Biopsy Needle with Segmented Cutting Edges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biopsy instruments require significant force to cut body tissue due to a large contact area between cutting blades and tissue, leading to potential slipping and incomplete tissue collection.

Innovation Solution

A biopsy instrument featuring a tubular needle pipe with alternating convex sections and cutting blade sections, allowing for focused force application and easy manipulation to cut and collect tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If cutting blades are provided over a peripheral edge of an opening surface of a hole, then the biopsy instrument can cut tissue, but a large contact area between cutting blades and tissue requires significant force and may cause tissue slipping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manipulationVSAvoidcutting force
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting blade is divided into multiple discrete cutting edges arranged circumferentially around the needle pipe, with each cutting edge separated by gaps. This segmentation reduces the contact area between the cutting blade and tissue at any given moment, allowing easier manipulation while maintaining effective cutting capability through multiple distributed cutting points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting blade features localized sharp edges at specific circumferential positions rather than a continuous cutting surface. Each cutting edge is positioned to engage tissue at different locations, concentrating cutting force at discrete points while minimizing overall contact area, thus reducing the total force required and preventing tissue slipping

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If cutting blades are provided over a peripheral edge of an opening surface, then tissue can be cut, but the large contact area causes tissue to slip and prevents favorable cutting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue collection reliabilityVSAvoidease of manipulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting blade is segmented into multiple discrete cutting edges with gaps between them, arranged circumferentially around the needle pipe. This segmentation ensures reliable tissue capture by distributing cutting action across multiple points while reducing contact area to prevent tissue slipping, thereby improving both reliability and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting edges are pre-positioned on the needle pipe at optimal circumferential locations to engage tissue immediately upon insertion. This preliminary positioning ensures that tissue is securely captured from the outset, preventing slipping while maintaining ease of manipulation through the reduced contact area of segmented cutting edges

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2904976B1Biopsy instrument
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)
  • EP2904976B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2904976B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2904976B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The biopsy instrument includes a needle pipe formed in a tubular shape having a convex section, the convex section having an end section, the convex section being provided at a distal end section of the needle pipe; a distal end tip provided so as to be capable of advancing and retracting with respect to the needle pipe; a manipulation member connected to the distal end tip and inserted into the needle pipe; and a cutting blade section provided at a proximal end side of the distal end tip and having a sharp end section.