US-based technology company Olympus has unveiled its EZ Shot 3 Plus single use aspiration needle for endoscopic ultrasonically-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA).
Adding to the company’s existing gastrointestinal portfolio, the 510(k) cleared EZ Shot 3 Plus can be used with an ultrasound endoscope for EUS-FNA of submucosal and extramural lesions within the gastrointestinal tracts.
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The EUS-FNA is used to derive tissue or cell samples from lesions for definitive pathology diagnosis.
The EZ Shot 3 needle is instrumental in certain EUS-FNA cases when it is required to be inserted into difficult-to-access locations, such as in the pancreatic head which can otherwise only be reached with a high-degree of curvature in the tip of the endoscope.
The sheath’s multi-layer construction reduces friction with the needle allowing it to make its way smoothly.
It is composed of Nitinol, which offers flexibility and allows the needle to retain its straight shape even after making multiple passes.
The needle features a sharply pointed Menghini tip design that enables it to puncture the lesion, even from oblique angles.
The needle is designed in a way to reduce the difficulty of subsequent steps, which include adjusting the angle of the needle to collect the tissue sample and targeting the lesion location.
It is expected to derive better tissue samples while reducing procedure times.
Olympus America endoscopy division group vice-president Kurt Heine said: "Better access to difficult parts of the anatomy, along with improvements in efficiency can bring us closer to meeting the Affordable Care Act healthcare reform goals of improving quality of care, reducing costs and enhancing patient satisfaction."
Image: The EZ Shot 3 Plus needle. Photo: courtesy of PR Newswire Association LLC.
