Advanced Cytometrix, Inc.

Other

Advanced Cytometric Inc.

Trevor J Powles

Mir A Imran

Deepak R Gandhi

Baber R Syed

Russell Spreier

Ami K Mehta

An aspiration needle for use in collecting larger cell samples with a source of vacuum for fine needle aspiration cytology without increasing the size of the needle having a rigid elongate tubular member having distal and proximal extremities. The tubular member has a bore extending therethrough from the distal extremity to the proximal extremity and has an opening at the distal extremity in communication with the bore. A body is secured to the proximal extremity of the tubular member and forms a chamber therein in communication with and in close proximity to the opening into the bore of the tubular member. The chamber is formed by a sloping uninterrupted wall leading distally to the opening to the bore of the tubular member. The body includes a hub proximal of the chamber for receiving the source of vacuum and for establishing communication between the source of vacuum and the chamber. The body has an enlarged portion adjacent the proximal extremity of the tubular member permitting viewing of the chamber in the vicinity of the proximal extremity of the tubular member to facilitate observation of aspirate as it is collected in the chamber.

Aspiration needle and method

An aspiration needle apparatus for collecting cell samples from tissue comprising a vacuum container having an enclosed evacuated space evacuated to a subambient pressure and sealed by a penetrable diaphragm. An adapter has a recess to receive the vacuum container. A needle is carried by the adapter and has a distal extremity serving as an aspiration needle to collect the cell sample and has a proximal extremity disposed in the recess and is capable of penetrating the diaphragm of the vacuum container to couple the evacuated space to the flow passage of the needle to supply a subambient pressure to the distal extremity of the needle. An on-off mechanism carried by the adapter includes yieldable means and a member mounted in the recess actuatable by axial movement of the vacuum container into the recess against the force of the yieldable means disposed within the recess. The on-off mechanism also includes means secured to the member for sequentially retaining the member in a rearwardmost or at rest position and a forwardmost or latched position whereby in the forwardmost or latched position the needle means penetrates the diaphragm to supply the subambient pressure in the vacuum container to the needle means and in the rearwardmost or at rest position the needle means is free of the diaphragm so that the subambient pressure is no longer supplied to the needle means.

Aspiration needle apparatus incorporating its own vacuum and method and

An aspiration needle apparatus for collecting cell samples from tissue comprising a vacuum container having an enclosed evacuated space evacuated to a subambient pressure and sealed by a penetrable diaphragm. An adapter is provided having a recess which is adapted to receive the vacuum container. A needle assembly is carried by the adapter and has a distal extremity serving as an aspiration needle to collect the cell sample. The proximal extremity of the needle assembly is disposed in said recess and is capable of penetrating the diaphragm of the vacuum container to couple the evacuated space to the flow passage of the needle assembly to supply a subambient pressure to the distal extremity of the needle assembly. An on-off mechanism is carried by the adapter and includes a member engaged by the vacuum container and mounted in the recess for axial movement in the recess. A coil spring is disposed within the recess and engages the member and yieldably urges the member and the vacuum container in a direction out of the recess. A detent assembly is secured to the member for sequentially retaining the member in a first forwardmost position and a second rearwardmost position. In the first position the needle assembly penetrates the diaphragm of the vacuum container to supply a subambient pressure to the needle assembly and in the second position the needle assembly is free of the diaphragm so that subambient pressure is no longer supplied to the needle assembly.

An aspiration needle apparatus for collecting cell samples by withdrawing aspirate from tissue in a living body. An aspiration needle is provided which has a flow passage extending from its proximal extremity to its distal extremity. The proximal extremity has a hub end a cell collection chamber therein in communication with the flow passage. A vacuum container is provided which has an enclosed evacuated space evacuated to a subambient pressure to provide a predetermined volume of evacuated space devoid of a solid or a liquid and devoted solely to providing the desired vacuum. The vacuum container is sealed by a penetrable diaphragm providing access to the evacuated space. An adapter mounted on the hub and making a fluid-tight connection therewith is formed to receive the vacuum container. The adapter includes a needle having a flow passage in communication with the flow passage in the aspiration needle. A spring is carried by the adapter. The adapter and the vacuum container are formed so as to permit relative movement between the adapter and the vacuum container against the force of the spring to cause the needle to puncture the diaphragm and thus connect the evacuated space to the aspiration needle to supply subambient pressure to the aspiration needle thereby causing aspirate from the tissue to be drawn into the cell collection chamber.

An aspiration needle apparatus for collecting cell samples from tissue by the use of a vacuum container having an enclosed evacuated space sealed by a penetrable diaphragm. An adapter has a recess to receive the vacuum container. A needle is carried by the adapter and serves as an aspiration needle to collect a cell sample and penetrates the diaphragm to couple the evacuated space to the flow passage of the needle means.

An aspiration needle for use with a syringe for fine needle aspiration cytology comprising a rigid elongate tubular member having distal and proximal extremities. The distal extremity is formed to provide a sharp point. The tubular member has a bore extending therethrough from the distal extremity to the proximal extremity. A body is secured to the proximal extremity of the tubular member and forms a chamber therein in communication with the bore of the tubular member. The chamber is formed by a sloping uninterrupted side wall leading to the bore of the tubular member. The body includes a fitting for receiving the syringe and for establishing communication between the syringe and the chamber.

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Chipstead, United Kingdom

Trevor J Powles