Lateral Tissue Sampling via Rigid Blade and Arcuate Slot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue sampling devices often cause collateral damage and require penetration of the guide into the tissue, as they rely on spring-loading mechanisms that result in sweeping movements and are not designed for lateral sampling.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a firm, elongated blade with a flat, bendable anterior portion and a sheath with an arcuate slot that allows the blade to protrude laterally for minimal invasive sampling, enabling efficient collection of tissue samples with reduced collateral damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If spring-loading mechanisms are used to enable lateral sampling, then the sampling element can extend laterally from the guide, but the sampling element performs sweeping movements that cause collateral damage to the tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the blade from a spring-loaded flexible element to a firm, rigid structure. This parameter change eliminates the sweeping movement problem while maintaining lateral sampling capability through the arcuate slot geometry that guides the blade's linear protrusion and retraction
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using flexibility and spring-loading to achieve lateral extension, the invention inverts the approach by using a rigid blade with a curved guide slot. The curvature is transferred to the guide path rather than the blade itself, causing the blade to move linearly while achieving lateral sampling
2Adaptability or versatility
If spring-loading is used to bias the sampling element, then lateral extension is achieved, but the penetration strength depends merely on the biasing force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the mechanical property of the sampling element from flexible (spring-loaded) to rigid (firm blade). This enables the blade to maintain its structural integrity and penetration strength independent of biasing forces, allowing it to effectively pierce tissue during linear protrusion
3Device complexity
If the guide is designed for axial sampling only, then the structure remains simple, but lateral sampling is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds lateral sampling capability by introducing an arcuate slot that enables movement in a curved path. This dimensional modification to the guide structure allows the rigid blade to protrude laterally and sample tissue in directions beyond the simple axial line, without significantly complicating the overall device design
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for collecting a tissue sample. The device includes a blade comprising an anterior portion and an elongated blade body. The elongated blade body is substantially firm and the anterior portion is bendable. The anterior portion comprises a sharp or pointed anterior end adapted to pierce and penetrate into tissue and a sampling mechanism with at least one recess or notch disposed therein or a sampling channel to collect the tissue sample. The sheath comprises an elongated body having an interior lumen, and an arcuate slot corresponding in shape to the blade and forming a continuum between the interior lumen and an exterior aperture laterally on the body of the sheath.