Helical Slit Cannula Flexing Region for Curved Path Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biopsy devices, such as cannulae and stylets, face challenges when navigating curved paths within the body, leading to kinking and binding issues, which hinder effective tissue sampling, especially in areas like the vasculature where direct access is restricted.
Innovation Solution
A biopsy instrument featuring a cannula with a flexing region containing a generally helical slit pattern that increases flexibility, allowing for stress distribution and preventing kinking, combined with a stylet for tissue collection and a cutting surface for excising samples, facilitates tissue sampling through curved paths without binding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid steel cannula is used for biopsy, then structural integrity and cutting ability are improved, but flexibility and ability to navigate curved paths deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is divided into multiple sections with different properties: a rigid distal section for structural integrity and cutting, and a flexible proximal section with helical slits for navigating curved paths. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cannula have different mechanical properties. The distal end maintains high rigidity for effective tissue cutting, while the proximal region incorporates helical slits to provide flexibility and torque resistance, creating local quality variations that resolve the contradiction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible cannula is used to navigate curved paths, then ability to navigate curved paths is improved, but structural integrity and resistance to kinking deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is divided into multiple sections with different properties: a rigid distal section for structural integrity and cutting, and a flexible proximal section with helical slits for navigating curved paths. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula combines materials or structural configurations with different mechanical properties - a rigid distal portion and a flexible proximal portion with helical slits - creating a composite structure that exhibits both flexibility and structural integrity in different regions.
3Strength
If the cannula wall is thick to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but flexibility and ability to flex without kinking deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is divided into multiple sections with different properties: a rigid distal section for structural integrity and cutting, and a flexible proximal section with helical slits for navigating curved paths. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cannula have different mechanical properties. The distal end maintains high rigidity for effective tissue cutting, while the proximal region incorporates helical slits to provide flexibility and torque resistance, creating local quality variations that resolve the contradiction.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the cannula is made flexible to navigate curves, then ability to navigate curved paths is improved, but resistance to binding and kinking deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is divided into multiple sections with different properties: a rigid distal section for structural integrity and cutting, and a flexible proximal section with helical slits for navigating curved paths. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula's flexibility is dynamically controlled through the helical slit pattern, which allows the cannula to bend and flex in a controlled manner during navigation, preventing uncontrolled kinking and binding while maintaining the ability to navigate curved anatomical paths.
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 navigates curved anatomical paths, reducing the likelihood of kinking and binding, enabling successful tissue sampling from hard-to-reach areas like the vasculature while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a pattern of slits passing at least part way through the cannula wall, the slits being part of a flexing region which increases the flexibility of the cannula, at least in the area of the flexing region
Implementation Method 2
the slits being part of a flexing region which increases the flexibility of the cannula
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an instrument useful for taking tissue samples from human or animal patients that includes a cannula or other similar elongate body cooperating with a stylet or similar device coaxially positioned within the cannula such that the cannula and stylet are useful for capturing and excising tissue. The cannula body includes at least one flexing region having one or more slits disposed in a generally helical slit pattern arranged around and along the cannula. Methods for taking tissue samples from a patient are also disclosed including navigating the cannula and stylet through various internal structures of the patient's body where the flexing region aids to avoid binding between the cannula and the stylet during the procedure.