DEVICE FOR COLLECTING A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE
A device for collecting a biological sample in a patient includes a collection portion having a first axial end portion and a second axial end portion. The second axial end portion has a collapsed position and an expanded position. The second axial end portion moves in an axial direction relative to the first axial end portion when the second axial end portion moves between the collapsed position and the expanded position. The second axial end portion extends axially into the first axial end portion and has a concave shape when in the collapsed position. The second axial end portion is convex when in the expanded position.
1 . A device for collecting a biological sample in a patient, the device comprising
a collection portion being sufficiently dimensioned to be swallowed by a patient, the collection portion comprising a first axial end portion and a second axial end portion;
wherein the second axial end portion includes a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, and the second axial end portion is at least partially received into the first axial end portion when the second axial end portion is in the collapsed configuration.
2 . A device for collecting a biological sample as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second axial end portion has a concave shape when the second axial end portion is in the collapsed configuration.
3 . A device for collecting a biological sample as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second axial end portion has an outer surface facing radially outwardly when the second axial end portion is in the expanded configuration, the outer surface facing radially inwardly when the second axial end portion is in the collapsed configuration.
4 . A device for collecting a biological sample as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second axial end portion includes a plurality of tissue collecting projections.
5 . A device for collecting a biological sample as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second axial end portions are integrally formed as one-piece.
6 . A device for collecting a biological sample as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second axial end portions are formed as separate pieces and connected together.
7 . A device for collecting a biological sample as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second axial end portions are connected by a circumferentially extending hinge.
8 . A device for collecting a biological sample as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second axial end portion is held in the collapsed configuration by a removable covering when the collection portion reaches a collection site.
9 . A method for collecting a biological sample from a collection site of an esophagus of a patient, the method comprising:
moving a collection portion of a device having a first axial end portion and a second axial end portion into a lumen within the patient with the second axial end portion in a collapsed position partially extending proximally into the first axial end portion;
moving the second axial end portion distally relative to the first axial end portion from the collapsed position into an expanded position;
collecting a biological sample at a collection site with the second axial end portion in the expanded position;
moving the second axial end portion, at least partially, into the first axial end portion from the expanded position into the collapsed position; and
removing the device from the lumen of the patient.
10 . A method for collecting a biological sample from an esophagus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of collecting a biological sample includes collecting at least one of cells, DNA, and/or RNA.
11 . A method for collecting a biological sample from an esophagus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of moving the collection portion of the device into the lumen includes at least one of,
swallowing the collection portion into an esophagus of the patient, and
intubating the collection portion into the esophagus of the patient.
12 . A method for collecting a biological sample from an esophagus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of moving the second axial end portion from the collapsed position into the expanded position includes transitioning the second axial end portion from a concave shape to a convex shape.
13 . A method for collecting a biological sample from an esophagus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of moving the second axial end portion from the expanded position into the collapsed position includes transitioning the second axial end portion from a convex shape to a concave shape.
14 . A method for collecting a biological sample from an esophagus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of moving the second axial end portion from the expanded position into the collapsed position includes causing an outer surface of the second axial end portion facing radially outwardly when the second axial end portion is in the expanded position to face radially inwardly when the second axial end portion is in the collapsed position.
15 . A method for collecting a biological sample from an esophagus as set forth in claim 9 further including providing the second axial end portion with a plurality of tissue collecting projections.
16 . A method for collecting a biological sample from an esophagus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of removing the device from the esophagus includes preventing the second axial end portion of the collection portion from engaging the esophagus at an area different from the collection site.
17 . A method for collecting a biological sample from an esophagus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of moving the second axial end portion from the collapsed position into the expanded position includes applying pressurized air to the second axial end portion and the step of moving the second axial end portion from the expanded position into the collapsed position includes applying a vacuum to the collection portion.
18 . A device for placing a collection portion at a site of interest in a lumen for collecting a sample in a patient, the device comprising
a collection portion having a first axial end portion and a second axial end portion;
wherein the second axial end portion includes a collapsed position and an expanded position, and the second axial end portion has an outer surface that faces radially outward when the second axial end portion is in the expanded position and faces radially inward when the second axial end portion is in the collapsed position.
19 . A device for placing a collection portion at a site of interest as set forth in claim 18 wherein the second axial end portion has a concave shape when the second axial end portion is in the collapsed position.
20 . A device for placing a collection portion at a site of interest as set forth in claim 18 wherein the second axial end portion includes a plurality of tissue collecting projections.
21 . A device for placing a collection portion at a site of interest as set forth in claim 18 wherein the first and second axial end portions are integrally formed as one-piece.
22 . A device for placing a collection portion at a site of interest as set forth in claim 18 wherein the first and second axial end portion are formed as separate pieces and connected together.
23 . A device for placing a collection portion at a site of interest as set forth in claim 18 wherein the first and second axial end portions are connected by a circumferentially extending hinge.
24 . A device for placing a collection portion at a site of interest as set forth in claim 18 wherein the collection portion is sized and dimensioned for at least one of intubating the patient and swallowing by the patient.
25 . A device for collecting a sample in a patient, the device comprising
a collection portion provided with a size and shape sufficiently dimensioned to be swallowed by the patient or to intubate the patient,
the collection portion having a first axial end portion and a second axial end portion, wherein the second axial end portion is invertible relative to the first axial end portion.
26 . A device for collecting a sample as set forth in claim 25 ,
wherein the second axial end portion has an outer surface facing radially outwardly when the second axial end portion is everted, and
wherein the outer surface of the second axial end portion faces radially inwardly when the second axial end portion is inverted.
27 . A device for collecting a sample as set forth in claim 25 wherein the second axial end portion includes a plurality of tissue collecting projections.
28 . A device for collecting a sample as set forth in claim 25 wherein the first and second axial end portions are integrally formed as one-piece or are formed as separate pieces and connected together.
29 . A device for collecting a sample as set forth in claim 25 wherein the second axial end portion is held in a collapsed position by a cap or cover that falls off, pops off, or dissolves when the collection portion reaches a collection site.
30 . A device for collecting a biological sample as set forth in claim 25 wherein the second axial end portion is held in a collapsed configuration by a removable covering when the collection portion reaches a collection site.