Sample collection
First Claim
1. A kit for treating a patient by collecting and treating a cell sample from a desired location in the patient, comprising:
- a sampling probe in the form of an elongate catheter having a proximal portion that remains outside the body and a distal portion that can be located at the desired location, said distal portion including an expandable member that can be selectively expanded to larger diameters and contracted to smaller diameter,said expandable member including a membrane on at least a part of an outside surface of said expandable member, said membrane including openings that may receive said cell sample and which communicate with a suction device, controllable from proximal portions outside the body, for creating a suction force through said openings to draw said cell sample into said openings,an apparatus for facilitating collection and treatment of said cell sample outside the body, anda device for reintroducing said cell sample into the body.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Taking a bodily sample, e.g., a cell sample, from deep within the body of a patient and collecting the sample outside the body to facilitate treatment of the patient. A sampling probe is provided in the form of an elongate catheter having a proximal portion that remains outside the body and a distal portion that can be located within the body. The distal portion includes a membrane with openings that communicate with space that communicates with a source of suction force. The catheter is positioned within the body. The sample is taken by exposing the membrane by placing it in proximity with a desired location so that the bodily sample is received by the membrane. The catheter is removed from the patient, the sample is collected outside the body, treated, disposed onto a device, such as a graft, stent, or catheter, and reintroduced into the body at a desired site.
83 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A kit for treating a patient by collecting and treating a cell sample from a desired location in the patient, comprising:
-
a sampling probe in the form of an elongate catheter having a proximal portion that remains outside the body and a distal portion that can be located at the desired location, said distal portion including an expandable member that can be selectively expanded to larger diameters and contracted to smaller diameter, said expandable member including a membrane on at least a part of an outside surface of said expandable member, said membrane including openings that may receive said cell sample and which communicate with a suction device, controllable from proximal portions outside the body, for creating a suction force through said openings to draw said cell sample into said openings, an apparatus for facilitating collection and treatment of said cell sample outside the body, and a device for reintroducing said cell sample into the body.
-
-
2. A method for taking a cell sample from a desired location along a blood vessel of a patient and collecting said sample outside the body to facilitate treatment of the patient, comprising:
-
providing a sampling probe in the form of an elongate vascular catheter having a proximal portion that remains outside the body and a distal portion that can be located in the blood vessel during use, said distal portion including an expandable member that can be selectively expanded to larger diameter and contracted to smaller diameter, said expandable member including a membrane thereon with openings that communicate with a source of suction force controllable from the proximal portion that remains outside the body, positioning said expandable portion at a desired location within said blood vessel, taking said sample by exposing said membrane by expanding said expandable portion to place said membrane in proximity with the wall of said blood vessel so that said sample is received by said membrane, contracting said expandable portion to said smaller diameter, removing said catheter from said patient, collecting said sample outside the body, treating said cell sample, disposing the resultant treated cell sample onto a device, delivering said device on which said treated cell sample is disposed to a desired site in said blood vessel to reintroduce said treated cell sample into the body. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for taking a cell sample from deep within the body of a patient and collecting said sample outside the body to facilitate treatment of the patient, comprising:
-
providing a sampling probe in the form of an elongate catheter having a proximal portion that remains outside the body and a distal portion that can be located within the body, said distal portion including an expandable member that can be selectively expanded to larger diameters and contracted to smaller diameter, said expandable member including a membrane on at least a part of an outside surface of said expandable member, said membrane including openings that communicate with a suction device, controllable from proximal portions outside the body, positioning said catheter within the body, taking said cell sample by expanding said expandable member to place said membrane in proximity to a desired location so that said cell sample is received by said membrane, removing said catheter from said patient, collecting said sample outside the body, treating said cell sample, disposing the resultant treated cell sample onto a device, delivering said device on which said treated cell sample is disposed to a desired site in said blood vessel to reintroduce said treated cell sample into the body. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification