Optical Guided Vacuum Biopsy Needle with Real-Time Tissue Probing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) procedures lack a well-defined endpoint for tissue removal, leading to inefficiencies and the need for invasive surgeries, while tissue ablation procedures often lack real-time feedback on the ablation zone's progression.
Innovation Solution
An interventional device with optical fibers arranged along the biopsy needle or ablation device, allowing for optical probing of biological tissue, providing real-time feedback and enabling precise determination of tissue state through optical signals and detectors, thus defining the endpoint for VAB procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If VAB is continued until all calcifications visible under X-ray are removed, then the procedure can be performed without invasive surgery, but the endpoint is not reliable and tumor tissue may remain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time optical feedback during VAB by incorporating optical fibers that continuously monitor tissue characteristics. The system provides immediate feedback on whether tumor tissue is present in the suction cavity, allowing the physician to stop the procedure at the precise endpoint when all tumor tissue has been removed, rather than relying on unreliable X-ray calcification removal criteria
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/X-ray based endpoint determination system with an optical detection system. Instead of relying on X-ray imaging to track calcification removal, the system uses optical fibers to directly detect tissue properties and identify tumor presence, providing more accurate and reliable endpoint determination
2Measurement precision
If multiple biopsies are taken per procedure to obtain sufficient tissue, then staging accuracy is improved, but the number of needle insertions and patient trauma increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous optical monitoring throughout the VAB procedure, allowing real-time assessment of tissue composition as it is being suctioned into the cavity. This continuous feedback eliminates the need for multiple separate biopsy insertions by ensuring complete tumor tissue removal in a single procedure, thereby reducing patient trauma while maintaining staging accuracy
3Loss of information
If optical fibers are integrated into the biopsy device, then real-time tissue monitoring is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single device structure: the optical fibers serve both as illumination sources for tissue characterization and as detection channels for monitoring tissue properties. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate monitoring devices and minimizes overall system complexity while providing comprehensive real-time tissue information
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
Enables precise optical probing and real-time monitoring of tissue during procedures, allowing for accurate determination of tumor presence and guiding the biopsy or ablation process, potentially reducing the need for invasive surgeries and improving procedural efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of optical fibers externally accessible in one end and connected to optical ports in their opposite end
Implementation Method 2
allow optical probing of biological tissue present in a volume positioned to a side of the interventional structure, upon application of an optical signal to one of the plurality of optical fibers and detection of an optical response thereto
Data Source
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AI summary
An interventional device, e.g. a Vacuum Assisted Biopsy (VAB) needle, incorporating optical fibers such that biological tissue in a volume at a side of the interventional device can be substantially completely optically probed by optical spectroscopy. In a VAB embodiment, a plurality of optical fiber pairs connected to respective optical ports, are placed at opposite positions along the suction cavity, and they are readout subsequently allowing to make a map of the tissue properties along the place where the tissue will be cut by the VAB needle. Based on decision software in an optical console, it can be determined whether the tissue present in the cutting cavity is completely normal tissue or not, prior to actually performing the biopsy on the tissue. In this way a well defined end point for VAB is created.In one embodiment, the optical fibers are arranged in a wall structure of a thin sleeve which fits onto existing VAB needles, thus allowing the VAB needle to be upgraded with an optical probing capability.