Biopsy Device with Rotatable Drum for Visual Sample Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biopsy devices face limitations in efficiently harvesting multiple tissue samples in a single insertion while ensuring visual inspection and reducing tissue sample degradation, with manual systems being slow and prone to contamination, and automatic systems risking random storage and clogging.
Innovation Solution
A biopsy device with a hollow needle, cutting mechanism, and a rotatable drum with tissue-retaining cavities, equipped with an ejector system and optical inspection means, allowing for visual inspection and systematic collection of tissue samples without removing the device from the body, maintaining sample sequence and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual tissue sample removal with tweezers is used, then visual inspection capability is maintained, but the process becomes slow and prone to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector system automatically ejects tissue samples from the tissue-receiving component using spring-loaded pins that push samples onto the collection device, eliminating the need for manual removal with tweezers and thereby reducing contamination risk while maintaining efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical manipulation with tweezers with an automated mechanical ejection system using spring-loaded pins, which provides more reliable and controlled sample removal without human intervention
2Productivity
If automatic vacuum suction is used for tissue collection, then the operator can harvest multiple biopsies without interruption, but tissue samples may be stored randomly and the container may become clogged
Solution Approach 1:
The collection device is divided into multiple separate collection chambers or pockets within a single container, allowing organized storage of multiple tissue samples in predetermined locations rather than random storage, preventing clogging and maintaining sample identification
Solution Approach 2:
The collection device is pre-configured with multiple empty collection chambers before the biopsy procedure begins, establishing an organized storage structure in advance that prevents random sample placement and container clogging during continuous harvesting
3Productivity
If multiple tissue samples are harvested in a single device insertion, then the sampling efficiency is improved, but the first tissue sample must be removed before harvesting more samples
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple tissue samples are collected simultaneously in a single device insertion with all samples remaining in the tissue-receiving component during the procedure, merging the collection of multiple samples into one operation without requiring intermediate removal steps
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue-receiving component acts as a temporary copy or holding structure that maintains all samples during the procedure, allowing the operator to harvest multiple biopsies without managing sample removal and reinsertion
Data Source
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AI summary
A biopsy device for harvesting at least one tissue sample from a body of a living being comprises a hollow needle (110) with an end portion adapted to be introduced into the body, and a cutting mechanism for severing the tissue sample. A sample-receiving device is provided for receiving the severed tissue sample, the sample-receiving device being receivable in the hollow needle and movable therein between an extended position and a retracted position. The biopsy device further includes a tissue sample-collecting device (104; 204) comprising at least one tissue-retaining cavity, and an ejector system for ejecting the tissue sample from the tissue sample-receiving device into one of the tissue-retaining cavities. An inspection system (178) allows an operator of the biopsy device to visually inspect the ejected tissue sample, while the hollow needle remains in the body. The sample- collecting device (104; 204) may include a drum, which is rotatable relative to the sample- receiving device such that different tissue samples harvested at different times can be accommodated in seaparate ones of the tissue-retaining cavities.