Lymph Node Collection Device Using Solvent Elution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for retrieving lymph nodes from resected fatty tissue are inefficient, often resulting in a low yield and high error rate, particularly for smaller nodes, which hampers accurate cancer staging and requires extensive processing of histology cassettes and slides.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that forms a densely packed tissue block by dissolving fat with a solvent and eluting it through a fenestrated sample chamber, allowing lymph nodes, arteries, veins, and connective tissue to be packed and sectioned efficiently, reducing the volume of tissue needed for histopathological evaluation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual palpation is used to retrieve lymph nodes from fatty tissue, then the process is simple to perform, but the yield of lymph nodes is low (at best 50%) and error rate is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical palpation with a mechanical processing system consisting of a processing chamber, cutting mechanism, and collection system. The fatty tissue sample is mechanically processed through controlled cutting and separation to extract lymph nodes, replacing the manual finger palpation method with an automated mechanical system that achieves complete retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a porous or fenestrated processing chamber that allows lymph nodes to pass through while retaining larger fatty tissue structures. The chamber contains numerous openings or pores that enable selective passage of lymph nodes during the processing operation, facilitating their separation and collection from the fatty tissue matrix.
2Reliability
If all resected material is processed using conventional techniques, then complete evaluation is achieved, but it requires processing hundreds of histology cassettes and slides which is not feasible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple lymph nodes and tissue structures into a single consolidated tissue block through the processing chamber. By combining the retrieval, processing, and embedding steps into one integrated system, the method produces a single compact block containing all lymph nodes, eliminating the need to process hundreds of separate cassettes and slides while maintaining complete evaluation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the fatty tissue sample into distinct components through controlled cutting within the processing chamber. The lymph nodes are separated from the fatty tissue matrix and organized into a structured arrangement within the tissue block, creating discrete evaluable units that can be examined systematically without requiring processing of numerous separate samples.
3Device complexity
If manual palpation is used, then less equipment is needed, but the process is laborious and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous processing where the fatty tissue sample is fed into the processing chamber and lymph nodes are continuously extracted and collected throughout the processing cycle. The cutting mechanism operates continuously to separate and advance the tissue through the chamber, eliminating the intermittent, step-by-step nature of manual palpation and significantly reducing retrieval time.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system is designed to automatically perform the lymph node retrieval operation without requiring continuous manual intervention. Once the fatty tissue sample is loaded into the processing chamber, the system autonomously executes the cutting, separation, and collection processes, with the tissue itself being processed through its own structural properties as it passes through the fenestrated chamber.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If fat clearance techniques or intra-arterial injection of methylene blue are used, then identification of lymph nodes is improved, but the yield is still limited to about 50% or less
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical identification methods (methylene blue injection) and manual mechanical palpation with a mechanical processing system that physically separates and extracts lymph nodes based on their structural differences from fatty tissue. The controlled cutting and separation mechanisms automatically identify and isolate lymph nodes through their anatomical characteristics without requiring chemical staining or manual detection.
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
This approach significantly increases the yield of lymph nodes for evaluation, achieving 100% collection while reducing the volume of tissue by 90% and minimizing the number of histology cassettes and slides required, thereby improving cancer staging accuracy and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a sample of fatty tissue is pretreated with a solvent that dissolves fat
Implementation Method 2
pushing the sample through the sample chamber elutes dissolved fat and liquid from the fenestrations
Data Source
AI summary
Device for collecting lymph nodes from fatty tissue, which includes a fenestrated sample chamber configured to receive a sample of fatty tissue having lymph nodes; a lockable gate that regulates passage of tissue out of the sample chamber longitudinally; and a pusher that moves longitudinally through the chamber. After treating a sample of resected fatty tissue with a solvent that dissolves fat, the sample is pushed through the fenestrated sample chamber, where the dissolved fat is eluted transversely through the fenestrations. Remaining lymph nodes, arteries, veins, nerves and connective tissue are packed to form a tissue block, which is sized for use with histology cassettes.