Multi-Hook Tissue Marker for Pre-Surgery Placement Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tissue marking devices require placement on the same day as surgery, leading to inefficiencies and increased patient anxiety due to the need for coordinated schedules and potential displacement of the marking device, and existing capital equipment technologies are expensive and mechanically deficient.

Innovation Solution

A tissue marking device with a hook assembly that can be implanted up to 24 hours prior to surgery, featuring a hook body with retention mechanisms and a flexible thread to minimize migration, allowing separation of radiological and surgical procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single hook attached to a rigid wire is used for tissue marking, then the marking device can be inserted and provide external indication, but the hook is prone to displacement and must be placed on the same day as surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of marking deviceVSAvoidtime between marking and surgery

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The marking device is divided into multiple hooks (at least two hooks) instead of a single hook, distributing the anchoring function across multiple attachment points to improve stability and prevent displacement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device allows tissue marking to be performed in advance (up to 24 hours before surgery) rather than on the same day, enabling preliminary action to be taken to mark the tissue before the surgical procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If tissue marking is performed on the same day as surgery, then the hook position can be confirmed, but patient time in hospital is extended and scheduling inefficiencies occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of tissue locationVSAvoidscheduling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The marking procedure is performed in advance of surgery (separate day), allowing radiology and surgery to be scheduled independently without requiring same-day coordination, thus improving workflow efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The marking device serves as an intermediary marker that remains in place between the marking procedure and surgery, maintaining tissue location accuracy over time without requiring re-coordination of schedules

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If capital equipment technologies are used for tissue marking, then marking can be achieved, but the equipment is expensive and mechanically deficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarking accuracyVSAvoidequipment cost and complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The marking device uses a simple, disposable hook assembly with thread rather than expensive capital equipment, providing a cost-effective alternative that achieves reliable marking without requiring complex mechanical systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The device replaces complex mechanical capital equipment with a simpler system using basic mechanical principles (hooks and thread) to achieve tissue marking and retention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12551315B2Tissue marking device and methods of use thereof

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 DFC MEDICAL LLC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are tissue marking devices and methods that enables marking a target tissue more than 24 hours prior to surgery. The tissue marking device includes a hook assembly having a compressed configuration and a deployed configuration and a handle assembly for positioning the hook assembly in a targeted tissue. The hook assembly may include a hook body comprising at least two hooks and a thread connected to the hook body. The handle assembly may include a handle body, a needle having a lumen, and a stylet having a lumen.