A biopsy device, comprising a flexible coaxial structure, comprising an obturator within a sheath, the obturator being adapted to be displaced with respect to the sheath along the coaxial axis by a force applied at a proximal end; a disruptor, at a distal end of the obturator, adapted to disrupt a tissue surface to free cells therefrom, having a first position covered within the sheath and a second position freely extending beyond the sheath; an element, having a fixed position on the obturator, and a close clearance with respect to an inner surface of the sheath, such that a retraction of the obturator within the sheath causes an associated change in pressure in a space between the obturator distal to the element and the sheath, to thereby draw fluid proximate to an end of the sheath within the sheath.

A method for collecting tissue includes a body fluid removal step in which a body fluid inside a pancreatic cyst is moved to an outside of the pancreatic cyst, an injecting step in which a liquid different from the body fluid is injected into the pancreatic cyst, a collecting step in which the liquid is collected from the pancreatic cyst, and a separating step in which tissue of an inner wall of the pancreatic cyst, which is contained in the liquid collected from the pancreatic cyst, is separated from the liquid.

A surgical instrument navigation system is provided that visually simulates a virtual volumetric scene of a body cavity of a patient from a point of view of a surgical instrument residing in the cavity of the patient, wherein the surgical instrument, as provided, may be a steerable surgical catheter with a biopsy device and/or a surgical catheter with a side-exiting medical instrument, among others. Additionally, systems, methods and devices are provided for forming a respiratory-gated point cloud of a patient's respiratory system and for placing a localization element in an organ of a patient.

The present invention relates to the technical field of sample preservation, and more specifically, to a preservation tube for a sampling swab which includes a tube body. A first cavity for storing a sample releasing agent and a second cavity for placing the sampling swab are provided in the tube body, the first cavity is in communication with the second cavity, and a central axis of the second cavity deviates from a central axis of the tube body. When the present invention is in use, the sampling swab is placed in the second cavity, moved up and down and rotated to elute in the second cavity, and nucleic acid samples of the sampling swab are evenly distributed in the sample releasing agent, and can be used for detection after sucking the sample releasing agent in the first cavity.

A collection system including a storage tray and a swab positioned in the storage tray, wherein the swab is configured to collect a sample comprising one or more microorganisms. The system further includes a generally elongate storage device positioned in the tray. The storage device is configured to contain a culture medium therein and configured to receive therein at least part of the one or more microorganisms collected by the swab. The storage tray includes a first recess configured to receive the storage device in a longitudinal configuration, and a second recess configured to receive the storage device in an axial configuration oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal configuration.

A cervicovaginal fluid collection device comprising: a generally tubular housing, a first end of the housing comprising an enclosed tip and a number of through holes provided at the enclosed tip; a probe provided within the housing, a first end of the probe provided with a screw-like structure, the screw-like structure having a sliding fit with an inner bore of the housing, at least a first end of the screw-like structure provided at the enclosed tip of the housing; and a fluid-absorbing swab provided on the probe within the housing adjacent a second end of the screw-like structure to absorb fluid drawn into the housing; wherein rotation of the screw-like structure relative to the housing draws fluid that is adjacent and exterior to the enclosed tip of the housing into the housing through at least one of the through holes; and wherein fluid drawn into the housing is absorbed by the fluid-absorbing swab.

A method of using a biological sampling device to obtain a biological sample. The device comprises a sheath, an applicator, a collector, and a handle. The method includes inserting a first applicator end into an organism with the device being in a pre-sampling configuration; transitioning the device from the pre-sampling configuration to a sampling configuration; with the device in the sampling configuration, via the handle, moving the collector against biological material within the organism to collect the biological material; transitioning the device from the sampling configuration to a post-sampling configuration; and with the device in the post-sampling configuration, withdrawing the device from within the organism.

In certain embodiments, a method for communicating with a fetus may include providing, on an electronic device, a user interface configured to facilitate wireless communication of signals between the electronic device and at least one implanted device located in proximity to the fetus; and responsive to a user selecting a communication selection element, causing the wireless communication of signals inclusive of content data between the electronic device and implanted device.

A catheter assembly for navigation including a flexible catheter having a proximal portion adjacent a proximal end and a distal portion adjacent a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis, the flexible catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis and configured to enable translation of an instrument from the proximal end to the distal end. The flexible catheter defines a compound curve formed on the distal portion, wherein the compound curve includes an elbow bend and a radially curved portion. The elbow bend deflecting the distal portion of the flexible catheter from the longitudinal axis, while the radially curved portion extends from the elbow bend farther deflecting the distal portion about a center point. The catheter guide assembly for navigation includes a control handle disposed at the proximal end of the flexible catheter and is configured to advance and rotate the flexible catheter within a luminal structure.

A device for taking and optionally processing a sample, includes (i) a housing containing a porous matrix that can receive the sample, (ii) a stopper that can be connected to the housing in a tight manner and including a piston that ensures the tight closing of the housing, compressing the porous matrix or the sample, and (iii) a storage receptacle that can be connected to the housing, can receive the sample that has passed through the porous matrix, and includes at least one conduit connecting the inside of the receptacle to the outside, once the porous matrix or the sample is compressed. The device also includes a seal between the stopper and the storage receptacle. The stopper closes the storage receptacle in a tight manner when the stopper and the storage receptacle are connected to the housing.