Expandable Biopsy Forceps with Teeth for Deep Tissue Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional biopsy forceps often struggle to obtain sufficient and accurate tissue samples from deep or hard-to-reach locations within the body, particularly due to limitations in maneuverability and the quality/quantity of tissue collected, which can lead to inadequate diagnostic results.
Innovation Solution
A medical device featuring an expandable member with a support lattice and teeth structure that transitions between constrained and expanded configurations, combined with an anchoring assembly and handle actuators, allowing for enhanced tissue collection and retention within a body lumen, improving tissue volume and procedure efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If standard forceps jaws are used to obtain tissue samples from deep body locations, then the device structure remains simple, but the quality and quantity of tissue collected are insufficient for accurate diagnosis
Solution Approach 1:
The forceps jaw is designed to be expandable from a compressed state during insertion to an expanded state during tissue collection. This dynamic transformation allows the device to transition from a compact, navigable form to a larger, more effective tissue collection form, thereby increasing tissue sample quantity without permanently increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable member is nested within a sheath during insertion, allowing the complex expandable structure to be concealed within a simpler outer casing. This nesting principle enables the device to maintain simple external geometry during navigation while harboring complex tissue collection capabilities that activate only when needed
2Quantity of substance
If standard forceps are used to access deep body locations via tortuous paths, then the device remains easy to maneuver, but the tissue sample quality is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The forceps jaw transitions from a compressed navigable state to an expanded tissue collection state. During navigation through tortuous paths, the jaw remains compressed and flexible, maintaining ease of operation. Upon reaching the target location, the jaw expands to provide sufficient tissue sample quality for diagnosis
Solution Approach 2:
The forceps jaw is divided into multiple expandable segments or lobes that can independently deform during navigation and then coalesce during tissue collection. This segmentation allows the jaw to flex and conform to tortuous anatomical paths while maintaining the structural integrity needed to collect high-quality tissue samples
3Productivity
If standard forceps are used for tissue collection, then the device structure is simple, but multiple passes are required which increases procedure time and trauma to surrounding tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable forceps jaw can collect sufficient tissue in a single pass by expanding to an adequate size at the target location, eliminating the need for multiple passes. This dynamic size adjustment allows the device to collect enough tissue for diagnosis while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of expandable rather than permanently large design
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable member provides multiple functions: it serves as a navigable structure during insertion, transforms into a tissue collection structure at the target site, and can securely hold the collected tissue sample. This multi-functionality increases procedure efficiency by consolidating multiple operations into a single device without proportionally increasing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device may comprise a sheath and an expandable member. The expandable member may comprise a support member and a liner coupled to the support member. The liner may include a plurality of teeth. Proximal movement of the sheath may be configured to uncover the expandable member so that the expandable member transitions from a constrained configuration to a constrained configuration.