Skip to main content
  • Technical advance
  • Open access
  • Published:

Tissue Harvester with Functional Valve (THFV): Shidham's device for reproducibly higher specimen yield by fine needle aspiration biopsy with easy to perform steps

Abstract

Background

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) cytology has been a highly effective methodology for tissue diagnosis and for various ancillary studies including molecular tests. In addition to other benefits, FNAB predominantly retrieves the diagnostic loosely cohesive cells in the lesion as compared to the adjacent supporting stroma with relatively higher cohesiveness. However, FNAB procedure performed with currently available resources is highly skill dependent with inter-performer variability, which compromises its full potential as a diagnostic tool. In this study we report a device overcoming these limitations.

Methods

'Tissue Harvester with Functional Valve' (THFV) was evaluated as part of a phase 1 National Institute of Health (NIH) research grant under Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. Working prototypes of the device were prepared. Each of the four cytopathologists with previous cytopathology fellowship training and experience in performing FNAB evaluated 5 THFV and 5 hypodermic needles resulting in 40 specimens (20 with THFV, 20 with hypodermic needles). A piece of fresh cattle liver stuffed in latex glove was used as the specimen. Based on these results a finished design was finalized.

Results

The smears and cell blocks prepared from the specimens obtained by THFV were superior in terms of cellularity to specimens obtained with hypodermic needles. The tissuecrit of specimens obtained with THFV ranged from 70 to 100 μl (mean 87, SD 10), compared to 17 to 30 μl (mean 24, SD 4) with conventional hypodermic needles (p < .0001, Student t-test). The technical ease [on a scale of 1 (easy) to 5 (difficult)] with THFV ranged from 1 to 2 as compared to 2 to 3 with hypodermic needles.

Conclusion

The specimen yield with the new THFV was significantly higher when compared to hypodermic needles. Also, the FNAB procedure with THFV was relatively easier in comparison with hypodermic needles. The final version of Shidham's THFV device would improve the FNAB specimen yield by eliminating the skill factor. The increased specimen yield by this device would also facilitate wider application of FNAB specimens for various ancillary tests, including molecular tests.

Peer Review reports

Background

Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) is a safe, rapid, economical, and minimally invasive non-surgical technique for tissue diagnosis of various tumors and lesions [115]. It is widely performed around the world including in more than six thousand hospitals in the United States [16, 17]. FNAB is a procedure in which a fine gauge needle (ranging from 18G to 25G, preferably 23 to 25G) is inserted into a lesion and moved in multiple directions for wider sampling, usually under vacuum, to retrieve cells and microfragments of tissue (Figure 1 A through D).

Figure 1
figure 1

Comparison of FNAB procedures by hypodermic needle and THFV.

Due to the non-availability of special FNAB needles, conventional hypodermic needles or their minor modified versions have to be used to perform the procedure. The limitations of conventional needles include inherent deficiencies in their design, and the requirement of greater technical skill, which leads to a higher frequency of unsatisfactory results, and a relatively low specimen yield.

One of the major limiting factors of a conventional hypodermic needle is the narrow diameter and low volume of the hub (Figure 1D). This restricts the quantity of specimen material that can accumulate in the hub at the end of the FNAB procedure without entering the syringe. If the scant material entering the syringe spreads along the syringe barrel wall, it cannot be retrieved properly for preparation of direct smears for cytopathologic evaluation. Accordingly, it is important for the performer to be aware of the material entering the syringe and stop the procedure at that time. These factors contribute to qualitatively and quantitatively poor diagnostic material with a higher proportion of unsatisfactory results.

Special syringe grips (Figure 1A-C) further increase the complexity of the procedure [18]. Thus, due to the lack of a commercially available suitable device for performing FNAB, this widely used valuable technique suffers significant shortcomings with lower reproducibility because of variable skills and success rates.

Depending on initial cytopathologic evaluation, additional ancillary tests such as flow cytometry, molecular techniques, cytogenetics, microbiology cultures, fluorescent in-situ hybridization, electron microscopy, cell block for immunocytochemistry, or other tests may be indicated. With currently available methods, this requires that additional passes be performed to obtain more sample. This increases patient discomfort and leads to higher utilization of disposables.

The aim of this study was to prepare the device prototype and evaluate the efficiency of the initial design for specimen retrieval (Figure 2). The evaluation of efficiency included comparison with the traditional method. Based on the experience with the prototype, the final design for mass production was refined further at the end of the study.

Figure 2
figure 2

Initial design for planning three dimensional CAD.

Methods

As part of a phase 1 NIH research grant under Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program, the novel design of THFV by authors VS and AS was evaluated by cytopathology fellowship trained cytopathologists [19]. Rapid prototypes (Figures 3 and 4) of THFV device were prepared by Stereolithography (SLA) after critical evaluation of three dimensional computer assisted design (CAD) using SolidWorks® software (SolidWorks Corporation, Concord, MA). Working prototypes of clear polyurethane were prepared using Silicone RTV molds set around SLA masters (Figure AF3 in Additional file #1). Each cytopathologist (VS,AP,RNR,ZB) evaluated 5 working models of THFV devices (Figure 4) and compared the results with 5 hypodermic needles by the same cytopathologists. This generated 20 FNABs by THFV devices and 20 by hypodermic needles. A piece of fresh cattle liver procured from the local slaughter house was stuffed in latex glove and were used as specimens. Cellularity of direct smears, Tissuecrit of the needle rinses, and technical ease of performing the procedure were compared.

Figure 3
figure 3

Three dimensional CAD as initial step towards preparation of SLA prototype.

Figure 4
figure 4

Working prototype to be evaluated in the study.

Evaluation of the specimen yield of the working models to demonstrate the feasibility of the invention

Various steps during the procedure with the conventional hypodermic needle and with the new needle device are shown in Figure 1. The procedure for performing the FNAB with the working model of Shidham's THFV is as follows:

(a) Assemble the needle hub, the coupler with tap like valve, and the syringe as shown in Figure 3g2 and 4d.

(b) Close the tap like valve (Figure 3g3).

(c) Create vacuum in the syringe barrel by pulling the syringe piston, which locks itself in the pulled position (Figure 3g3).

(d) Grip the needle device like a pencil at the wide mouth hub (Figure 1M-O).

(e) Insert the needle into the lesion to be sampled under routine aseptic precautions.

(f) Once the needle is in the lesion, open the tap like valve of the coupler to facilitate the suction effect of the vacuum in the syringe to reach up to the needle tip.

(g) Push the needle back and forth into the lesion in different directions for optimal sampling of the lesion till enough material accumulates in the transparent wide-mouth hub (Figure 1N).

(h) Close the tap like valve of the coupler to disconnect the vacuum in the syringe from the needle.

(i) Remove the needle from the lesion and park the needle into the cap cum stand-like cradle without holding the stand with hand to avoid needle prick injury. The needle fits into the cap-cum-stand (Figure 3g4).

(j) Disengage the wide mouth hub of the needle from the coupler by holding the grip area on the hub (Figures 3g5) with the needle in the cap cum stand.

(k) Transfer the representative sample by inverting the capped needle gently on the glass slide or by using a fine tip forceps to transfer the microfragments from wide mouth hub with 'pick and smear' method [20]. During this, the needle could be parked in upright position in the cap cum stand (Figure 1P1,P2) with wide base (Figures 1P2, 3g, and 5d).

The remaining specimen in the wide mouth hub was rinsed with Cytorich for estimation of Tissuecrit, which is the volume of tissue microfragments. The needle hub was rinsed with a constant volume (300 μl) of CytoRich Red® fixative (AutoCyte Inc, Elon College, NC) for cell block preparation after preparing direct cytology smears. The tissue micro-fragments were compacted as sediments under gravity for 60 minutes and the volume of the tissue fragments was noted (Figure 5).

Figure 5
figure 5

Comparison of Tissuecrits.

Cellularity of the direct smears with the new needle was evaluated semi-quantitatively (hypocellular- very few scattered cells, mild- <20% area in the field covered by cells in the specimen, moderate- 20% to 50% area in the field covered by cells in the specimen, and marked- >50% area in the field covered by cells in the specimen). The technical ease of performing the procedure was also noted by each pathologist on a scale of 1 (easy) to 5 (difficult).

Results

The Tissuecrit of specimens obtained with THFV ranged from 70 to 100 μl (mean 87, SD 10) as compared to 17 to 30 μl (mean 24, SD 4) with SN (p < .0001, Student t-test). Tissuecrit (Figure 5) showed a higher yield with the new needle device when compared to the FNAB results with conventional hypodermic needles and demonstrated the feasibility of the invention (Table 1). The smears (Figure 6 c&f; 7) and cell blocks (Figure 6 a,b & d,e; 7) prepared from the specimens obtained by THFV were uniformly hypercellular as compared to mostly hypocelluar with hypodermic needles. The technical ease with THFV ranged from 1 to 2 as compared to 2 to 3 with hypodermic needles.

Table 1 Comparison of results of the new THFV with those with conventional hypodermic needles.
Figure 6
figure 6

Gross comparison of cellularity in cell-block and cytology smears.

Figure 7
figure 7

Microscopic comparison of cellularity in cell-block and cytology smears.

Perforations with the 45 degree bevel at the tip of the needle did not demonstrate any significant advantage with results compared to those achieved with needles without perforation in needle wall near the tip of the needle (Table AF1 #2 in Additional file #1). This feature was not considered a significant benefit in return for the cost and was removed in the final design.

Discussion

The Shidham's THFV procured a significantly higher yield of FNAB specimen as compared to hypodermic needles. It demonstrated relatively superior technical ease as compared to hypodermic needles. The details of the new needle device are shown in Figure 2. A schematic representation of the procedures performed using THFV and a conventional hypodermic needle is shown in Figure 1. The mechanism of THFV is depicted in a brief animation (additional file 2).

The FNAB procedure is the method of choice for minimally invasive retrieval of tissue material from a patient for tissue diagnosis and other tests [21]. In contrast to FNAB, surgical operation requires special conditions such as an operating room, skilled surgical professionals, and supporting ancillary services. Furthermore, surgical biopsy also adds financial burden, pain, scarring, risk of complications, and loss of man hours with the invariable disruption of the personal schedule of the patient undergoing surgical biopsy. Many of the limitations of a surgical biopsy can be avoided by FNAB, which can be performed under general settings such as in the doctor's office. However, performing FNAB by conventional hypodermic needle with or without application of vacuum is associated with limitations of lower tissue yield which is usually insufficient for performing ancillary studies.

Many ancillary tests and evolving molecular techniques such as microarray and proteomics [13, 2224] require procurement of tissue specimens at various stages of management. It is critical to provide a reproducible procedure for such retrieval. THFV device would facilitate easily reproducible sampling with the added benefit of onsite cytologic evaluation to confirm the adequacy of specimen for the test to be performed. In addition to clinical applications, this device could also be used for precise harvesting of tissue for research from various specimens under aseptic conditions.

Although the modified version of the hypodermic needle with an elongated hub may allow slightly more specimen yield, it does not retain the entire specimen retrieved during the process. A significant portion of specimen in the needle and hub is lost back due to negative pressure and capillary action while withdrawing the needle from the lesion during the last step. Similar limitations apply to slightly modified hypodermic needles having a perforated tip.

Once the specimen is retrieved, it is preferably examined immediately on site for adequacy evaluation with preliminary interpretation. A 'pick and spread' method allows smearing of selected material on the glass slide [20]. Due to the narrow mouth of the needle hub, hypodermic needles or their modified versions do not allow easy picking of micro-fragments in the specimen by fine tip forceps directly from the needle hub. The current device with wider hub allowed 'pick and spread' approach [20]. Based on the observations during this study [19] the design was finalized for the molds required for the mass production of "Shidhams' THFV device" (Figure 8).

Figure 8
figure 8

Final SLA model prepared after incorporating modifications based on the current study. Note that in final model coupler and valve are combined as one unit (a,b,d). Complete assembly is shown in b.

Conclusion

The new THFV device procured a significantly higher yield of FNAB specimen as compared to hypodermic needles. It demonstrated relatively superior technical ease as compared to hypodermic needles. This is a novel device for procurement of tissue for molecular tests and tissue diagnosis by various methods including cytopathology.

Abbreviations

3D:

three dimensional

CAD:

computer aided design

FNAB:

Fine needle aspiration biopsy

RTV:

Room Temperature Vulcanizing

SLA:

Stereolithography

THFV:

Tissue Harvester with Functional Valve.

References

  1. Demay RM: The Art and Science of Cytopathology. 1996, ASCP Press, Chicago, IL, 464-492.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Meara RS, Reddy V, Arnoletti JP, Jhala D, Varadarajulu S, Jhala N: Hairy cell leukemia: A diagnosis by endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration. Cytojournal. 2006, 3: 1-10.1186/1742-6413-3-1. 2006 Jan 23

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Gupta N, Nijhawan R, Srinivasan R, Rajwanshi A, Dutta P, Bhansaliy A, Sharma S: Fine needle aspiration cytology of primary thyroid lymphoma: a report of ten cases. Cytojournal. 2005, 2: 21-10.1186/1742-6413-2-21. 2005 Dec 9

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Schultz S, Pinsky GS, Wu NC, Chamberlain MC, Rodrigo AS, Martin SE: Fine needle aspiration diagnosis of extracranial glioblastoma multiforme: Case report and review of the literature. Cytojournal. 2005, 2: 19-10.1186/1742-6413-2-19. 2005 Nov 14

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Garza-Guajardo R, Mendez-Olvera N, Flores-Gutierrez JP, Hernandez-Martinez S, Candanosa-Mc Cann M, Ancer-Rodriguez J, Barboza-Quintana O: Fine needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of metastatic neoplasms of the breast. A three-case report. Cytojournal. 2005, 2: 17-10.1186/1742-6413-2-17. 2005 Sep 20

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hernandez O, Oweity T, Ibrahim S: Is an increase in CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio in lymph node fine needle aspiration helpful for diagnosing Hodgkin lymphoma? A study of 85 lymph node FNAs with increased CD4/CD8 ratio. Cytojournal. 2005, 2: 14-10.1186/1742-6413-2-14. 2005 Sep 9

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Beaty MW, Geisinger KR: Hodgkin lymphoma: flow me?. Cytojournal. 2005, 2 (1): 13-10.1186/1742-6413-2-13. 2005 Sep 8

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Nguyen GK, Lee MW, Ginsberg J, Wragg T, Bilodeau D: Fine-needle aspiration of the thyroid: an overview. Cytojournal. 2005, 2 (1): 12-10.1186/1742-6413-2-12. 2005 Jun 29

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Chivukula M, Dincer HE, Biller JA, Krouwer HG, Simon G, Shidham V: FNAB cytology of extra-cranial metastasis of glioblastoma multiforme may resemble a lung primary: a diagnostic pitfall. Cytojournal. 2005, 2: 9-10.1186/1742-6413-2-9. 2005 Jun 20

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Bean SM, Eloubeidi MA, Eltoum IA, Cerfolio RJ, Jhala DN: Preoperative diagnosis of a mediastinal granular cell tumor by EUS-FNA: a case report and review of the literature. Cytojournal. 2005, 2 (1): 8-10.1186/1742-6413-2-8. 2005 Jun 8

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Wee A: Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the liver: Algorithmic approach and current issues in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cytojournal. 2005, 2: 7-10.1186/1742-6413-2-7. 2005 Jun 8

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Nnodu OE, Giwa S, Eyesan SU, Abdulkareem FB: Fine needle aspiration cytology of bone tumours – the experience from the National Orthopaedic and Lagos University Teaching Hospitals, Lagos, Nigeria. Cytojournal. 2006, 3: 16-10.1186/1742-6413-3-16. 2006 Jun 15

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Rowe LR, Bentz BG, Bentz JS: Utility of BRAF V600E mutation detection in cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules. Cytojournal. 2006, 3 (1): 10-10.1186/1742-6413-3-10. 2006 Apr 10

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Deveci MS, Deveci G, LiVolsi VA, Baloch ZW: Fine-needle aspiration of follicular lesions of the thyroid. Diagnosis and follow-Up. Cytojournal. 2006, 3: 9-10.1186/1742-6413-3-9. 2006 Apr 7

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Dimashkieh H, Krishnamurthy S: Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of parathyroid gland and lesions. Cytojournal. 2006, 3: 6-10.1186/1742-6413-3-6. 2006 Mar 28

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States. 2000, Washington, DC, 127-Table 194, Long term archival at:, [http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/statab/sec03.pdf]120

  17. Helms Robert: The Changing United States Health Care System: The Effect of Competition on Structure and Performance. Independent Institute Working Paper Number. 7-29, April 2001, Long term archival at: , [http://www.independent.org/pdf/working_papers/29_changing.pdf]

  18. Feldman PS, Corell JL, Kardos TF: Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology, Lymph node, Thyroid and Salivary Gland. 1989, ASCP Press, Chicago, IL, 1-12.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Shidham V, Chavan A, (Pandit A), Rao RN, Basir Z, Shidham A: A novel Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy needle with high specimen yield and easy procedure steps for improved reproducibility in comparison to conventional hypodermic needle: Findings of Phase-I. Acta Cytologica. 2003, 47: 880-Abstract no. 84

    Google Scholar 

  20. Giri D, Vazquez MF: "Pick and smear" tissue concentration technique for bloody aspirates. Acta Cytol. 2001, 45 (5): 889-90.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Gupta DK, Mooney EE, Layfield LJ: Fine-needle aspiration cytology: a survey of current utilization in relationship to hospital size, surgical pathology volume, and institution type. Diagnostic Cytopathology. 2000, 23 (1): 59-65. 10.1002/1097-0339(200007)23:1<59::AID-DC14>3.0.CO;2-X.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Fowler LJ, Lovell MO, Izbicka E: Fine-needle aspiration in PreservCyt: a novel and reproducible method for possible ancillary proteomic pattern expression of breast neoplasms by SELDI-TOF. Mod Pathol. 2004, 17 (8): 1012-1020. 10.1038/modpathol.3800116.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Assersohn L, Gangi L, Zhao Y, Dowsett M, Simon R, Powles TJ, Liu ET: The feasibility of using fine needle aspiration from primary breast cancers for cDNA microarray analyses. Clin Cancer Res. 2002, 8 (3): 794-801.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Segev DL, Clark DP, Zeiger MA, Umbricht C: Beyond the suspicious thyroid fine needle aspirate. A review. Acta Cytol. 2003, 47 (5): 709-22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Pre-publication history

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by National Institute of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA research grant #1R41 CA094675-01 CSDA# 93.394 under Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program.

It was presented in part at The 51st Annual Scientific Meeting, American Society of Cytopathology, 7–12 November 2003, Orlando, FL.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vinod B Shidham.

Additional information

Competing interests

VS and AS, designed and invented the device for which US patent is filed by Medical College of Wisconsin. AS is CEO and Director of research at BioInnovations.

AP, RNR, and ZB do not have any competing interest in the device and its patent. They do not have any stake in BioInnovations. They are cytopathology and surgical pathology faculty at Medical College of Wisconsin

Authors' contributions

VS, Designing and inventing the device with AS, conceptual organization of the study, analysis of the results, evaluating the device in comparison to traditionally used hypodermic needles by performing FNAB procedures on fresh liver specimens, and manuscript writing.

AP, RNR, and ZB, Evaluation of the device in comparison to traditionally used hypodermic needles by performing FNAB procedures on liver specimen, analysis of the results, and manuscript review.

AS, Designing and inventing the device with VS, conceptual organization of the study, and manuscript review.

All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Electronic supplementary material

12907_2006_41_MOESM1_ESM.doc

Additional File 1: Progression of prototype to working model. Details how the project progressed from prototype to working model. (DOC 379 KB)

12907_2006_41_MOESM2_ESM.ppt

Additional File 2: Schematic animation of sampling process with THFV. Animation demonstrating the sampling of tissue fragments with THFV. (PPT 2 MB)

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Rights and permissions

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shidham, V.B., Pandit, A.W., Rao, R.N. et al. Tissue Harvester with Functional Valve (THFV): Shidham's device for reproducibly higher specimen yield by fine needle aspiration biopsy with easy to perform steps. BMC Clin Pathol 7, 2 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6890-7-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6890-7-2

Keywords