Apparatus, methods and kits for simultaneous delivery of a substance to multiple breast milk ducts
View Patent ↗Apparatus, methods and kits for simultaneous delivery of a fluid or other substance to two or more breast milk ducts are provided. The fluid can be delivered for a variety of purposes including lavage of the ducts and administering an agent for therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic purposes.
1. An apparatus for simultaneously accessing two or more ductal networks in a breast, said apparatus comprising:
a manifold having an inlet for receiving fluid and at least two outlets;
at least two individual access probes, each probe having a lumen connected to a respective one of said at least two outlets and configured for insertion through an orifice of a ductal network;
a means for anchoring said access probes into said ductal network; and
a collection tube connected to at least one probe for receiving biological material from within the breast.
2. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the manifold has at least three outlets connectable to at least three respective probes.
3. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the manifold has at least twelve outlets connectable to at least 12 respective probes.
4. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the probes are removably connectable to the manifold.
5. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein at least one probe comprises a fluid control device capable of controlling fluid flow in the lumen of said at least one probe.
6. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein a number of the probes are each connected to a respective one of the outlets, and said number is equal to the number of the ductal networks to be accessed.
7. An apparatus as in claim 6 , wherein at least one of said outlets is unconnected to a respective one of said probes, and the at least one unconnected outlet is closed to fluid flow.
8. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the collection tube further comprises a fluid control device capable of controlling fluid flow in the collection tube.
9. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein at least one of said probes further comprises a fluid control device capable of controlling fluid flow in said lumen of said at least one probe.
10. An apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising a plurality of collection tubes, wherein each collection tube is connected to a respective one of said probes.
11. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein each probe comprises a fluid control device capable of controlling fluid flow in the lumen of said probe, and each collection tube comprises a fluid control device capable of controlling fluid flow in said collection tube.
12. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein at least one of said outlets is unconnected to a respective one of said probes and the at least one unconnected outlet is closed to fluid flow.
13. An apparatus as in claim 3 , wherein the probes are removably connectable to the manifold and wherein at least one of said outlets is configured, upon removal of a probe therefrom, for closure to fluid flow.
14. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the collection tube further comprises a fluid control device capable of controlling fluid flow in said collection tube, and wherein at least one of said probes further comprises a fluid control device capable of controlling fluid flow in the lumen of said at least one of said probes.
15. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising at least two collection tubes, each connected to a respective one of the at least two probes, for receiving biological material from within the breast.
16. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each probe comprises a fluid control device capable of controlling fluid flow in the respective lumen of the probe.
17. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each probe comprises a fluid control device capable of controlling fluid flow in the lumen of said probe, and the collection tube comprises a fluid control device capable of controlling fluid flow in said collection tube.
18. An apparatus as in claim 1 , further comprising a first device connectable to the manifold for infusing fluid within the breast.
19. An apparatus as in claim 18 , wherein the manifold has at least three outlets connectable to at least three respective probes.
20. An apparatus as in claim 18 , wherein the manifold has at least 12 outlets connectable to at least 12 respective probes.
21. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein the collection tube further comprises a fluid control device capable of controlling fluid flow in the collection tube.
22. An apparatus as in claim 18 , wherein the number of outlets exceeds the number of probes and at least one of the outlets is unconnected to a probe and closed to fluid flow.
23. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said first device is capable of containing a wash agent.
24. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said first device is capable of containing a diagnostic agent.
25. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said first device capable of containing an agent for occupying space in a duct.
26. An apparatus as in claim 18 , wherein the first device is a syringe.
27. An apparatus as in claim 18 , further comprising a second device connectable to the collection tube for collecting biological material from within the breast.
28. An apparatus as in claim 27 further comprising a plurality of collection tubes, each connected to a respective one of said probes, and wherein each collection tube comprises a second device connectable to said collection tube for collecting biological material from within the breast.
29. An apparatus as in claim 27 , wherein the second device is a syringe.
30. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said manifold is capable of containing a wash agent.
31. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said manifold is capable of containing a diagnostic agent.
32. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said manifold is capable of containing an agent for occupying space in a duct.