May 29, 2009 - Cook Medical introduced EchoTip Ultra, a high-definition endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) needle technology that is up to three-times brighter than others on the market, according to the manufacturer.
With the addition of the 19 and 25 gage EchoTip Ultra with High Definition Fine Needle Aspiration (HDFNA) needles, the EchoTip Ultra HDFNA represents the next level of precision in EUS, an essential diagnostic tool that yields more accurate images of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract than traditional ultrasound and provides minimally invasive access to areas that are traditionally difficult to reach.
"This needle is very high contrast and easy to see within targeted lesions." said John M. DeWitt, M.D., Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, "This permits confidence for the endosonographers that the lesion is being accurately targeted."
During an 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.
For more information: www.cookmedical.com
December 23, 2019 
