Patent ID: 7108661

Claim:
A method of obtaining esophageal cells for diagnostic purposes comprising: a. inserting the distal end of a flexible support body into a patient's stomach via the esophagus and mouth so that the proximal support body end projects from the mouth; b. expanding an expandable member at the distal support body end and withdrawing the support body until the expanded member engages the sphincter at the stomach entrance; c. marking a support body location that is a predetermined distance from the patient's dental arch when the expanded member engages the sphincter at the stomach entrance; d. contracting the expanded member and withdrawing the support body so that the marked location is adjacent the patient's dental arch; e. withdrawing the support body a second predetermined distance and marking a second support body location that is adjacent the patient's dental arch; f. deploying a cell collecting element from the distal end of the support body so that the cell collecting element is disposed in the esophagus within the second predetermined distance from the sphincter; g. reciprocating the support body through the second predetermined distance with the cell collecting element deployed so that cells from the esophagus within the second predetermined distance from the sphincter are deposited on the cell collecting element; h. conditioning the cell collecting element so that it does not engage the esophagus wall; and i. withdrawing the support body from the patient.