Biopsy Device Optical Fiber Positioning for Tissue Characterization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biopsy devices lack accurate tissue feedback, leading to incorrect tissue sampling and challenges in linking in-vivo imaging information with histopathology results due to limited resolution and the absence of tissue sensing capabilities at the needle tip, resulting in potential false diagnoses and inadequate tumor characterization.
Innovation Solution
A biopsy device with a hollow shaft and integrated optical fibers, where the fiber body is movably accommodated within the shaft, allowing for a sufficient source-detector fiber distance and enabling accurate tissue characterization by maintaining the position of the optical sensing part at the tip during biopsy, ensuring the notch captures the same tissue sample investigated pre-biopsy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If optical fibers are integrated into the biopsy device shaft, then tissue sensing capability is improved, but the source-detector fiber distance becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The biopsy device is divided into two functional segments: the shaft portion containing the optical fibers for tissue sensing, and the needle portion for biopsy extraction. The optical fibers are positioned in the shaft while the needle can be advanced independently to reach the target tissue, allowing the source-detector distance to be extended beyond the shaft length.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber arrangement transitions from a planar configuration within the shaft cross-section to a three-dimensional arrangement where fibers extend along the shaft length. This allows the source and detector fibers to be positioned at different axial locations, significantly increasing the effective source-detector distance while maintaining compact lateral dimensions.
2Measurement precision
If the notch is positioned at the tip for biopsy sampling, then sampling accuracy is improved, but the optical sensing position cannot be maintained at the tip
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber positioning is performed preliminarily within the shaft structure before the needle is advanced to the target tissue. The fibers are pre-positioned at specific locations along the shaft, ensuring that when the needle reaches the tissue, the optical sensing position remains accurately defined relative to the biopsy notch location.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft acts as an intermediary structure that decouples the optical sensing function from the biopsy sampling function. The optical fibers are integrated into the shaft while the needle portion can be advanced independently to position the notch at the exact tissue location, allowing precise sampling without compromising optical fiber positioning.
3Ease of operation
If standard imaging modalities are used for guidance, then coarse positioning is achieved, but precise identification of small lesion boundaries is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fibers provide real-time feedback about the tissue characteristics at the needle tip through spectroscopy or other optical measurement techniques. This feedback allows the operator to adjust the needle position dynamically to achieve precise targeting of small lesions, complementing the coarse guidance from standard imaging modalities.
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
This solution ensures precise tissue sampling by maintaining the optical sensing position at the tip, enhancing tissue characterization and integrating in-vivo information with conventional pathology, providing a more comprehensive data set for improved diagnostics and therapy monitoring without altering the clinical workflow.
Implementation Method 1
In order to allow tissue discrimination, these devices employ diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). For DRS, such devices should be designed with the maximum possible distance between the source and detector fibers to ensure an optimal tissue characterization.
Data Source
AI summary
A biopsy device is provided comprising a tubular member, a hollow shaft and an elongated fiber body. The hollow shaft may have a distal end and a shaft, wherein a laterally (sidewardly) facing notch is formed in the distal portion of the shaft. The elongated fiber body may include at least one optical fiber, preferably at least two optical fibers, with a distal end. The tubular member is movable relative to the shaft, between a first position in which the notch is covered by the tubular member, and a second position in which the notch is not covered by the tubular member. The fiber body is movable within the shaft, between a first position in which the distal end of the optical fiber is located at the distal end of the shaft with the elongated fiber body extending through the notch, and a second position in which the distal end of the at least one optical fiber is located proximally to the notch.