Brush for non-invasive biopsy

Abstract

A brush for non-invasive biopsy may include a distal tip forming a cavity, where an opening of the cavity faces proximally. A shaft may be included, where the shaft is movable relative to the distal tip, where a distal end of the shaft is located within the cavity when the brush is in a first state, and where at least a portion of the distal end of the shaft is located outside the cavity when the brush is in a second state. A set of bristles may be located at the distal end of the shaft, where the bristles at least partially move from within the cavity of the distal tip to outside the cavity of the distal tip when the brush moves from the first state to the second state.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A brush for non-invasive biopsy, comprising:
 a distal tip forming a cavity, wherein an opening of the cavity faces proximally;   a shaft that is movable relative to the distal tip, wherein a distal end of the shaft is located within the cavity when the brush is in a first state, and wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the shaft is located outside the cavity when the brush is in a second state; and   a set of bristles located at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the bristles at least partially move from within the cavity of the distal tip to outside the cavity of the distal tip when the brush moves from the first state to the second state.   
     
     
         2 . The brush of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer sheath, wherein the shaft extends through the outer sheath, and wherein a maximum diameter of the distal tip is at least as large as an outer diameter of the outer sheath. 
     
     
         3 . The brush of  claim 2 , wherein the distal tip at least partially seals a distal-end opening of the outer sheath when the brush is in the first state. 
     
     
         4 . The brush of  claim 2 , further comprising a plug located at a distal end of the outer sheath, wherein the plug at least partially seals a distal-end opening of the outer sheath, and wherein the shaft extends through an opening of the plug. 
     
     
         5 . The brush of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the plug retracts into the outer sheath when the brush moves from the first state to the second state. 
     
     
         6 . The brush of  claim 5 , wherein a projection fixed to the shaft is configured to contact a distal surface of the plug to provide a force for retracting the plug into the outer sheath when the brush moves from the first state to the second state. 
     
     
         7 . The brush of  claim 2 , wherein the bristles include a tendency to expand to a bristle diameter when the brush is in the second state, and wherein the bristle diameter is larger the maximum diameter of the distal tip and the outer diameter of the outer sheath. 
     
     
         8 . The brush of  claim 2 , wherein a tissue collection member is located inside the outer sheath, wherein the tissue collection member includes an absorbent material configured to collect and retain a tissue sample upon contact with at least one of the bristles. 
     
     
         9 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the distal tip includes tissue collection member located inside the cavity, wherein the tissue collection member includes an absorbent material configured to collect and retain a tissue sample upon contact with at least one of the bristles. 
     
     
         10 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the distal tip includes a taper having an apex at a distal terminus of the brush. 
     
     
         11 . A brush for non-invasive biopsy, comprising:
 a distal tip located at a distal end of a shaft, wherein a set of bristles is located on the shaft at a location that is proximal of the distal tip; and   an outer sheath that is movable in a proximal direction relative to the distal tip,   wherein the bristles are at least partially located in the outer sheath when the brush is in a first state,   wherein the bristles include a tendency to expand to a brushing diameter when the outer sheath is in a second state, and   wherein the brushing diameter is larger than an outer diameter of the outer sheath.   
     
     
         12 . The brush of  claim 11 , wherein an outer diameter of the distal tip is at least as large of the outer diameter of the outer sheath, and wherein the outer diameter of the distal tip extends in a direction that is perpendicular to the proximal direction. 
     
     
         13 . The brush of  claim 11 , wherein the distal tip at least partially seals a distal opening of the outer sheath when the brush is in the first state. 
     
     
         14 . The brush of  claim 11 , wherein the distal tip includes a magnetic tracking device configured to indicate a location of the distal tip. 
     
     
         15 . The brush of  claim 11 , wherein a tissue collection member is located inside the outer sheath, wherein the tissue collection member includes an absorbent material configured to collect and retain a tissue sample upon contact with at least one of the bristles. 
     
     
         16 . The brush of  claim 11 , wherein the distal tip includes tissue collection member, wherein the tissue collection member includes an absorbent material configured to collect and retain a tissue sample upon contact with at least one of the bristles. 
     
     
         17 . A brush for non-invasive biopsy, comprising:
 a first shaft for controlling a position of a set of bristles, wherein the set of bristles is fixed relative to the first shaft;   a second shaft for controlling a position of a distal tip of the brush, wherein the distal tip is fixed relative to the second shaft, and wherein the distal tip forms a distal terminus of the brush; and   an outer sheath, wherein the first shaft extends through the outer sheath, and wherein the second shaft extends through the outer sheath,   wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are each movable relative to the outer sheath such that the bristles are movable relative to the outer sheath and the distal tip is movable relative to the outer sheath.   
     
     
         18 . The brush of  claim 17 , wherein the distal tip incudes a cavity for receiving at least one bristle of the set of bristles. 
     
     
         19 . The brush of  claim 18 , wherein a tissue collection member is located inside the cavity of the distal tip, wherein the tissue collection member includes an absorbent material configured to collect and retain a tissue sample upon contact with at least one of the bristles. 
     
     
         20 . The brush of  claim 17 , wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are coaxial.