Flexible Intrauterine Tissue Collection Instrument for Contamination Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intrauterine tissue collecting instruments face challenges in ensuring that collected intrauterine tissue remains uncontaminated by matter other than the target tissue, leading to potential contamination of the instrument surface and inadequate specimen collection.
Innovation Solution
An intrauterine tissue collecting instrument with a flexible outer tube, a flexible inner tube, and a shaft member, featuring a semispherical distal end with slits and side openings, allows the inner tube to protrude from the outer tube for suction collection, with the shaft member providing resistance to movement, ensuring the inner tube distal end can be housed back within the uterus, preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the instrument passes through the vagina after collecting tissue, then the instrument can be removed from the patient, but matter other than intrauterine tissue may attach to the external surface or enter the instrument from openings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested structure where the inner tube is inserted within the outer tube. After tissue collection, the inner tube is retracted back into the outer tube, nesting the contaminated inner tube within the clean outer tube. This prevents external matter from reaching the specimen collection area during withdrawal through the vagina.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer tube serves as an intermediary protective barrier between the specimen collection area and the external environment. By maintaining the inner tube within the outer tube during withdrawal, the outer tube mediates and prevents direct contact between external contaminants and the collected specimen.
2Productivity
If the distal end of the outer tube is open, then tissue can be collected through suction, but external matter can enter the instrument from the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the tube system into two separate functional segments: the outer tube with the open distal end for suction and tissue collection, and the inner tube with side openings that remains retracted during collection. This segmentation allows the outer tube to efficiently collect tissue while the inner tube maintains a closed configuration to prevent contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner tube is prepared in advance with its distal end closed and side openings positioned to face inward. Before tissue collection begins, the inner tube is inserted into the outer tube in this closed configuration, preliminarily preventing any potential contamination pathways before the outer tube's distal end is opened for suction.
3Device complexity
If a rigid sonde curette is used for linear insertion, then the structure is simple, but it is difficult to insert into the bent opening of the uterus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic, flexible structure. Both the outer tube and inner tube are made flexible, allowing them to bend and conform to the natural curvature of the cervical canal and uterine opening. This dynamic flexibility enables easy insertion while maintaining the relative simplicity of the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible tubular structures instead of rigid rods. The outer tube and inner tube are constructed as flexible shells that can adapt to the bent geometry of the vaginal and cervical passage, allowing smooth navigation through the anatomical curves without requiring complex articulation mechanisms.
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
The instrument effectively collects intrauterine tissue through suction while maintaining the specimen's integrity, preventing external contamination and ensuring a good test specimen is obtained.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible outer tube allows the inner tube distal end portion to protrude from the outer tube distal end portion by spreading slits formed portion when the flexible inner tube is pushed
Implementation Method 2
the shaft member has a higher resistance to movement toward the distal end side in the flexible inner tube than toward the proximal end side in the flexible inner tube
Implementation Method 3
the intrauterine tissue collecting instrument can collect intrauterine tissue through suction via the side openings of the flexible inner tube
Data Source
AI summary
An intrauterine tissue collecting instrument includes a flexible outer tube, a flexible inner tube within the outer tube, and a shaft member within the inner tube. The flexible outer tube includes an outer tube distal end portion that can be open at at least three slits 4. The flexible inner tube includes an inner tube distal end portion including a plurality of side openings. The shaft member includes a diameter-expanded distal end portion. The intrauterine tissue collecting instrument can collect intrauterine tissue through suction in a state where the inner tube protrudes from the outer tube within the uterus. The inner tube distal end portion can be housed again in the flexible outer tube within the uterus.