Needle-handling device
Apparatus, comprising: a sheath ( 22 ), advanceable through an endoscope ( 10 ), and having distal openings comprising a first opening ( 30 a ) and a plurality of second openings ( 30 b ) surrounding the first opening; a housing ( 24 ), coupled to a proximal portion of the sheath; a first needle ( 28 a ), extending through the housing and sheath toward the first opening; a plurality of second needles ( 28 b ), extending through the housing and sheath toward a respective second opening; a first handle ( 26 a ), slidably coupled to the housing along an axis such that the first needle slides through the sheath and a distal tip of the first needle moves with respect to the first opening; and a second handle ( 26 b ), slidably coupled to the housing along a different axis such that the second needles slide through the sheath and a distal tip of each second needle moves with respect to its respective second opening.
1. Apparatus, comprising:
a sheath, shaped to define a plurality of openings at a distal end of the sheath, the plurality of openings comprising a first opening, and a plurality of second openings surrounding the first opening;
an elongate first needle, extending through the sheath toward the first opening;
a plurality of elongate second needles, extending through the sheath toward the plurality of second openings;
a first aspirator port, in fluid communication with the first needle; and
a second aspirator port, in fluid communication with at least one of the second needles, a center of the second aspirator port being spaced by at least 1 cm from a center of the first aspirator port.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second aspirator port is in fluid communication with all the second needles of the plurality of second needles.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is for use with an endoscope, and the sheath is flexible and shaped to be advanced through a working channel of the endoscope.