Liquid Stylet Apparatus with Visual Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fine needle aspiration and biopsy procedures face challenges such as stylet management, lack of feedback on sample collection, potential blockages, and increased manipulation time, which can lead to reduced sample quality and increased patient complications.
Innovation Solution
A liquid stylet apparatus is introduced, featuring a tube partially filled with liquid, a powering device, a catheter, and an indicator visible through a transparent portion. This apparatus provides visual feedback on sample collection and blockages, reducing manipulation time and improving sample quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional stylet is used during fine needle aspiration, then the needle maintains structural support and prevents tissue blockage, but the operator cannot visually confirm sample collection and must perform time-consuming manipulation to manage the stylet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by making the stylet visible through the needle wall using radiopaque material or contrast dye. This allows the operator to visually confirm sample collection and stylet position in real-time, eliminating the need for time-consuming manipulation and providing immediate feedback on procedural success.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses fluid dynamics by allowing contrast dye or radiopaque material to flow through the stylet lumen and become visible through the needle wall. This hydraulic approach enables visual tracking of the stylet position and sample collection without additional manipulation steps.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple passes are taken by the endoscopist to collect samples, then more tissue can be sampled from different areas, but the needle tip wears out and effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The visible stylet provides immediate feedback to the operator about needle position and tissue engagement. This allows for optimized single-pass sampling by enabling precise positioning and confirmation of tissue contact, reducing the need for repeated passes that would wear the needle tip.
3Ease of operation
If the endoscopist maneuvers the needle without visual confirmation, then the procedure can be completed, but the operator cannot tell if the needle is blocked by core tissue rendering additional maneuvering pointless
Solution Approach 1:
The visible stylet provides continuous visual feedback during needle maneuvering, allowing the operator to detect blockages by observing stylet position and movement. This eliminates the information loss about tissue engagement and blockage status, enabling informed decision-making during the procedure.
4Productivity
If a traditional non-sterile stylet is used after patient contact, then the device can be reused, but the stylet is no longer sterile and poses infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable needle assembly that includes the stylet integrated into a single-use unit. After patient contact, the entire assembly is discarded, ensuring sterility is maintained while allowing continuous productivity through replacement rather than sterilization of reusable components.
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 liquid stylet apparatus enhances the precision and efficiency of sample collection by providing real-time feedback, reducing the risk of blockages, and minimizing operator manipulation, thereby improving the quality of collected samples and reducing patient complications.
Implementation Method 1
a tube with a transparent portion and at least partially filled with a liquid... an indicator contacting the liquid and located at least partially within the tube, wherein the position of the indicator within the tube is visible through the transparent portion
Implementation Method 2
a catheter located distally of the tube and in fluid communication with the tube... a collection device located distally of the catheter and in fluid communication with the catheter
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3
AI summary
A liquid stylet apparatus including a tube with a transparent portion and at least partially filled with a liquid, a powering device in fluid communication with the tube, a catheter located distally of the tube and in fluid communication with the tube, where the catheter is at least partially filled with the liquid, a collection device located distally of the catheter and in fluid communication with the catheter, where the collection device is configured to engage a target area of a patient, and an indicator contacting the liquid and located at least partially within the tube, where the position of the indicator within the tube is visible through the transparent portion.