Uterine endometrial tissue sample brush
First Claim
1. A uterine endometrial tissue sample brush (10) comprising:
- a flexible core (12) having a proximal core end (14) and a distal core end (16); and
a brush member (18) carried adjacent the distal core end (16);
wherein the brush member (18) is about 3 to 5 cm long and has a free outside diameter suited to maintain patient comfort yet comprehensively contact the undilated uterine canal (38); and
wherein the brush member (18) comprises a plurality of resilient bristles (20) axially spaced about 0.5 to 1.5 mm apart, each of the bristles (20) having a stiffness equivalent to that possessed by nylon-6,12 at a diameter of about 0.076 to 0.152 mm;
whereby the brush (10) simultaneously possesses good ability to exfoliate endometrial tissue without trauma to the uterine canal and good ability to collect the exfoliated endometrial tissue on the brush member (18).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A uterine endometrial tissue sample brush 10 includes a flexible core 12 having a distal core end 16 and a cylindrical brush member 18 carried adjacent the distal core end 16. The core 12 is formed from a spirally wrapped pair of wires 22 and includes an atraumatic tip 26. The brush member 18 is about 3 to 5 cm long and has a free outside diameter, preferably about 5.08 to 7.62 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in.), suited to maintain patient comfort yet comprehensively contact the undilated uterine canal 38. The brush member 18 includes a plurality of resilient bristles 20 axially spaced about 0.5 to 1.5 mm apart. The bristles 20 have a stiffness equivalent to that possessed by nylon-6,12 at a diameter of about 0.076 to 0.152 mm (0.003 to 0.006 in.). This stiffness is critical and unexpectedly gives the brush 10 good exfoliating and collecting abilities simultaneously, in contrast to prior devices which may possess either good exfoliating or good collecting abilities, but not both abilities at the same time. The bristles 20 are preferably composed of nylon-6,12 of about 0.127 mm (0.005 in.) diameter, and are retained between the pair of wires 22 so that they are spirally arrayed. The brush 10 also preferably includes a flexible sheath 24 adapted to slidably receive the core 12 and brush member 18 therein, to prevent the collection of undesired exocervical or vaginal fluid or material during introduction or removal of the brush 10. The brush 10 especially useful for routinely and repeatedly collecting samples for cancer screening or for monitoring ongoing estrogen replacement therapy.
108 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A uterine endometrial tissue sample brush (10) comprising:
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a flexible core (12) having a proximal core end (14) and a distal core end (16); and a brush member (18) carried adjacent the distal core end (16); wherein the brush member (18) is about 3 to 5 cm long and has a free outside diameter suited to maintain patient comfort yet comprehensively contact the undilated uterine canal (38); and
wherein the brush member (18) comprises a plurality of resilient bristles (20) axially spaced about 0.5 to 1.5 mm apart, each of the bristles (20) having a stiffness equivalent to that possessed by nylon-6,12 at a diameter of about 0.076 to 0.152 mm;
whereby the brush (10) simultaneously possesses good ability to exfoliate endometrial tissue without trauma to the uterine canal and good ability to collect the exfoliated endometrial tissue on the brush member (18). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A uterine endometrial tissue sample brush (10) comprising:
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a flexible core (12) having a proximal core end (14) and a distal core end (16), the core (12) comprising a spirally wrapped pair of wires (22), and the distal core end (16) including an atraumatic tip (26); a cylindrical brush member (18) carried adjacent the distal core end (16), the brush member (18) being about 3.5 cm long and having an outside diameter of about 5.97 mm;
wherein the brush member (18) comprises a spiral array of resilient bristles (20) axially spaced about 1 mm apart, the bristles (20) being retained between the spirally wrapped pair of wires (22), and the bristles (20) comprising a series (110) of first bristles (120) possessing a first stiffness equivalent to that possessed by nylon-6,12 at a diameter of about 0.076 to 0.152 mm, and a plurality of second bristles (122) between each of the first bristles (120), the second stiffness being different from the first stiffness; anda sheath (24) having an outside diameter of about 2.8 mm, adapted to slidably receive the core (12) and brush member (18) therein and to compressively contain the brush member (18) therein; whereby the brush (10) simultaneously possesses good ability to exfoliate endometrial tissue without trauma to the uterine canal and good ability to collect the exfoliated endometrial tissue on the brush member (18).
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22. A method for sampling uterine endometrial tissue, comprising the steps of:
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providing a uterine endometrial tissue sample brush (10) comprising a flexible core (12) having a proximal core end (14) and a distal core end (16), and a brush member (18) carried adjacent the distal core end (16);
wherein the brush member (18) is about 3 to 5 cm long and has a free outside diameter suited to maintain patient comfort yet comprehensively contact the undilated uterine canal (38); and
wherein the brush member (18) comprises a plurality of resilient bristles (20) axially spaced about 0.5 to 1.5 mm apart, each of the bristles (20) having a stiffness equivalent to that possessed by nylon-6,12 at a diameter of about 0.076 to 0.152 mm;
whereby the brush (10) simultaneously possesses good ability to exfoliate endometrial tissue without trauma to the uterine canal (38) and good ability to collect the exfoliated endometrial tissue on the brush member (18);introducing the brush (10) into the uterine canal (38); rotating and simultaneously moving the brush member (18) distally in the uterine canal (38) so as to exfoliate endometrial tissue from the uterine canal (38) and collect the exfoliated endometrial tissue on the brush member (18); and withdrawing the brush (10) from the uterine canal (38). - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A uterine endometrial tissue sample brush (10) comprising:
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a flexible core (12) having a proximal core end (14) and a distal core end (16), the core (12) comprising a spirally wrapped pair of wires (22), and the distal core end (16) including an atraumatic tip (26); a cylindrical brush member (18) carried adjacent the distal core end (16), the brush member (18) being about 3.5 cm long and having an outside diameter of about 5.97 mm;
wherein the brush member (18) comprises a spiral array of resilient bristles (20) axially spaced about 1 mm apart, the bristles (20) being composed of nylon-6,12 of about 0.127 mm diameter and being retained between the spirally wrapped pair of wires (22); anda sheath (24) having an outside diameter of about 2.8 mm, adapted to slidably receive the core (12) and brush member (18) therein and to compressively contain the brush member (18) therein; whereby the brush (10) simultaneously possesses good ability to exfoliate endometrial tissue without trauma to the uterine canal and good ability to collect the exfoliated endometrial tissue on the brush member (18).
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Specification