Methods and kits for indentifying ductal orifices in a nipple

Inactive Publication Date: 2002-08-22
RGT UNIV OF CALIFORNIA
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Regardless of the correctness of this presently believed mechanism, it has been found that introduction of a dye into the

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  • Methods and kits for indentifying ductal orifices in a nipple
  • Methods and kits for indentifying ductal orifices in a nipple
  • Methods and kits for indentifying ductal orifices in a nipple

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Embodiment Construction

[0026] The present invention comprises methods for locating, labelling, and accessing the ductal networks in human female breasts. A typical breast B is illustrated in FIG. 1 and includes a nipple N and from six to nine ducts D. Three ductal networks D.sub.1-3 extending inwardly from the nipple N into the breast tissue are illustrated. As best seen in FIG. 2, each ductal network D.sub.1-3 begins with an orifice O.sub.1-3 which lies at the surface of the nipple N and extends inwardly through a ductal sinus S.sub.1-3 and then into a branching network. Each network D comprises a series of successively smaller lumens which are arranged in complex, three-dimensional patterns. The networks of each duct will overlap within the breast tissue but will not usually be interconnected. The present invention relies on identifying and labelling tissue in the orifice O of each duct D within the nipple N. Usually, there will be from six to nine orifices (but sometimes as many as twenty) which open i...

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Abstract

Methods, kits, and apparatus for locating, labelling, and accessing breast ducts are described. An orifice to one or more ductal networks is marked to enhance visibility. In a first embodiment, the orifice is labelled using a specific binding substance, typically an antibody, specific for a tissue marker present on the orifice. Exemplary tissue markers include those present on the ductal epithelium, such as cytokeratins, including cytokeratin 8 and cytokeratin 18; cadhedrins, such as E cadhedrin; and epithelial membrane antigens. In a second embodiment, a dye is injected into the base of the nipple and preferentially accumulates at at least some of the orifices. Other marking techniques are also described. Marking of the ductal orifices permits reliable identification and access to each of the multiple ductal networks which may be present in an individual breast.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08 / 931,786, filed on Sep. 16, 1997, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.[0003] 1. Field of the Invention[0004] The present invention relates generally to medical methods and devices for accessing body lumens and in particular to methods and apparatus for identifying ductal orifices in human breasts and accessing the ducts through the identified orifices.[0005] Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with well over 100,000 new cases being diagnosed each year. Even greater numbers of women, however, have symptoms associated with breast diseases, both benign and malignant, and must undergo further diagnosis and evaluation in order to determine whether breast cancer exists. To that end, a variety of diagnostic techniques have been developed, the most common of which are surgical techniques including core biopsy and excisional biopsy. Recently, fine needle aspiration (FNA) cyt...

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A61K49/00
CPCA61K49/0013A61K49/0043A61K49/0058A61K49/006
Inventor BARSKY, SANFORD H.LOVE, SUSAN M.ALPAUGH, MARY L.
Owner RGT UNIV OF CALIFORNIA
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