Flexible Aspiration Needles Enable Precision Biopsies

A range of endoscopic ultrasound needles for fine needle aspiration (FNA) and fine needle biopsy (FNB) provide access to difficult to reach lesions without compromising scope position.

The Olympus Medical (Olympus; Tokyo, Japan) EZ Shot 3 Plus line of single-use aspiration needles is designed for ultrasonically guided FNA and FNB of submucosal and extramural lesions within the gastrointesitnal (GI) tract together with the Olympus endoscopic ultrasound system (EUS). Features include a unique Menghini needle tip designed with sharp, continuous cutting edges tocleanly cut tissue specimens while preserving the cellular architecture. The multi-layer, coiled sheath needles are made of flexible nickel titanium (nitinol), to accommodate access to lesions through difficult scope positions.

The flexible needle design and sharp cutting edge also provide smooth needle passage through the surrounding tissues, and an improved responsiveness to handle motion, allowing precision targeting of the required samples. In addition, the distinct echogenicity--hyperechoic appearance on ultrasound--aids precise access and visualization of the target lesions, including pancreative masses, mediastinal masses, perirectal masses, and lymph nodes. EZ Shot 3 Plus needles are available in 19G, 22G, and 25G size options.

“A needle is judged by the ability for the cytologist or pathologist to make a diagnosis based on the cells or tissues collected. We listened to our customers' challenges in access, sample volume, the ease of visualizing the needle on ultrasound, and the needle's ability to retain its shape after multiple passes,” said Kurt Heine, group VP of endoscopy at Olympus America. “We are proud to have addressed these combined challenges, producing a solution that fits squarely into the value-based paradigm of cost reduction with improved patient outcomes and satisfaction.”

“I have been very impressed with the maneuverability of the EZ Shot 3 Plus line,” said Allan Weston, MD, of the Digestive Health Center of the Four States (Galena, KS, USA). “While the needle competes with others in its ability to obtain excellent tissue samples for proper diagnosis, it exceeds predecessors, due to its flexible sheath, in its ability to pass readily through the echoendoscope channel and access the target lesions without requiring adjustments of the up/down knob, right/left knob or scope tip position, thereby ultimately reducing procedure duration times and enhancing efficiency.”

FNA is a diagnostic procedure used to investigate lumps or masses. The technique involve a thin, hollow needle inserted into the mass for sampling of cells that, after being stained, will be examined under a microscope; options include a cytology exam of aspirate (cell specimen evaluation, FNAC) or histological FNB.