Magnetic Sister Markers for Surgical Margin Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical practices for excising tissue specimens are imprecise, leading to difficulties in accurately matching the margins of excised tissue with their anatomically adjacent in vivo margins, which is crucial for further pathological, diagnostic, surgical, or therapeutic procedures.

Innovation Solution

The use of unique pairs of markers, known as 'sister' markers, where one marker is attached to the excised tissue specimen and the other to the adjacent in vivo tissue, allows for precise orientation and matching of the margins. These markers share a unique identity, enabling accurate correlation and localization during subsequent procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If current surgical practice uses grid systems, sutures, metallic clips, or inert elements to mark specimen margins, then the specimen can be approximately oriented, but the accuracy of matching excised tissue margins with in vivo margins deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemargin matching accuracyVSAvoidorientation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces magnetic markers as intermediary elements that can be detected by a magnetic field reader. These markers are placed on both the excised specimen margins and the corresponding in vivo surgical bed margins, creating a reliable linkage between the two separated structures. The magnetic field serves as the intermediary detection mechanism that enables precise spatial correlation without requiring direct physical attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical marking systems (grid systems, sutures, metallic clips) with a magnetic field-based detection system. This substitution eliminates the limitations of visual and tactile marking methods, providing a more precise and reliable way to track and correlate specimen margins with their original anatomical positions through magnetic field detection rather than mechanical attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If the surgical bed is closed or modified during oncoplastic procedures, then cosmetically acceptable results are achieved, but the accuracy of matching specimen margins with original anatomical orientation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecosmetic outcomeVSAvoidanatomical orientation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by placing magnetic markers on the surgical bed margins before the closure or oncoplastic procedures are completed. This ensures that the anatomical orientation information is captured and recorded while the surgical bed is still accessible and identifiable, allowing for accurate correlation even after the surgical bed is closed or significantly modified during reconstructive procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If traditional marking methods are used to indicate surgical margins, then the procedure is simple and quick, but the information about which specific tissue needs further excision becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidmargin status information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using magnetic markers that can be detected and read after the specimen is processed by the pathologist. The pathologist can determine margin status (positive or negative) and this information can be fed back to the surgical team, who can then use the magnetic marker locations to precisely identify and re-excise only the specific areas needing further treatment, avoiding unnecessary removal of healthy tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12290415B2Method for delineating and linking/correlating opposing margins of a pathology specimen and immediately adjacent remaining in vivo margins

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 SPRINGLOC LTD

AI summary

The disclosure is directed to a novel technique for anatomically orientating a removed tissue specimen with the margins of the tissue from which it has been removed. An example process of marking the margins of the excised surgical specimen and the anatomically adjacent in vivo margins can be implemented by a surgeon at the time of removal of the surgical specimen. After removing the surgical specimen from its adjacent tissue, a surgical cavity is generated. Thereafter, locations around the surface margins of the specimen and appropriate locations on the margins of the surgical cavity are marked with one or more pairs of markers (SpM and IVM respectively) with matching identities.