Systems and methods for improved tissue sampling

Abstract

This disclosure concerns systems and methods for tissue sampling using ultrasound guidance. Systems according to the various embodiments of the disclosure include a needle, for instance a biopsy needle, disposed coaxially about small gauge ultrasound probe. These systems are useful in a variety of procedures including pulmonary nodule sampling.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to US Provisional Application Serial No. 62 / 299,899, filed February 25, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. technical field [0003] This application relates to the fields of medical devices and medical procedures. More particularly, the present application relates to devices and methods for ultrasound-guided biopsy sampling. Background technique [0004] A biopsy is a group of medical diagnostic tests used to determine the structure and composition of tissue or cells. In a biopsy, the sampling of cells or tissue from an organ or other body part to allow it to be analyzed, eg under a microscope. Typically, if an abnormality is found by superficial examination, such as palpation or radiographic imaging, a biopsy can be performed to determine the nature of the suspected abnormality. [0005] Capable of performing superficia...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Open surgery is significantly more expensive than needle biopsy, requires more time to recover, requires stitches, may leave unsightly scars, requires anesthesia, has a small risk of death and can cause bleeding, infection and problems with wound healing

[0007] However, fine-needle biopsy carries its own risks: the relatively small amount of tissue sampled may not be representative of the area of ​​interest from which it was sampled, especially if the area of ​​interest is very small or hard

Additional difficulties arise in ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy: In some EUS-FNA procedures, the fine-gauge biopsy needle is often more sensitive than the catheter-based endoscopic ultrasound transducer used to guide the biopsy needle. Stiff and less deflectable; therefore, while it can guide the transducer to the site of interest, it may not be able to sample accurately if the needle is too stiff to navigate the same path through that tissue

Furthermore, current practice involves "blind" actuation of the biopsy needle, which may result in damage to non-target tissue

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