Patent ID: 6221622
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of assessing the likelihood of a cancer in the cellular lining of a breast duct, said method comprising:(a) locating at least one of the ductal orifices on a nipple of the breast;(b) introducing a catheter having at least two lumens through one of the ductal orifices and into the ductal passage;(c) introducing a washing fluid through a lumen into the ductal passage;(d) collecting the washing fluid from the ductal passage through a lumen of the catheter while the catheter is within the ductal passage, wherein the material in the collected fluid include epithelial cells; and(e) examining the morphology of the epithelial cells in the collected fluid to determine if they are atypical in order to assess the likelihood of a cancer present in the cellular lining of the duct.