Rotatable Coupling Biopsy Needle for Safe Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

The handling of biopsy needles during loading into biopsy guns poses a risk of unintentional piercing due to the slidable relationship between the cannula and stylet, and existing solutions with locking mechanisms increase costs and complicate gun adaptation.

Innovation Solution

A biopsy needle design with rotatable coupling parts at the proximal ends, allowing for a locked position during loading and an unlocked position for use, featuring a tubular compartment and protrusion mechanism for controlled movement, and a biopsy gun with corresponding slides and activation means for easy front-loading and arming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cannula and stylet are freely slidable relative to each other during loading, then the loading process is simple, but the risk of unintentional piercing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading simplicityVSAvoidunintentional piercing risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The biopsy needle is pre-assembled with the stylet positioned inside the cannula in a controlled manner before loading. The stylet is preliminarily secured at the proximal end with its tip extending beyond the distal end of the cannula, creating a pre-configured safe loading state that prevents unintentional piercing while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If locking members are added to prevent sliding movement between cannula and stylet, then safety is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiercing risk reductionVSAvoidnumber of elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The function of preventing sliding movement is merged into the basic structural relationship between the stylet and cannula themselves. The stylet's positioning within the cannula and the configuration of their ends inherently provides the safety function without requiring separate locking members, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If locking members are added to prevent sliding movement, then safety is improved, but adaptation to existing biopsy guns becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiercing risk reductionVSAvoidcompatibility with existing guns
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The biopsy needle design achieves safety through the inherent configuration of the stylet and cannula relationship rather than through specialized locking mechanisms. This universal approach allows the needle to be compatible with existing biopsy guns that are designed to handle freely slidable components, while still providing the safety function of preventing unintentional piercing during loading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3045119B1Reusable biopsy gun and a lockable biopsy needle for use therewith
Publication Date: 2018.04.18 COLOPLAST AS
  • EP3045119B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3045119B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3045119B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a biopsy needle wherein the cannula and stylet may be arranged in a locked position, preventing longitudinal movement relative to each other, and a reusable biopsy gun comprising means for moving the biopsy needle from its locked position to an unlocked position where the cannula and stylet may be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to each other. The invention furthermore relates to a kit comprising at least one biopsy needle and a biopsy gun as described.