Biopsy Piercing Module Stylet Pre-Piercing Dense Tissue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biopsy devices face challenges in effectively inserting the needle portion of a biopsy probe assembly into dense and fibrous tissue and efficiently transporting severed tissue samples.
Innovation Solution
A biopsy apparatus with a piercing module that includes a probe drive slider, nut housing, and motor assembly, which facilitates the insertion and firing of the stylet and cutter cannula into tissue, and a vacuum system for sample collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a biopsy probe is inserted into dense and fibrous tissue, then tissue sampling can be performed, but insertion difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piercing module performs preliminary action by pre-piercing dense and fibrous tissue before the biopsy probe insertion. The stylet with sharp tip penetrates the tough tissue barrier in advance, creating a pathway that facilitates subsequent smooth insertion of the biopsy probe, thereby resolving the contradiction between sampling effectiveness and insertion ease
Solution Approach 2:
The stylet acts as an intermediary element between the operator and the dense tissue. It is a dedicated component designed specifically to handle the difficult piercing task, allowing the main biopsy probe to focus on its sampling function without being compromised by insertion difficulties
2Reliability
If a biopsy probe is designed with piercing capabilities, then insertion into dense tissue is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biopsy system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the piercing module with stylet for tissue penetration, and the biopsy probe for sample collection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while keeping the overall system manageable and maintainable
Solution Approach 2:
The stylet serves as a mediator component that handles the complex piercing function separately. By delegating the difficult tissue penetration task to this specialized intermediary element, the main biopsy probe structure remains relatively simple and focused on its core sampling function
3Productivity
If vacuum is applied to pull tissue into sample notch, then tissue collection is improved, but tissue damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum is applied in a controlled manner after the stylet has already created a pathway through the tissue. This preliminary piercing action reduces the resistance against which the vacuum must work, allowing efficient tissue collection at lower vacuum levels that are less likely to cause damage
Solution Approach 2:
The stylet acts as an intermediary that facilitates gentle tissue collection. By pre-piercing the tissue, it reduces the force needed for vacuum extraction, thereby improving collection efficiency while minimizing harmful effects on the tissue sample
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
A biopsy apparatus includes a piercing module having a probe drive slider coupled to a probe carrier body of a biopsy probe assembly, and has a primed position and a fired position. A nut housing has a home position and an extended position. A drive spindle is drivably coupled to a motor driveshaft, and is coupled to the nut housing. A firing spring is interposed between a motor housing and the probe drive slider. A release arm is pivotably coupled to a piercing module frame. When the probe drive slider is in the primed position and the release arm is in a latch position, the release arm is positioned to engage the probe drive slider to hold the probe drive slider in the primed position. A release slider releases the release arm from the latch position when the nut housing is moved from the home position to the extended position.