“This needle is very high contrast and easy to see within targeted lesions, said John M. DeWitt, MD, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis. “This permits confidence for the endosonographers that the lesion is being accurately targeted.”
During a EUS procedure, the endosonographer inserts an endoscope, which has a small ultrasound transducer at its tip, through the patient’s mouth into the esophagus, facilitating imaging from within the GI tract. EUS also enables tissue sampling through fine needle aspiration (FNA), a safer and less invasive alternative to open surgical biopsy. Under ultrasound guidance, a special needle inserted in the endoscope collects cells from targeted sites.
Cook Medical’s EchoTip Ultra with HDFNA is a single-use, disposable needle intended for sampling of targeted submucosal GI lesions through the accessory channel of an ultrasound endoscope. The needle surface is dimpled with a high-definition pattern that greatly improves its visibility on an ultrasound monitor. This highly echogenic design provides increased assurance that the needle tip is within the target. With traditional EUS-guided FNA, multiple passes are usually necessary in order to get an accurate sample; with the enhanced visibility of EchoTip Ultra HDFNA needles, specimens can be obtained with potentially fewer needle sticks.
EchoTip Ultra with HDFNA has all the advantages of the original EchoTip Ultra products, with an integrated sheath adjuster that makes the needles compatible with a full range of echoendoscopes and an ergonomically designed handle integrated with a nitinol stylet for precise needle control, stability and flexibility. The safety lock ring easily slides and locks at the desired needle extension and a “Zero” reference mark indicates the needle’s complete retraction within the sheath. In addition, EchoTip Ultra’s metal Luer lock provides a secure, stable platform for performing EUS procedures.
“Cook is the proven leader in the nearly twenty-year-old EUS market, offering the most advanced and widest variety of exclusive endoscopic devices,” said Barry Slowey, vice president of Global Sales and Marketing for the Endoscopy strategic business unit of Cook Medical. “We believe the improved visibility experienced with the EchoTip Ultra with HDFNA represents the next generation of EUS devices.”
Cook Medical has been at the forefront of the technological advancements that have led to the widespread acceptance of EUS in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.
