Adjustable Biopsy Needle Arrangement for Continuous Tissue Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biopsy needles, such as the Tru-cut needle, often collect only partial tissue samples due to fixed sample cavity sizes, which can lead to incomplete representation of the sampled area and require multiple biopsies, increasing patient discomfort and risking tissue fragmentation during specimen removal.
Innovation Solution
A biopsy needle arrangement comprising a needle, an intermediary, and a tubular sheath that allows for adjustable cavity length by sliding components, enabling longer and more representative tissue samples with minimized discomfort and reduced risk of fragmentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a fixed sample cavity size is used in prior art biopsy needles, then the device structure is simple, but the tissue sample length is limited and often only partial samples are collected
Solution Approach 1:
The biopsy needle system employs dynamic components including a movable cutting edge relative to the needle body, and a movable core relative to the cutting edge. This allows the cavity length to be adjusted during the biopsy procedure, enabling collection of tissue samples of varying lengths by controlling the relative positions of these movable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is divided into distinct functional segments: the needle body, the cutting edge, and the core. Each segment can move independently relative to the others, allowing precise control over the cavity formation and tissue sampling process. This segmentation enables the cavity length to be dynamically adjusted by varying the displacement of each segment.
2Length of moving object
If multiple biopsies are performed to sample the full length of tissue, then complete tissue coverage is achieved, but patient discomfort increases and procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By making the cavity length dynamic through the movable cutting edge and core, the system can collect longer continuous tissue samples in a single biopsy procedure. This eliminates the need for multiple sequential biopsies, thereby reducing total procedure time and patient discomfort while achieving complete tissue coverage.
3Reliability
If a fixed cavity size is used, then manufacturing is simple, but the cavity may not be fully filled with tissue leading to unrepresentative samples
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic cavity length allows the operator to adjust the cavity size to match the actual tissue dimensions during the procedure. This ensures the cavity can be fully filled with tissue, providing representative samples for pathological analysis, while the adjustability is achieved through relatively simple mechanical movements of the cutting edge and core.
4Length of moving object
If the needle length is greater than the sheath length, then longer tissue samples can be collected, but the risk of accidental damage to patient and infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is nested within the sheath, with the needle extending beyond the sheath length only when needed for tissue sampling. The sheath provides protection during insertion and can be retracted or adjusted to expose the needle tip, minimizing the exposed length and reducing the risk of accidental damage and infection while still enabling collection of long tissue samples.
Data Source
AI summary
A biopsy needle arrangement (20) comprises a needle sheath (22) constituting an elongated tube having a sheath opening (203) at a distal end (202). The biopsy needle arrangement (20) also comprises a needle (21) having a length that is greater than the length of the needle sheath (22). The needle (21) comprises an elongated shaft portion configured to fit inside and slide relative to the needle sheath (22), and a tip (23) located at a distal end (212) of the needle (21). The biopsy needle arrangement (20) further comprises an intermediary (25) having a length that is greater than the length of the needle sheath (22). The intermediary (25) comprises an elongated shaft portion parallel with the needle (21) and configured to fit inside the needle sheath (22) and configured to slide relative to the needle sheath (22) and slide relative to the needle (21).