Biological Tissue Removal Tool With Movable Retention Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tools for harvesting biological tissue samples, such as hair follicles, often result in damaged specimens due to transection or the creation of unwanted tissue flaps, leading to reduced yield and quality of harvested units.

Innovation Solution

A biological tissue removal tool with a movable retention member that penetrates the body surface and captures the tissue unit within a lumen, using a concentric tube design with a sharp inner tube and a blunt outer tube to minimize damage and retain the specimen effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a sharp needle punch is used to penetrate the scalp and extract follicular units, then the extraction efficiency is improved, but the risk of transecting the hair follicles and damaging the specimens increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextraction efficiencyVSAvoidtransection damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The extraction instrument is divided into two separate functional components: a sharp inner needle punch for penetrating and cutting the scalp, and a blunt outer tube for protecting the follicular units during extraction. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without causing damage to the specimens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blunt outer tube acts as an intermediary protective element between the sharp inner needle punch and the follicular units. It prevents direct contact between the sharp cutting edge and the hair follicles, thereby eliminating transection damage while maintaining extraction efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If forceps are used to grasp and place follicular unit grafts, then the implantation process is simplified, but the risk of damaging the delicate specimens increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplantation simplicityVSAvoidspecimen damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument combines the extraction and protection functions into a single integrated device. The blunt outer tube with its open distal end allows the follicular units to be grasped and manipulated directly through the tube opening, eliminating the need for separate forceps handling and reducing specimen damage risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If a hollow needle punch with lumen is used to contain follicular units during extraction, then the yield of intact specimens is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveyield of intact specimensVSAvoidinstrument structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument employs a nested structure where the sharp inner needle punch is positioned inside the blunt outer tube. This nested design allows both components to function together in a compact configuration, with the inner punch handling the cutting function and the outer tube providing protection and containment during extraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS9017343B2Biological unit removal tools with movable retention member

Publication Date: 2015.04.28 VENUS CONCEPT INC

AI summary

Tools and methods of use for removing biological units from a body surface utilizing a removal tool are disclosed. The tool incorporates a retention member configured to impede movement of the biological unit in the direction of a distal end of the tool and to improve retention of the biological unit in the tool. The retention member is radially movable within the lumen of the biological unit removal tool. The distal tips of the tools are desirably configured to reduce the chance of transection of a biological unit.