| abstract |
The invention is directed toward a micro-endoscope assembly for the removal of tissue and cells from breast ducts comprising a cylindrical guide tube with a beveled distal end defining an internal cylindrical passageway, a first smaller cylindrical tube eccentrically formed in the cylindrical passageway of a smaller diameter than said tube internal cylindrical passageway to receive and guide an endoscope with a handle assembly, the smaller cylindrical tube forming together with an inner wall surface of the cylindrical guide tube second passageway. A second conduit of a smaller diameter than the smaller cylindrical tube is mounted in the second passageway to divide said second passageway into two separate divided sections and is of sufficient diameter to receive a laser fiber and a micro-endoscope is mounted in the smaller cylindrical tube and a laser is mounted in the second cylindrical tube in the second passageway. The assembly is inserted into a mammary duct and the interior of the duct is viewed until an abnormality is determined in the duct. The tissue and cells from the abnormality area are dislodged irrigated and aspirated through a suction channel to a removable collection device. |