Lymph Node Extraction Device with Tissue Compression Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for retrieving lymph nodes from fatty tissue are inefficient, prone to error, and require significant time and skill, often resulting in incomplete evaluation due to the small size of metastatic nodes and the laborious nature of manual palpation, which limits the yield and accuracy of histopathological staging.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize a fenestrated sample chamber with a lockable gate and pusher to compress and section fatty tissue, producing a dense block of total embedded material free of fat cells, allowing for the retrieval and evaluation of all lymph nodes and surrounding biological components using fewer histology cassettes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual palpation with fingers is used to retrieve lymph nodes from fatty tissue, then the method is simple to perform, but the yield of lymph nodes is low (at best 50%) and the method is prone to error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical palpation with a mechanical compression device that systematically compresses fatty tissue through a fenestrated chamber. The device uses a pusher mechanism to apply controlled compression forces, eliminating the limitations of manual finger palpation and achieving complete lymph node retrieval (100% yield) while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the fatty tissue by applying controlled compression parameters. The compression device transforms the loose, difficult-to-palpate fatty tissue into a dense, compacted mass that allows complete visualization and retrieval of all lymph nodes, fundamentally changing the physical parameters of the tissue to improve retrieval efficiency.
2Device complexity
If manual palpation methods are used, then no special equipment is required, but the time required and skill level needed increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual palpation with an automated mechanical compression system. The device performs rapid compression and sectioning operations that would be extremely time-consuming manually, reducing retrieval time while maintaining device simplicity through straightforward mechanical design with no complex controls or specialized equipment requirements.
3Measurement precision
If fat clearance techniques or intra-arterial injection of methylene blue are used, then identification of lymph nodes is improved, but manual work through the entire fatty tissue sample is still required and yield is limited to nodes sized about 5 mm or greater
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extreme compression parameters to reduce the volume of fatty tissue by approximately 90%, transforming it into a dense compacted mass. This parameter change allows all lymph nodes regardless of size (including those less than 5 mm) to be concentrated and visible in a small volume, eliminating the need for chemical stains or selective identification methods and achieving 100% retrieval yield.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the majority of fat tissue through compression-induced elution, leaving behind a compacted mass containing concentrated lymph nodes and other embedded structures. This extraction process eliminates the need to manually search through large volumes of fatty tissue, allowing complete retrieval of all lymph nodes in a condensed format.
4Reliability
If all resected material including all lymph nodes and surrounding biological components is evaluated using conventional techniques, then complete histopathological evaluation would be achieved, but it would require processing hundreds of histology cassettes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges and concentrates all lymph nodes and surrounding biological components (arteries, veins, nerves, connective tissue) into a single compacted tissue mass through compression. This consolidation allows complete histopathological evaluation of all resected material to be achieved using a single histology cassette or a minimal number of cassettes, eliminating the need to process hundreds of separate cassettes while maintaining 100% evaluation completeness.
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 solution significantly increases the yield of lymph nodes for histopathological evaluation, reducing the time and skill required, achieving 100% retrieval and reducing the number of histology cassettes needed by up to 95%, thereby improving the accuracy and efficiency of cancer staging.
Implementation Method 1
a pusher configured to push the sample against the gate when locked in the closed position to compress the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for yielding lymph nodes from fatty tissue, the device including a fenestrated sample chamber configured to receive a sample of fatty tissue having lymph nodes; a lockable gate switchable between a closed position that is locked and an open position; a pusher configured to push the sample against the gate when locked in the closed position to compress the tissue, and configured to push the compressed tissue out of the sample chamber when the gate is subsequently opened; and a cutting chamber aligned distal to the sample chamber for receiving compressed tissue from the sample chamber, the cutting chamber comprising sets of opposing through slots aligned to permit slicing of the compressed tissue into sections, thereby yielding lymph nodes from the fatty tissue.