Transbronchial Needle Aspiration Device

Abstract

Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) device. In one embodiment, the device comprises a handle and a flexible catheter, the handle having a bore, the proximal end of the catheter being fixed within the handle bore. A protective tubular hub having a flared distal end is press-fit coaxially within the distal end of the catheter, the distal end of the catheter being sealed around the distal end of the hub so as to define a distal opening. A hollow needle having a sharp tip at its distal end is disposed within the catheter, the needle tip being sized for insertion through the distal opening of the catheter. The distal end of a flexible wire is coupled to the proximal end of the needle, the proximal end of the wire extending through the handle bore and coupled to a button slide accessible through a slot in the handle. The button slide is movable between a distal position in which the needle tip extends through the distal opening of the catheter and a proximal position in which the needle tip is disposed within the hub. When in either its distal position or its proximal position, a pawl on the button slide releasably engages a corresponding notch on the handle to lock the button slide in place.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A tissue sampling device, comprising:
 a flexible catheter extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a channel extending therethrough;   a sampling needle slidably received within the channel of the catheter and including a distal tip;   a wire extending through the channel and including a distal end connected to the proximal end of the sampling needle to move the sampling needle between a retracted position in which the distal end thereof is disposed within the channel of the catheter to an extended position in which the distal end thereof extends distally beyond the distal end of the catheter;   a handle coupled to the proximal end of the catheter; and   a sliding lock coupled to a proximal end of the wire mounted within the handle to move the sampling needle between the retracted and extended position, the sliding lock including a releasable locking mechanism to lock the sampling needle in the retracted position.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a proximal notch extending through a proximal portion of the handle and a pawl extending outward from the sliding lock, the pawl sized and shaped to be received within the proximal notch to lock the sampling needle in the retracted position. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a distal notch extending through a distal portion of the handle, the distal notch sized and shaped to receive the pawl therein to releasably lock the sampling needle in the extended position. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the sliding lock includes a button extending through an elongated slot of the handle to an exterior thereof so that pressing the button toward a longitudinal axis of the device releases the lock mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the button is longitudinally slidable within the elongated slot to move the sampling needle between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a substantially tubular hub disposed within the distal end of the catheter and extending from a proximal end to a distal end. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the distal end of the catheter is inverted to retain the hub therein. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the sampling needle includes a shoulder extending thereabout such that when the sampling needle is in the extended position, the shoulder abuts the proximal end of the hub to form a seal. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a jacket mounted over a portion of the wire and including a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending therefrom to contact an interior of the catheter such that the wire is centered therewithin. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a connector coupled to the handle and configured to engage and receive a syringe therein such that the syringe and the catheter are in fluid communication. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a compressed spring coaxially surrounding a distal portion of the wire. 
     
     
         21 . A tissue sampling device, comprising:
 a flexible catheter extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a channel extending therethrough;   a substantially tubular hub disposed within the distal end of the catheter and extending from a proximal end to a distal end;   a sampling needle slidably received within the channel of the catheter and including a distal tip;   a wire extending through the channel and including a distal end connected to the proximal end of the sampling needle to move the sampling needle between a retracted position in which the distal end thereof is disposed within the hub to an extended position in which the distal end thereof extends distally beyond the distal end of the catheter;   a handle coupled to the proximal end of the catheter; and   a sliding lock coupled to a proximal end of the wire mounted within the handle to move the sampling needle between the retracted and extended position, the sliding lock including a releasable locking mechanism to lock the sampling needle in the retracted position.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a proximal notch extending through a proximal portion of the handle and a pawl extending outward from the sliding lock, the pawl sized and shaped to be received within the proximal notch to lock the sampling needle in the retracted position. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a distal notch extending through a distal portion of the handle, the distal notch sized and shaped to receive the pawl therein to releasably lock the sampling needle in the extended position. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the sliding lock includes a button extending through an elongated slot of the handle to an exterior thereof so that pressing the button toward a longitudinal axis of the device releases the lock mechanism. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the button is longitudinally slidable within the elongated slot to move the sampling needle between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the distal end of the catheter is inverted to retain the hub therein. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the sampling needle includes a shoulder extending thereabout such that when the sampling needle is in the extended position, the shoulder abuts the proximal end of the hub to form a seal. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a jacket mounted over a portion of the wire and including a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending therefrom to contact an interior of the catheter such that the wire is centered therewithin. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a connector coupled to the handle and configured to engage and receive a syringe therein such that the syringe and the catheter are in fluid communication.