Frictional trans-epithelial tissue disruption and collection apparatus and method of inducing and/or augmenting an immune response

Abstract

The invention relates to trans-epithelial frictionally abrasive tissue sampling devices for performing biopsies and methods of inducing an immune response against a pathogen, wherein epithelial cells containing the pathogen are disrupted with the frictionally abrasive tissue sampling device to introduce the pathogen into the bloodstream of a patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fabric for functionally abrading epithelial surfaces comprising:
 a backing material; and   a plurality of fenestrated loops attached to the backing material having sufficient flexibility and rigidity to frictionally abrade the epithelial surfaces, where the plurality of fenestrated loops are about 3 mm to about 25 mm in length, where the plurality of fenestrated loops have a short hook end, and where a distance from the top of the plurality of fenestrated loops to the bottom of the short hook end is less than 50% of the length of the plurality of fenestrated loops.   
     
     
         2 . The fabric of  claim 1 , where the backing material is flexible. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric of  claim 1 , where the short hook end is oriented towards the backing material. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric of  claim 1 , where the plurality of fenestrated loops are made of plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric of  claim 1 , where the plurality of fenestrated loops are made of nylon. 
     
     
         6 . A fabric for removing, collecting and storing a tissue sample from an epithelial surface comprising:
 a backing material; and   a plurality of fenestrated loops attached to the backing material each with a short hook end, where the plurality of fenestrated loops have sufficient flexibility and rigidity to remove, collect and store the tissue sample from the epithelial surface, where the plurality of fenestrated loops are about 3 mm to about 25 mm in length, where a distance from the top of the plurality of fenestrated loops to the bottom of the short hook end is less than approximately 20% of the length of the plurality of fenestrated loops.   
     
     
         7 . The fabric of  claim 6 , where the backing material is flexible. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric of  claim 6 , where the backing material is adapted to adhere to a rigid platform. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric of  claim 6 , where the short hook end of the plurality of fenestrated loops are oriented towards the backing material. 
     
     
         10 . The fabric of  claim 6 , where the plurality of fenestrated loops are flexible under pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The fabric of  claim 10 , where the short hook end of the plurality of fenestrated loops separate under pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The fabric of  claim 11 , where the short hook end of the plurality of fenestrated loops orient towards the epithelial surface under pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The fabric of  claim 11 , where the short hook end of the plurality of fenestrated loops are adapted to apply frictional forces to the epithelial surface to excoriate the tissue sample under pressure. 
     
     
         14 . The fabric of  claim 6 , where the plurality of fenestrated loops do not separate under pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The fabric of  claim 14 , where the plurality of fenestrated loops are adapted to re-close and capture removed tissue sample. 
     
     
         16 . The fabric of  claim 15 , where spaces between the plurality of fenestrated loops are adapted to retain an excoriated tissue sample. 
     
     
         17 . The fabric of  claim 6 , where the plurality of fenestrated loops are adapted to form a collection well for the tissue sample. 
     
     
         18 . The fabric of  claim 6 , where the backing material is adapted to cut into uniform shapes. 
     
     
         19 . A method for removing, collecting and storing a tissue sample from an epithelial surface comprising the steps of:
 receiving a fabric attached to a platform, where the fabric includes a flexible backing material adapted to be adhered to the platform and a plurality of fenestrated nylon loops attached to the flexible backing material having sufficient flexibility and rigidity to remove, collect and store the tissue sample from the epithelial surface, where each of where the plurality of fenestrated nylon loops includes a short hook end, where the plurality of fenestrated nylon loops are about 3 mm to about 25 mm in length, where the plurality of fenestrated nylon loops have a plurality of short hook ends, where a distance from the top of the plurality of fenestrated nylon loops to the bottom of the short hook end is less than approximately 20% of the length of the plurality of fenestrated nylon loops;   contacting the fabric to the epithelial surface;   applying pressure to the fabric in contact with the epithelial surface; and   moving the platform in clockwise and counterclockwise rotations to remove, collect and store the tissue sample.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , where the short hook end of the plurality of fenestrated nylon loops apply frictional forces to the epithelial surface to excoriate the tissue sample under pressure.