초록 ▼

A tissue sample collection device and method are described and disclosed. The tissue sample collection device has a filter that is removably disposed within a sleeve. The filter has an open proximal end and an internal passageway that is in fluid communication with the open proximal end for the pass

A tissue sample collection device and method are described and disclosed. The tissue sample collection device has a filter that is removably disposed within a sleeve. The filter has an open proximal end and an internal passageway that is in fluid communication with the open proximal end for the passage of fluids. The filter is substantially impermeable to tissue samples but allows the passage of fluids into the internal passageway at a plurality of spaced apart locations along at least a portion of the filter's length. When used to collect tissue samples, the samples are collected on the exterior surface of the filter. Thus, the filter can be removed from the sleeve, and samples can be removed from the exterior surface of the filter. In certain exemplary versions of the tissue sample collection device, the filter is provided on a filter member, and the sleeve is adjustably attached to the filter to define a tissue collection configuration in which the filter is disposed within the sleeve and a tissue retrieval configuration in which filter projects away from the sleeve.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A tissue sample collection device, comprising: a sleeve having an interior, an open proximal end and an open distal end; anda filter member having a length, an open proximal end, and comprising a filter extending along at least a portion of the length of the filter member, wherein the filter memb

1. A tissue sample collection device, comprising: a sleeve having an interior, an open proximal end and an open distal end; anda filter member having a length, an open proximal end, and comprising a filter extending along at least a portion of the length of the filter member, wherein the filter member has an internal passageway extending along a least a portion of the length of the filter member, the filter comprises an exterior tissue collecting surface, the filter is substantially permeable to fluids and substantially impermeable to tissue samples, wherein when the filter is disposed in the sleeve, the device defines a fluid flow path from the open distal end of the sleeve to the internal passageway of the filter member, out of the open proximal end of the filter member, and out of the open proximal end of the sleeve, and further wherein the filter is removable through the distal end of the sleeve;wherein the filter member is connected to the sleeve such that the device has a tissue collection configuration and a tissue retrieval configuration, and when the device is in the tissue collection configuration, the filter is disposed entirely within the sleeve, and when the device is in the tissue retrieval configuration, the filter member remains connected to the sleeve and extends through the distal end of the sleeve to permit access to the filter member; andwherein the sleeve is slidably adjustable along the length of the filter member to change the configuration of the device from the tissue collection configuration to the tissue retrieval configuration, the sleeve including a longitudinally extending inner surface configured to maintain engagement with the filter member as the sleeve is adjusted from the tissue collection configuration to the tissue retrieval configuration, the longitudinally extending inner surface defining a length sufficiently large that the longitudinally extending inner surface remains in engagement with the filter member at least until the filter member extends through the distal end of the sleeve to permit access to the filter. 2. The tissue sample collection device of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a mesh material. 3. The tissue sample collection device of claim 1, wherein the filter is generally rigid and comprises holes at a plurality of spaced apart locations. 4. The tissue sample collection device of claim 1, wherein the filter member comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and when the filter is disposed in the sleeve, the device has an annular space defined between the distal end of the filter member and the sleeve. 5. The tissue sample collection device of claim 1, wherein the filter is not insertable through the proximal end of the sleeve. 6. The tissue sample collection device of claim 1, wherein when the device is in the tissue retrieval configuration, the filter projects away from the open distal end of the sleeve. 7. The tissue sample collection device of claim 1, wherein when the device is in the tissue collection configuration, the proximal end of the sleeve is spaced apart from the proximal end of the filter member by a first distance along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve, when the device is in the tissue retrieval configuration, the proximal end of the sleeve is spaced apart from the proximal end of the tissue filter member by a second distance along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, and the first distance is greater than the second distance. 8. A tissue sample collection assembly, comprising the tissue sample collection device of claim 1 and a housing, wherein the housing has a cavity shaped to receive the tissue sample collection device when the tissue sample collection device is in the tissue collection configuration. 9. The tissue sample collection assembly of claim 8, wherein the housing partially encloses a perimeter of the tissue sample collection device along at least a portion of the length of the tissue sample collection device. 10. The tissue sample collection device of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the sleeve has an opening of a first diameter, the distal end of the sleeve has an opening of a second diameter, and the first diameter is less than the second diameter. 11. The tissue sample collection device of claim 10, wherein the filter member has a maximum diameter that is greater than the first diameter. 12. The tissue sample collection device of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the sleeve has a lip, the filter member has a first radial flange adjacent the filter, and when the radial flange abuts the lip, the filter is disposed entirely within the sleeve. 13. The tissue sample collection device of claim 12, wherein the filter member has a second radial flange between the first radial flange and the proximal end of the filter member, and when the second radial flange abuts the lip, the filter projects away from the sleeve in the distal direction. 14. A tissue sample collection assembly, comprising: a tissue sample collection device, including: a sleeve having an interior, an open proximal end and an open distal end; anda filter member having a length, an open proximal end, and comprising a filter extending along at least a portion of the length of the filter member, wherein the filter member has an internal passageway extending along a least a portion of the length of the filter member, the filter comprises an exterior tissue collecting surface, the filter is substantially permeable to fluids and substantially impermeable to tissue samples, wherein when the filter is disposed in the sleeve, the device defines a fluid flow path from the open distal end of the sleeve to the internal passageway of the filter member, out of the open proximal end of the filter member, and out of the open proximal end of the sleeve, and further wherein the filter is removable through the distal end of the sleeve;wherein the filter member is connected to the sleeve such that the device has a tissue collection configuration and a tissue retrieval configuration, and when the device is in the tissue collection configuration, the filter is disposed entirely within the sleeve, and when the device is in the tissue retrieval configuration, the filter member remains connected to the sleeve and extends through the distal end of the sleeve to permit access to the filter member; andwherein the sleeve is slidably adjustable along the length of the filter member to change the configuration of the device from the tissue collection configuration to the tissue retrieval configuration, the sleeve including a longitudinally extending inner surface configured to maintain engagement with the filter member as the sleeve is adjusted from the tissue collection configuration to the tissue retrieval configuration, the longitudinally extending inner surface defining a length sufficiently large that the longitudinally extending inner surface remains in engagement with the filter member at least until the filter member extends through the distal end of the sleeve to permit access to the filter; anda housing, wherein the housing has a cavity shaped to receive the tissue sample collection device when the tissue sample collection device is in the tissue collection configuration;wherein the housing has a longitudinal axis and includes a lid, the lid is pivotable about a pivot axis while connected to the housing, the pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing, the lid defining a port, and when the tissue sample collection device is installed in the housing, the open distal end of the sleeve is in fluid communication with the port. 15. A tissue sample collection device, comprising: a filter member having a filter;a sleeve having an open proximal end and an open distal end, the sleeve being attached to the filter member such that the sleeve is slidably adjustable between a first relative position with respect to the filter member in which the filter is disposed entirely within the sleeve, and a second relative position with respect to the filter member in which the filter projects through the distal end of the sleeve and away from the distal end of the sleeve to permit access to the filter, wherein the filter member remains connected to the sleeve in the second relative position;wherein the sleeve is slidably adjustable along the length of the filter member to change the configuration of the device from the first relative position to the second relative position, the sleeve including a longitudinally extending inner surface configured to maintain engagement with the filter member as the sleeve is adjusted from the first relative position to the second relative position, the longitudinally extending inner surface defining a length sufficiently large that the longitudinally extending inner surface remains in engagement with the filter member at least until the filter member extends through the distal end of the sleeve to permit access to the filter; andwherein the filter member comprises an open proximal end, an internal passageway in fluid communication with the open proximal end of the filter member, and when the sleeve is in the first relative position with respect to the filter member, an annular space is defined between the filter and the sleeve, wherein the filter is permeable to fluid located in the annular space. 16. The tissue sample collection device of claim 15, wherein the filter member has a first radial flange adjacent the filter, and the sleeve has a lip at the proximal end of the sleeve, and when the first radial flange abuts the lip, the sleeve is in the first relative position with respect to the filter member. 17. The tissue sample collection device of claim 16, wherein the filter member has a second radial flange between the first radial flange and the proximal end of the filter, and when the lip abuts the second radial flange, the sleeve is in the second relative position with respect to the filter member. 18. The tissue sample collection device of claim 17, wherein the second radial flange has a diameter, the open proximal end of the sleeve defines an opening having a diameter, and the second radial flange diameter is greater than the sleeve proximal end opening diameter. 19. The tissue sample collection device of claim 16, wherein the first radial flange has a diameter, the open proximal end of the sleeve defines an opening having a diameter, and the first radial flange diameter is greater than the sleeve proximal end opening diameter. 20. The tissue sample collection device of claim 16, wherein when the sleeve is in the first relative position with respect to the filter member, the first radial flange is disposed within the sleeve.