Olympus, Center Valley, Penn, aims to improve the staging of gastrointestinal (GI) disease and help connect patients to precision medicine options through the introduction of its EZ Shot 3 Plus 25-gauge biopsy needle. The 25-gauge needle joins the EZ Shot 3 Plus 19-gauge and 22-gauge needles, completing the company’s product line with expanded FDA indications for both fine needle aspiration (FNA) and fine needle biopsy (FNB).

The quality of a needle is often judged according to the capability it provides for a pathologist to make a diagnosis based on what is collected during an aspiration or biopsy. Olympus designed its needles for use with an Olympus endoscopic ultrasound system for ultrasonically guided FNA and FNB of submucosal and extramural lesions within the GI tract. FNB offers an important advantage for physicians because  the larger tissue samples it provides may enable more precise diagnosis and rapid cytodiagnosis, a technique for on-the-spot pathological diagnosis of tissues collected during surgery. Other EZ Shot 3 Plus benefits include:

  • Tissue yield. The unique Menghini needle tip design features sharp, continuous cutting edges to cleanly cut tissue specimens while preserving cellular architecture.
  • Potential time and cost savings as well as increased efficiency. A combination of needle material and a multilayer coiled sheath provides accommodating access to lesions through difficult scope positions. The sheath plus the needle’s flexibility ensure smooth needle passage and responsiveness to user motion.
  • Excellent tissue samples. The needle retains its shape through multiple passes to ensure a predictable and consistent trajectory. Superior puncturability reduces the amount of force required to puncture, especially when the scope is highly angulated.
  • More precision targeting of samples. A flexible needle design, smooth cutting edge, and distinct echogenicity (for distinct hyperechoic appearance on ultrasound) combine for precise access, clean cuts, and sure visualization of the target lesion.
  • Ergonomic comfort for the physician. Antislip rubber grips, locking knobs, and high contrast text and labeling for visualization assist the user’s tactile sensation of the needle and overall comfort.

To learn more, visit Olympus.