Scooper Core Needle Tissue Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fine needle aspiration procedures face challenges in acquiring sufficient tissue samples, especially when using larger gauge needles that are difficult to navigate through tortuous anatomy and often result in blood contamination, making diagnosis less definitive.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a needle with a movably housed stylet featuring a scooper mechanism, where a hinge allows the scooper to bend away from the longitudinal axis, enabling tissue collection through a channel and window, allowing for larger sample acquisition and flexibility through tortuous paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a larger gauge needle is used to acquire more tissue sample, then the quantity of tissue sample is improved, but the needle becomes difficult to pass along tortuous paths and may acquire more blood
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into multiple functional components: an outer needle body for navigation, an inner stylet for tissue engagement, and a scooper mechanism for sample collection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the needle for navigating tortuous paths and the scooper for acquiring adequate tissue samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The stylet with the scooper mechanism is nested within the lumen of the outer needle. This nested configuration allows the device to maintain a compact profile for navigation through tortuous anatomical paths while enabling the inner stylet to extend and engage tissue for sample acquisition.
2Quantity of substance
If a larger gauge needle is used to acquire more tissue sample, then the quantity of tissue sample is improved, but blood contamination increases making diagnosis more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The scooper mechanism is pre-positioned within the needle lumen and the cutting blades are pre-configured to sever tissue. When the needle reaches the target site, the stylet is advanced to engage the tissue and the scooper automatically collects the severed sample, preliminary actions are taken to ensure clean tissue acquisition before blood contamination can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The scooper mechanism acts as an intermediary between the needle and the tissue sample. It provides a controlled interface for tissue acquisition, allowing the cutting blades to sever tissue while the scooper collects the sample in a controlled manner, reducing uncontrolled blood infiltration.
3Volume of moving object
If the scooper is constrained in axial alignment, then the device maintains a compact profile for insertion, but the scooper cannot extend to collect tissue sample
Solution Approach 1:
The scooper mechanism transitions from a constrained, compact configuration during insertion to an extended, active configuration during tissue sampling. The stylet can be advanced relative to the needle, allowing the scooper to extend beyond the needle tip for tissue engagement, then retract for sample retrieval, providing dynamic adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The scooper mechanism utilizes longitudinal movement along the needle axis to transition between compact and extended states. By moving the stylet distally, the scooper extends in the longitudinal dimension to reach and collect tissue samples, then retracts to maintain a compact profile for insertion and withdrawal.
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 the collection of larger tissue samples with reduced blood contamination, facilitating more definitive diagnoses while being flexible enough to navigate through challenging anatomical paths.
Implementation Method 1
a hinge biased toward a bent position in which the scooper is bent away from the longitudinal axis
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A device for collecting a tissue sample includes Needle and Stylet. Needle is extending longitudinally from a proximal to a distal end and includes a lumen extending therethrough. Stylet is movably housed in the lumen and extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal to a distal end and includes a scooper at the distal end thereof. The scooper is connected to a proximal portion of Stylet via a hinge biased toward a bent position in which the scooper is bent away from the longitudinal axis. Stylet is movable between a constrained configuration and a tissue-collecting configuration. The scooper includes a channel extending longitudinally therethrough and a window extending laterally through a wall thereof in communication with the channel to collect a tissue sample therethrough as Stylet is moved from the tissue-collecting to the constrained.