Biopsy Sleeve With Endoscopic Visualization for Accurate Tissue Sampling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Minimally invasive tissue biopsies are challenging due to difficulties in accessing and accurately extracting tissue without adequate visualization, particularly in body cavities like the uterus.

Innovation Solution

Biopsy sleeves configured to engage with medical imaging devices, allowing visualization and collection of tissue samples through transparent or imaging-enabled shafts, with optional suction, brushes, or cutting surfaces for precise biopsy collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a curette is used for tissue biopsy, then the procedure can be performed with simple equipment, but visualization at the biopsy site is lost and accessibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidvisualization capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the biopsy function (curette) with the visualization function (endoscope) into a single integrated device. The endoscope and curette are positioned within the same catheter assembly, allowing simultaneous visualization and tissue sampling at the biopsy site without requiring separate instruments or procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a curette is inserted into a body cavity without visualization, then the procedure is minimally invasive, but accuracy of tissue collection is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinvasivenessVSAvoidbiopsy accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The endoscope provides real-time visual feedback to the operator during the biopsy procedure. The video camera captures images from the biopsy site and displays them on a monitor, allowing the operator to see the curette's position and the tissue being sampled, thereby improving accuracy while maintaining minimal invasiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If conventional biopsy methods are used, then the procedure is simple to perform, but accessibility to difficult-to-reach tissue is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocedural simplicityVSAvoidtissue accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter assembly is designed to be flexible and steerable, allowing it to navigate through complex anatomical pathways and reach difficult-to-access tissue locations. The endoscope and curette can be dynamically positioned within the catheter to adapt to various tissue geometries while maintaining procedural simplicity through integrated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3706640B1Biopsy system
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 CALDERA MEDICAL INC
  • EP3706640B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3706640B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3706640B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Various biopsy devices configured to biopsy tissue from a body cavity and methods of use are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a biopsy sleeve is provided with an elongate shaft having distal and proximal ends. The elongate shaft is configured to receive at least a portion of an imaging device therein, and an engagement member is disposed on the proximal end and configured to engage with the imaging device. A biopsy collector is engageable with the elongate shaft and is configured to collect tissue for a biopsy sample. At least part of the distal end of the elongate shaft is configured to allow visualization therethrough using the imaging device such that a user can visualize the tissue being collected.