Biopsy apparatus and method of obtaining biopsy sample

• US 20030040681A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Advance Sentry Corporation
• Original Assignee: Advance Sentry Corporation
• Inventors: Ng, Raymond H.W., Daykin, Victor
• Application Number:
  US10/209,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040681A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/562
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0291 for uterus A61B10/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0216 Sampling brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320012 Brushes

Abstract

A biopsy apparatus is described. The apparatus comprises: a body section having an opening at a distal end thereof; a sample collection means for obtaining a biopsy sample; and a first actuator to provide relative movement between the sample collection means and the body section wherein the sample collection means is operable between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position. A related kit, detachable sample collection device and diagnostic method are also described. The biopsy apparatus is particularly useful as a screen for nasopharyngeal cancer in a patient.

Claims

1. A biopsy apparatus comprising:

a body section having an opening at a distal end thereof,

a sample collection means for obtaining a biopsy sample; and

a first actuator to provide relative movement between the sample collection means and the body section wherein the sample collection means is operable between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position.

2. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein, in the first, retracted position, the sample collection means is disposed in a receptacle in the body section.

3. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein, in the second, extended position, the sample collection means is exposed to enable collection of the biopsy sample.

4. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a sheath which is retractable with respect to the sample collection means.

5. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a sheath which is reversibly retractable with respect to the sample collection means.

6. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the body section further comprises a resealable cover over the opening.

7. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 6, wherein the resealable cover is operable between:

(i) a first, unsealed position in which the sample collection means may moved therethrough between the first, retracted position and the second, extended position, and (ii) a second, sealed position in which the sample collection means is substantially sealed from exposure to an environment outside the apparatus.

8. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the body section comprises a first section and a second section angularly disposed with respect to one another.

9. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the first second and the second section are at an obtuse angle with respect to one another.

10. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the first second and the second section are at angle in the range of from about 90°

to about 135°

with respect to one another.

11. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the first second and the second section are at angle in the range of from about 95°

to about 130°

with respect to one another.

12. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the first second and the second section are at angle in the range of from about 100°

to about 125°

with respect to one another.

13. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the first second and the second section are at angle in the range of from about 100°

to about 115°

with respect to one another.

14. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 8, further comprising angle adjustment means to allow a user to adjust the angle between the first section and the second section.

15. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the sample collection means comprises a roughened surface.

16. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the sample collection means is detachable from the apparatus.

17. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the sample collection means is made of a flexible material.

18. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 17, wherein, in the first, retracted position, the sample collection means is in a folded-in position and in the second, extended position, the sample collection means is in a folded-out position.

19. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein a slidable shaft interconnects the sample collection means and the first actuator.

20. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 19, wherein the slidable shaft detachably interconnects the sample collection means and the first actuator.

21. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a second actuator to provide movement of the sample collection means in the second, extended position.

22. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 21, wherein the second actuator provides rotational movement of the sample collection means in the second, extended position.

23. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 21, wherein the body section comprises a moveable window over the opening.

24. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 21, wherein the body section comprises a moveable window over the opening, the moveable window connected to the first actuator.

25. The biopsy apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a removable cover for connection to the sample collection means after collection of the biopsy sample.

26. A kit for obtaining a biopsy sample, the kit comprising:

a body section having an opening at a distal end thereof;

a detachable sample collection means for obtaining a biopsy sample; and

a first actuator to provide relative movement between the sample collection means and the body section wherein the sample collection means is operable between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position.

27. The kit defined in claim 26, wherein, in the first, retracted position, the sample collection means is disposed in a receptacle in the body section.

28. The kit defined in claim 26, wherein, in the second, extended position, the sample collection means is exposed to enable collection of the biopsy sample.

29. The kit defined in claim 26, further comprising a sheath which is retractable with respect to the sample collection means.

30. The kit defined in claim 26, further comprising a sheath which is reversibly retractable with respect to the sample collection means.

31. The kit defined in claim 26, wherein the body section further comprises a resealable cover over the opening.

32. The kit defined in claim 31, wherein the resealable cover is operable between:

(i) a first, unsealed position in which the sample collection means may moved therethrough between the first, retracted position and the second, extended position, and (ii) a second, sealed position in which the sample collection means is substantially sealed from exposure to an environment outside the apparatus.

33. The kit defined in claim 26, wherein the body section comprises a first section and a second section angularly disposed with respect to one another.

34. The kit defined in claim 33, wherein the first second and the second section are at an obtuse angle with respect to one another.

35. The kit defined in claim 33, wherein the first second and the second section are at angle in the range of from about 90°

to about 135°

with respect to one another.

36. The kit defined in claim 33, wherein the first second and the second section are at angle in the range of from about 95°

to about 130°

with respect to one another.

37. The kit defined in claim 33, wherein the first second and the second section are at angle in the range of from about 100°

to about 125°

with respect to one another.

38. The kit defined in claim 33, wherein the first second and the second section are at angle in the range of from about 100°

to about 115°

with respect to one another.

39. The kit defined in claim 26, further comprising angle adjustment means to allow a user to adjust the angle between the first section and the second section.

40. The kit defined in claim 26, wherein the sample collection means comprises a roughened surface.

41. The kit defined in claim 26, wherein the sample collection means is made of a flexible material.

42. The kit defined in claim 41, wherein, in the first, retracted position, the sample collection means is in a folded-in position and in the second, extended position, the sample collection means is in a folded-out position.

43. The kit defined in claim 26, wherein a slidable shaft interconnects the sample collection means and the first actuator.

44. The kit defined in claim 43, wherein the slidable shaft detachably interconnects the sample collection means and the first actuator.

45. The kit defined in claim 26, further comprising a second actuator to provide movement of the sample collection means in the second, extended position.

46. The kit defined in claim 45, wherein the second actuator provides rotational movement of the sample collection means in the second, extended position.

47. The kit defined in claim 45, wherein the body section comprises a moveable window over the opening.

48. The kit defined in claim 45, wherein the body section comprises a moveable window over the opening, the moveable window connected to the first actuator.

49. The kit defined in claim 26, further comprising a removable cover for connection to the sample collection means after collection of the biopsy sample.

50. A detachable sample collection device for use with a biopsy apparatus, the device comprising:

attachment means for removably attaching the sample collection device to the biopsy apparatus, the attachment means comprising an opening; and

a flexible, sample collection surface connected to the attachment means, the flexible, the sample collection surface being moveable through the opening between a first, fold-in position and a second, fold-out position.

51. The device defined in claim 50, wherein the sample collection surface comprises a roughened surface.

52. The device defined in claim 50, wherein the attachment means provides for mechanical attachment of the device to the biopsy apparatus.

53. The device defined in claim 52, wherein the attachment means includes a threaded section for threaded engagement between the device the biopsy apparatus.

54. The device defined in claim 50, further comprising a removable cover for connection to the sample collection means after collection of the biopsy sample.

55. A diagnostic method comprising the steps of:

(i) inserting a distal end of a biopsy apparatus into the mouth of the patient, the apparatus comprising;

a body section having an opening at a distal end thereof;

a sample collection means for obtaining a biopsy sample; and

a first actuator to provide relative movement between the sample collection means and the body section wherein the sample collection means is operable between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position;

(ii) aligning the opening of the biopsy apparatus in the nasopharynx of the patient;

(iii) employing the first actuator to move the sample collection means to the second, extended position;

(iv) brushing the nasopharynx of the patient with the sample collection means to obtain a biopsy sample on the sample collection means;

(v) withdrawing the sample collection means from the nasopharynx of the patient to the first, retracted position;

(vi) withdrawing the biopsy apparatus from the mouth of the patient; and

(vii) assaying the biopsy sample.

56. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, comprising the further step, after Step (i), of lifting the soft palate of the patient.

57. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, wherein, in the first, retracted position, the sample collection means is disposed in a receptacle in the body section.

58. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, wherein, in the second, extended position, the sample collection means is exposed to enable collection of the biopsy sample.

59. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, wherein the body section further comprises a resealable cover over the opening.

60. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, wherein the body section of the biopsy apparatus comprises a first section and a second section angularly disposed with respect to one another.

61. The diagnostic method defined in claim 60, wherein the first second and the second section are at an obtuse angle with respect to one another.

62. The diagnostic method defined in claim 60, wherein the first second and the second section are at angle in the range of from about 90°

to about 135°

with respect to one another.

63. The diagnostic method defined in claim 60, wherein the first second and the second section are at angle in the range of from about 95°

to about 130°

with respect to one another.

64. The diagnostic method defined in claim 60, wherein the first second and the second section are at angle in the range of from about 100°

to about 125°

with respect to one another.

65. The diagnostic method defined in claim 60, wherein the first second and the second section are at angle in the range of from about 100°

to about 115°

with respect to one another.

66. The diagnostic method defined in claim 60, wherein the biopsy apparatus angle adjustment means to allow a user to adjust the angle between the first section and the second section.

67. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, wherein the sample collection means comprises a roughened surface.

68. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, comprising the further step, after Step (vi), of detaching the sample collection means from the biopsy apparatus.

69. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, wherein the sample collection means is made of a flexible material.

70. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, wherein Step (iii) comprises moving the sample collection means from a first, retracted folded-in position to a second, extended fold-out position.

71. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, wherein a slidable shaft interconnects the sample collection means and the first actuator.

72. The diagnostic method defined in claim 71, wherein the slidable shaft detachably interconnects the sample collection means and the first actuator.

73. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, wherein Step (iv) comprises moving the biopsy apparatus with the sample collection means in the second, extended position.

74. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, wherein Step (iv) comprises rotating the biopsy apparatus with the sample collection means in the second, extended position.

75. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, wherein Step (vii) comprises assaying the biopsy sample for the presence the Epstein-Barr viral genome.

76. The diagnostic method defined in claim 55, wherein Step (v) is conducted prior to Step (vi).