Frictional Fenestrated Loops for Representative Epithelial Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biopsy devices are inefficient in obtaining representative samples from large areas of epithelial tissue, particularly at risk for neoplastic transformation, and fail to effectively induce an immune response against pathogens like HPV, which are immunogenic due to their nonproductive and non-inflammatory characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A frictional trans-epithelial tissue disruption apparatus using fenestrated loops with flexible and rigid properties to abrade epithelial surfaces, allowing for tissue sampling and collection, and a method to induce an immune response by disrupting epithelial cells to introduce pathogens into the bloodstream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional biopsy devices (brushes, curettes, scalpels) are used to sample epithelial tissue, then tissue sampling can be performed, but the sampling efficiency from large areas is insufficient and representative samples cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric is divided into multiple fenestrated loops of varying lengths arranged in patterns, where different loop lengths target different tissue depths and regions. This segmentation allows simultaneous sampling from multiple tissue layers and areas, improving both sampling efficiency and representativeness compared to single-structure biopsy devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric incorporates loops with different lengths (e.g., 0.5mm to 5mm) in specific patterns to target different tissue depths locally. Shorter loops sample superficial epithelium while longer loops reach deeper layers, creating local quality variations that enable comprehensive sampling from large tissue areas in a single application.
2Reliability
If HPV infection remains nonproductive and non-inflammatory, then the virus evades immune detection, but this same characteristic prevents effective immune response induction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the virus's harmful evasion strategy into a beneficial diagnostic opportunity. By collecting epithelial cells that contain the virus through frictional disruption, the system transforms the virus's ability to hide in epithelial cells into a means of capturing and analyzing viral presence, while also potentially inducing immune response through controlled tissue disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The frictional disruption apparatus performs preliminary action by disrupting epithelial cells before immune system exposure. This pre-disruption releases viral antigens and genetic material from protected epithelial compartments, making them accessible to the immune system and enabling subsequent immune response induction that would otherwise be blocked by the virus's evasion mechanisms.
3Productivity
If frictional disruption with fenestrated loops is applied to epithelial surfaces, then tissue sampling and immune response induction are achieved, but device complexity increases compared to traditional single-structure biopsy tools
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric with fenestrated loops serves multiple functions simultaneously: it mechanically disrupts epithelial tissue for sampling, collects cellular material through friction, and potentially induces immune response through controlled tissue disruption. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate devices into a single universal tool, managing complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric construction uses flexible thin film material that can conform to irregular tissue surfaces while incorporating rigid fenestrated loops for mechanical disruption. This combination of flexible and rigid elements within a thin film structure achieves complex functionality without proportionally increasing device bulk or complexity, allowing the fabric to adapt to various tissue geometries while maintaining effective disruption capability.
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 apparatus efficiently collects histological samples from large areas of epithelial tissue and induces an immune response against pathogens by exposing them to the immune system, enhancing the body's natural defense mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
the loops having sufficient flexibility and rigidity to frictionally abrade the epithelial surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to trans-epithelial frictionally abrasive tissue sampling devices for performing biopsies and methods of inducing an immune response against a pathogen, wherein epithelial cells containing the pathogen are disrupted with the frictionally abrasive tissue sampling device to introduce the pathogen into the bloodstream of a patient.