Aspiration biopsy using new ceramic-coated stainless steel puncture needle

The aim of this study was to determine the medical applicability of a newly developed ceramic-coated stainless steel puncture needle for performing liver biopsies. A ceramic coating was applied to a stainless steel needle using a high-density plasma coating technique. The collected specimen was dipped in 10% formalin, embedded in paraffin, sliced into 4 microm-thick sections, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE). Tissue specimens were observed under a low vacuum of 664 Pa using an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM-2700). The surface of the tissue severed by the ceramic-coated needle was smoother than that by the stainless steel 21G ultrasonic biopsy needle according to microscopic image stained with HE, interference microscopic images, and ESEM images. In conclusion, damage to samples collected by the ceramic-coated needle is less than that by the ordinary needle.