CPC A61B 10/0283 (2013.01) [A61B 90/39 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3925 (2016.02)] | 21 Claims |
15. A method for performing fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or fine-needle biopsy (FNB) to sample cells or tissue from a cavity in a subject, the method comprising:
providing a device that includes:
a hollow needle,
an elongated member arranged to be moved within a lumen of the needle,
a flexible member arranged at a distal end of the elongated member, wherein the flexible member has a first, constrained configuration within the lumen of the needle and, following advancement of the elongated member in the needle or catheter, the flexible member has a second, expanded configuration outside said lumen, wherein the flexible member is arranged to form a loop in the expanded configuration, the loop extending in a plane that is parallel to an axis of the elongated member, and
a tubular sheath arranged outside the elongated member and configured to be moved along the elongated member inside the lumen of the needle so that a distal end of the tubular sheath contacts the loop of the expanded configuration outside the lumen of the needle;
introducing the needle into the cavity in the subject;
advancing the elongated member through the lumen of the needle in a distal direction such that the flexible member protrudes from a distal tip of the needle and expands to the expanded configuration, the flexible member forming the loop in the expanded configuration so as to come into contact with an inner wall of the cavity;
advancing the tubular sheath through the needle such that the distal end of the tubular sheath exits the distal tip of the needle and contacts the loop of the expanded flexible member;
rotating the elongated member such that the loop of the expanded flexible member scrapes the inner wall of the cavity;
retracting the elongated member into the lumen of the needle such that the flexible member is brought to the first, constrained configuration and re-enters the distal tip of the needle;
retracting the tubular sheath into the needle;
aspirating fluid from the cavity through the lumen of the needle; and
retracting the needle from the cavity.
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