portion of bristles extending cylindrically from the shaft,iv) a center portion of bristles extending cylindrically from the shaft, and disposed between the proximal portion of bristles and the distal portion of bristles, andv) at least one tissue collector located between the proximal portion of bristles and the distal portion of bristles, the tissue collector configured to collect tissue samples within, and to retain the tissue samples as the brush is moved into the distal lumen opening of the cannula;wherein the proximal portion and distal portion of bristles are stiff bristles for abrading tissue samples from the surgical site, and the center portion of bristles are soft bristles for collecting tissue samples abraded from the surgical site;further wherein the center portion of bristles has a length along the longitudinal axis longer than either a length of the proximal portion of bristles or a length of the distal portion of bristles along the longitudinal axis.