Angled-Tip Biopsy Probe for Steerable Low-Trauma Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endomyocardial biopsy devices are large, traumatic, and difficult to steer, limiting biopsy to specific parts of the heart and causing low diagnostic yield and tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
A biopsy device with a flexible, steerable design featuring a tip member angularly offset from the rod member, allowing for smaller, more uniform tissue samples with minimal damage, suitable for use in micro-catheters and capable of accessing various body parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large bioptome device is used for endomyocardial biopsy, then the device can obtain tissue samples, but the device is traumatic and causes significant tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the size parameter of the biopsy device from large (conventional bioptome) to small (sub-millimetre), and modifies the cutting mechanism parameters (sharp distal tip, angled cutting edge) to achieve minimal tissue damage while maintaining adequate sample acquisition
2Quantity of substance
If a large bioptome device is used for endomyocardial biopsy, then the device can obtain tissue samples, but the device is difficult to steer to all parts of the heart
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional parameters of the device to sub-millimetre scale, which fundamentally improves flexibility and steerability while maintaining the capability to acquire tissue samples from various cardiac locations
3Quantity of substance
If a large bioptome device is used for endomyocardial biopsy, then the device can obtain tissue samples, but the device is restricted to certain parts of the heart
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the size parameter to sub-millimetre dimensions, enabling the device to access previously unreachable areas of the heart and body, thereby significantly improving adaptability and versatility for biopsy procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a universal small-scale biopsy device that can be used for multiple locations (different parts of the heart, lung tumours, other body parts) and delivered through various routes (endovascular system, endobronchial system), enhancing multi-functionality
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a small biopsy device is used, then the device is more steerable and causes minimal tissue damage, but the device must be delivered through micro-catheters requiring navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested design where the small biopsy device is contained within a delivery catheter, which itself can be navigated through the body's natural lumens and vessels, simplifying the overall delivery system while maintaining minimal invasiveness
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is directed towards a biopsy device comprising a tip member with a rearward facing cutting portion for use in a biopsy procedure. The biopsy procedure involves introducing and manoeuvring the device into the tissue of a subject and obtaining a biopsy sample. The biopsy device comprises an elongate flexible rod member having a proximal end and a distal end that define a first longitudinal axis, and a tip member having a proximal end and a distal end that define a second longitudinal axis. The tip member is located at or towards the distal end of the elongate member and positioned or positionable so that the longitudinal axis of the tip member is angularly offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member. The distal end of the tip member is also configured to penetrate tissue of a subject and the proximal end of the tip member comprises a cutting portion for cutting tissue of a subject.