Cytosponge Cell Collection for Oesophageal Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing oesophageal diseases, particularly benign conditions, are invasive, costly, and often require endoscopy, which is not only uncomfortable for patients but also inefficient, as they typically involve multiple biopsies and can lead to false negatives due to sampling bias.
Innovation Solution
A method using a cytosponge to collect cells from the oesophagus, processing them into a cohesive cluster with H&E staining, allowing for the detection of foreign cells such as Candida, H.pylori, eosinophils, and other inflammatory cells from a single sample, thereby reducing the need for extensive biopsies and endoscopic procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If endoscopy with multiple biopsies is used to diagnose oesophageal conditions, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient discomfort and procedural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential diagnostic function from endoscopy by using a swallowable device that collects oesophageal cells without requiring visual inspection or multiple biopsy procedures. The cytosponge device is swallowed, expands in the oesophagus, and collects cells through its porous structure, then is retrieved for analysis, providing diagnostic information without the discomfort of traditional endoscopic procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The cytosponge device acts as an intermediary between the patient and the diagnostic process. Instead of directly inserting an endoscope and taking multiple biopsies, the swallowable cytosponge mediates cell collection by expanding within the oesophagus, capturing cells through its porous structure, and being retrieved for analysis, thereby reducing patient discomfort while maintaining diagnostic capability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple biopsies are taken during endoscopy to diagnose inconspicuous conditions, then sampling coverage is improved, but sampling bias and false negatives are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cytosponge device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it collects cells from different regions of the oesophagus during a single passage, providing comprehensive sampling coverage. The device expands within the oesophagus and its porous structure allows it to capture cells throughout the oesophageal lining, eliminating the need for multiple targeted biopsies and reducing sampling bias.
3Measurement precision
If endoscopy procedures are performed to diagnose oesophageal conditions, then specific diagnosis is achieved, but healthcare costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cytosponge device is self-contained and performs the cell collection function autonomously. The patient simply swallows the device, which then expands and collects cells automatically during its passage through the oesophagus. The device is subsequently retrieved and the collected cells are analyzed, providing a specific diagnosis without requiring the patient to attend a specialist centre or take time off work for complex procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides a non-invasive, cost-effective means to diagnose a range of oesophageal conditions, including oesophagitis, eosinophilic oesophagitis, and infections, with high sensitivity and specificity, using a single sample that can be analyzed in a primary care setting, reducing patient discomfort and healthcare costs.
Implementation Method 1
staining cells from the cohesive cluster using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for detecting a foreign cell in a tissue of the upper intestinal tract, sold method comprising: (a) providing a sample of cells from the epithelium layer of the tissue of interest; (b) preparing the cells into a cohesive cluster; (c) staining cells from the cohesive cluster using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain; (d) observing the stained cells; and (e) inferring the presence or absence of foreign cell(s) from the observations of Id), The invention also relates to a method for aiding the diagnosis of an inflammatory condition of the upper intestinal tract in a subject, said method comprising detecting a foreign cell as described above, wherein detection of foreign cell(s) in step (e) infers that the subject has an inflammatory condition of the upper intestinal tract.