Biopsy Probe Alignment Pin Mechanism for Component Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biopsy probe assemblies face challenges in ensuring proper alignment and mounting to the driver assembly, leading to potential misalignment and improper operation during tissue sampling procedures.

Innovation Solution

The biopsy probe assembly incorporates a mechanism with alignment features and a safety alignment pin to ensure correct positioning of components, forming a continuous passage that locks relative positions, facilitating accurate installation and preventing misalignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple movable components (cover, housing, driven units) are used in the biopsy probe assembly, then the device functionality and versatility are improved, but the risk of misalignment and improper mounting increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidmounting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Alignment features (alignment pins, alignment holes, or alignment marks) are pre-configured on the cover, housing, and driven units before assembly. These alignment features establish predetermined reference positions that guide the movable components into correct relative orientations during mounting, preventing misalignment before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediary alignment mechanism (such as an alignment pin passing through aligned holes or an alignment feature that interfaces between components) is introduced as a mediator between the cover, housing, and driven units. This intermediary element ensures that all components are positioned correctly relative to each other during assembly, bridging the gap between multiple movable parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If alignment features are added to multiple components to prevent misalignment, then mounting accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting accuracyVSAvoidnumber of alignment features

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple alignment features (alignment pins, alignment holes, or alignment marks) are strategically combined or integrated into the existing component structures. For example, alignment features are incorporated into the housing and driven units in a way that consolidates multiple alignment functions into a unified system, reducing the overall number of separate alignment elements needed while maintaining mounting precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8597206B2Biopsy probe assembly having a mechanism to prevent misalignment of components prior to installation

Publication Date: 2013.12.03 BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR INC

AI summary

A biopsy probe assembly is configured for installation on a driver assembly. The biopsy probe assembly includes a plurality of components, each of the plurality of components being movable relative to another of the plurality of components, and each of the plurality of movable components having a respective alignment feature, wherein collectively the biopsy probe assembly has a plurality of alignment features. The plurality of alignment features of the plurality of components is aligned to form a continuous passage. A safety alignment pin is inserted into the continuous passage so as to lock relative positions of the plurality of components.