Biopsy Marker Deployer With Inner Ribs for Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biopsy markers vary in size due to manufacturing variations, temperature, and humidity, leading to issues with unintentional fall-out from deployers and excessive deployment force, which existing devices fail to accommodate effectively.
Innovation Solution
A flexible biopsy marker deployer with a thin-walled hollow tube featuring longitudinally extending ribs on its inner surface to securely engage and deploy markers, ensuring stable contact at multiple circumferentially spaced locations, reducing the risk of premature release and excessive force during deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a smooth-walled deployer tube is used, then the marker can deploy easily, but the marker may unintentionally fall out due to insufficient retention
Solution Approach 1:
The deployer tube incorporates localized engagement features (ribs or grooves) at specific positions along its length, creating zones of increased friction or mechanical interlocking. This allows the tube to provide strong retention at engagement points while maintaining smooth walls in other areas to facilitate easy deployment when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement features are pre-configured in the deployer tube to automatically engage with the marker upon insertion. This preliminary engagement action ensures the marker is securely held during transport and storage, preventing unintentional fall-out before deployment is intentionally triggered.
2Reliability
If the deployer tube is made rigid to maintain shape, then marker retention is improved, but the deployer cannot accommodate markers of varying sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The deployer tube transitions from a rigid structure to a flexible or compliant structure that can dynamically adjust its shape and diameter. This allows the tube to accommodate markers of varying sizes while maintaining sufficient structural integrity to provide retention through engagement features that adapt to the marker dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployer tube's physical parameters (such as diameter, wall thickness, or engagement feature geometry) are designed to be variable or adjustable. This enables the tube to adapt to different marker sizes by changing its configuration, while maintaining reliable retention through proportional adjustment of engagement features.
3Reliability
If the deployer tube wall is made thick to provide structural support, then retention is improved, but the force required for deployment becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly thick walls, the deployer tube uses localized thickening or reinforcement only at critical engagement points where retention is needed. The majority of the tube wall remains thin, reducing the overall force required for deployment while maintaining structural support where it is most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployer tube structure is segmented into different functional zones: thick-walled or reinforced sections for retention and engagement, and thin-walled sections for flexibility and ease of deployment. This segmentation allows the tube to provide strong marker retention without requiring excessive deployment force.
Data Source
AI summary
A biopsy marker delivery device is described. The delivery device can include a relatively flexible hollow tube, a pushing member such as a push rod disposed for sliding with the tube, and at least one marker disposed in the tube. The inner surface of the tube can be configured to engage the marker at spaced apart locations on the outer surface of the marker.