Biopsy Guide Cube with Elastomeric Edges for Grid Plate Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biopsy systems lack features that enhance the guide cube's compatibility and secure positioning within positioning grid plates, which can lead to instability and inefficiency during biopsy procedures.

Innovation Solution

The development of guide cubes with elastomeric edges, self-grounding features, and expandable access ports, which provide a secure fit within grid plates and accommodate various biopsy device components, ensuring stability and versatility during use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a guide cube is used without elastomeric edges, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the guide cube lacks secure positioning within the grid plate and may fall out during biopsy procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure positioning of guide cubeVSAvoidguide cube structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide cube incorporates elastomeric edges that act as flexible sealing elements. These elastomeric edges can deform to conform to the grid plate opening and provide friction-based retention, preventing the guide cube from falling out during procedures while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If the guide cube has fixed access ports, then the structure is simpler, but the guide cube cannot accommodate various biopsy device components with different sizes and shapes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with biopsy devicesVSAvoidguide cube structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide cube features expandable access ports that can dynamically change size and shape. These ports are constructed with elastomeric or flexible materials that allow them to expand when a biopsy device component is inserted and contract when removed, enabling the same guide cube to accommodate various device components with different dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The access ports of the guide cube can change their physical parameters (size, shape) in response to the insertion of different biopsy device components. This parameter adaptability allows a single guide cube design to be compatible with multiple types of biopsy devices without requiring multiple specialized guide cubes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the guide cube uses traditional rigid edges, then manufacturing is easier, but the guide cube does not provide adequate friction or grip within the grid plate opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability in grid plateVSAvoidguide cube fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guide cube combines rigid structural materials with elastomeric edge materials to create a composite structure. The rigid portion provides structural integrity and ease of manufacturing, while the elastomeric edges provide enhanced friction and grip within the grid plate opening, improving retention without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The enhanced guide cubes improve the compatibility and stability of the biopsy system, reducing the likelihood of the guide cube falling out of the grid plate and allowing for secure positioning of biopsy devices, thereby facilitating more precise and efficient tissue sampling.

Implementation Method 1

At least a portion of the edges of the guide cube may include an elastomeric edge. In one aspect, the elastomeric edge may provide friction or grip that prevents the guide cube from falling out of the grid plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

At least a portion of the edges of the guide cube may include an elastomeric edge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8197495B2Biopsy targeting cube with elastomeric edges

Publication Date: 2012.06.12 DEVICOR MEDICAL PRODUCTS INC

AI summary

A biopsy system comprises a control module, a localization assembly, a biopsy device, and a targeting cube. The biopsy device comprises a holster portion and a probe. The probe and/or other associated components are configured to selectively couple with a targeting cube that is configured to selectively couple with a grid plate having apertures for receiving the targeting cube. The targeting cube comprises a body defined by faces. The targeting cube further comprises guide holes that originate and terminate at the faces and pass through the body of the targeting cube to provide passageways through the targeting cube. The intersections of the faces of the targeting cube comprise edges that are comprised of elastomeric material. The elastomeric edges allow for compression and may thus provide a secure fit with a wide range of grid plates having openings of various shapes and sizes.