Patent ID: 7445603

Claim:
An apparatus for performing a medical procedure, comprising: an elongated flexible member having an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough, said member having a proximal end and an opposite distal end; an actuator positioned within the aperture, said actuator having a proximal end and an opposite distal end; a side arm connected to the flexible member and communicating with said aperture for fluid sampling, irrigation, and injection of radiopaque contrast or tissue stains; a biopsy device connected to the distal end of the actuator and located at the distal end of the flexible member for cutting and collecting biopsy specimens of controlled size, said biopsy device retracting into said flexible member before and after biopsy; a distal storage and collection cassette removably held within the aperture of said elongated flexible member at the distal end of the flexible member for receiving biopsy specimens cut and collected by the biopsy device, wherein said cassette has an internal adhesive surface to adhere a cut or mucosal biopsy surface and thereby orient collected biopsy specimens in said cassette and wherein said cassette is in fluid communication with said aperture; means for sealing the removable distal storage and collection cassette before use or when said cassette has been separated from the flexible member for storage and processing of biopsy specimens collected by the biopsy device in the order of collection; wherein the distal storage and collection cassette incorporates a means for chemical, biological or genetic analysis by reacting with the biopsy specimens before metabolic changes, degradation or contamination can occur; wherein the side arm communicates with the biopsy device and said cassette for irrigation and cleansing of said biopsy device and cassette prior to and during biopsy for removing contaminants from the biopsy device and cassette; and wherein the cassette is disposed immediately adjacent the biopsy device to maintain the specimens serially in the order of acquisition, and wherein the cassette is smaller in diameter than the biopsy device; and wherein the distal storage and collection cassette is perforated to allow entrance of fixative or other reagents via injection from the side arm without handling.