Medical instrument for accessing a breast duct for performing a medical procedure

Abstract

A medical instrument including a ductal access device comprising a low profile, ergonomic manifold hub usable to introduce fluids into a breast duct and collect ductal fluid samples including ductal epithelial cells and clumps of ductal epithelial cells from within a breast duct. The ductal access device also comprises an elongated access catheter having a distal end, one lumen and dimensions which permit introduction of the distal end through a ductal orifice so that a distal end of the catheter may be positioned distal to the ductal sphincter of a human breast. The medical instrument may also include at least one spacing member for adjustably positioning the manifold hub a desired distance above the surface of the nipple. The spacing member may control the insertion depth of the catheter into the duct. The medical instrument may also include at least one member for anchoring the device to the breast.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a medical instrument having at least a portion that is introduced into the body of a mammal in order to perform diagnostic or therapeutic medical procedures, more specifically, the present invention relates to a medical instrument useable during a diagnostic or therapeutic medical procedure that has a low profile and at least a portion sized for introducing into a breast duct through a ductal orifice. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The breast is a specialized, glandular structure including a system of complicated breast -ducts that radiate from the nipple and that are bound together by fairly dense connective tissue. Each of these breast ducts includes an associated ductal orifice on the surface of a nipple through which ductal fluid may be expressed. Each duct includes a series of successive interlobular branches that drain through the main, lactiferous branch, which terminates and exits the breast at the nipple via...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The instrument effectively retrieves hundreds of ductal epithelial cells and cell clusters, reducing patient discomfort and improving the accuracy of breast cancer detection by providing consistent and meaningful samples without distorting the breast ducts.

Problems solved by technology

However, the retrieval techniques and instruments used by these members of the medical community did not routinely obtain meaningful ductal fluid samples.

However, these techniques required that significant, sometimes painful, pressure be created on the nipple surface or along the sides of the breast to overcome the fluid retaining properties of the ductal sphincter.

Also, these techniques did not routinely provide meaningful ductal fluid samples with a sufficient number of ductal epithelial cells for a meaningful cellular analysis.

Additionally, these techniques did not provide samples with cell clusters of 10 or more cells.

As a result, the obtained fluid samples could not consistently provide an accurate indication of whether or not the duct from which they were retrieved included precancerous or cancerous cells.

However, these devices typically extend a significant distance out of the breast duct during the performed procedure.

As a result, when an operator is not holding the tool, the moment created by the weight and length of the section of the instrument extending out of the duct may cause the indwelling portion of the instrument to engage the sidewalls of the duct, torque and / or kink the duct and distort the nipple.

These effects on the duct and nipple may impede the procedure by twisting or crimping the indwelling portion of the instrument, possibly injuring the patient's duct and causing significant discomfort to the patient.

However, in the confined space around an operating table and in the area surrounding a nipple surface, it is not practical to have an attendant constantly holding the end of the instrument that is extending into the breast duct.

Therefore, prior to receiving the procedure, a patient must decide to either experience discomfort during the procedure or choose not to have the procedure performed.

Prior art instruments are also not ergonomically designed for easy grasping and adjusting by a practitioner or attendant while acting in the area surrounding a nipple.

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