Biopsy Stabilizing Element with Segmented Movement System

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current biopsy sampling apparatuses face challenges in achieving high precision due to variability in the positioning and shape of the suspicious zone within the body, making it difficult to accurately target and sample lesions during X-ray analysis.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a positioning surface with a stabilizing element and a movement system that allows for independent translational movements along multiple axes, enabling precise positioning of the biopsy probe relative to the stabilizing element and the body, facilitated by a control system that can be motor-driven or manual, and includes a window to expose the necessary sector of the body for sample collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a stabilizing element is used to stabilize the body part during biopsy sampling, then the stability and positioning precision are improved, but the complexity of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing element is divided into multiple independent stabilizing portions that can be selectively positioned. Each portion can independently contact different regions of the body part, allowing the system to achieve stable positioning without requiring a complex monolithic stabilizing structure. This segmentation enables the device to adapt to various body shapes while maintaining simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizing element serves multiple functions: it stabilizes the body part, defines the sampling region, and provides reference points for probe positioning. By integrating these functions into a single component, the device achieves high positioning precision without adding separate complex subsystems for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If the probe positioning is made highly precise to ensure accurate sampling of the suspicious zone, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepicking up position precisionVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing element automatically defines the sampling region and provides self-aligning features for the probe. The body part itself, when stabilized by the element, serves as the reference for positioning, eliminating the need for complex external positioning systems. This self-service mechanism maintains high positioning precision while simplifying the operator's task.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizing element acts as an intermediary between the body part and the probe positioning system. It creates a stable reference framework that simplifies probe alignment and positioning, allowing the operator to easily achieve precise sampling without complex positioning procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the stabilizing element has a large contact area with the body part to improve stabilization, then the stability is improved, but the ability to access the suspicious zone deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilizationVSAvoidaccess to suspicious zone
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing element is divided into multiple discrete stabilizing portions rather than a single large contact surface. This segmentation allows the element to contact multiple distributed regions of the body part for stable positioning, while leaving the suspicious zone and surrounding areas accessible for probe insertion and sampling operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3536242A1Apparatus for the analysis of samples picked up by biopsy with movable stabilising element
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 IMS GIOTTO SPA
  • EP3536242A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3536242A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3536242A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described is an apparatus (1) for the analysis of samples picked up by biopsy from a part (M) of the body of a patient, by which a high precision of the bioptic picking up is obtained, even with changes in the shape and/or dimensional characteristics of the part (M) of the body being analysed.