Aspiration needle apparatus incorporating its own vacuum and method and

Abstract

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.