Ultrasonic actuation of a fine-needle improves biopsy yield

Abstract

Despite the ubiquitous use over the past 150 years, the functions of the current medical needle are facilitated only by mechanical shear and cutting by the needle tip, i.e. the lancet. In this study, we demonstrate how nonlinear ultrasonics (NLU) extends the functionality of the medical needle far beyond its present capability. The NLU actions were found to be localized to the proximity of the needle tip, the SonoLancet, but the effects extend to several millimeters from the physical needle boundary. The observed nonlinear phenomena, transient cavitation, fluid streams, translation of micro- and nanoparticles and atomization, were quantitatively characterized. In the fine-needle biopsy application, the SonoLancet contributed to obtaining tissue cores with an increase in tissue yield by 3–6× in different tissue types compared to conventional needle biopsy technique using the same 21G needle. In conclusion, the SonoLancet could be of interest to several other medical applications, including drug or gene delivery, cell modulation, and minimally invasive surgical procedures.

An Ultrasonically Actuated Needle Promotes the Transport of Nanoparticles and Fluids

“…The ability to deliver acoustic energy in a localized manner, while bypassing anatomical structures can be employed for the ablation of lung lesions, which are seldom treated with ultrasound due to presence of air that represents an obstacle for the US wave propagation. Moreover, in our recent study, we have demonstrated that the very same technology can be used to enhance the sample yield during fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) 16 , making this device clinically versatile and very promising for novel medical use.…”

“…In this study, we investigate the capability of an ultrasonically actuated medical needle 16 to translate nanoparticles and fluids in soft tissue under the action of NLU phenomena. The hypodermic needle, when used in combination with a pressure source such as a syringe, is employed to act as a fluid conduit.…”

“…This allows operators to control the deposit of high vol-umes of fluid into the target location. When actuated with ultrasound (US), the needle also serves as a waveguide, which conducts the ultrasonic power to the target 16 . We, therefore, aim to demonstrate how acoustic radiation force (ARF) can act on the liquid to enhance convective transport, thus allowing influencing drug distribution within a target (Fig.…”

“…Sonication in AgaroseA custom-made ultrasonic device16 was employed to enable flexural waves in a hypodermic needle and mediate the transport of the tracer in different agarose concentrations. The design consisted of a Langevin transducer coupled to a hypodermic needle (21G, length = 80 mm) (model: 4665465, 100 STERICAN, B Braun, Melsungen, Germany) via an Sshaped 3D printed aluminum waveguide (3D Step Oy, Ylöjärvi, Finland).…”

An Ultrasonically Actuated Fine-Needle Creates Cavitation in Bovine Liver

“…In our recent study, we have demonstrated that cavitation events can be generated in water by an ultrasonically actuated medical needle 8 . Moreover, it has been shown that at ∼30 kHz, ultrasound-enhanced fine-needle aspiration biopsy (USeFNAB) enhances the yield of a biopsy by 3-5× in liver compared to when a fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) procedure is conducted using a similar needle.…”