Tissue Filtration Compression for Uniform Lymph Node Staging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for staging colorectal cancer, such as the acetone compression method (ACM), while improving efficiency and accuracy, still face challenges in ensuring uniform compression and minimizing sample-to-sample variation, which can affect the reliability of lymph node examination.
Innovation Solution
A filtration assembly and method that involves placing a sample in contact with a filter and applying controlled pressure to force the solvent and fat through the filter, while retaining the solid tissue, ensuring consistent compression and reducing variation by maintaining the same pressure across multiple samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual dissection with scalpel is used to examine fatty tissue for lymph nodes, then the pathologist can identify and examine visible nodes, but very small or microscopic pieces of tissue are left behind, reducing diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical dissection process with an automated compression apparatus that uses controlled mechanical pressure to process the entire tissue sample. The apparatus compresses the fatty tissue between a compression surface and a support surface, forcing material through openings to capture all lymph nodes including microscopic ones, thereby eliminating the time-consuming manual dissection while improving diagnostic accuracy.
2Productivity
If the acetone compression method is used to process tissue samples, then efficiency and accuracy are improved, but sample-to-sample variation in compression uniformity affects the reliability of lymph node examination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the compression process by regulating key parameters including applied pressure, compression duration, and the geometric characteristics of the compression surfaces. The apparatus uses a controlled compression force applied for a specified time period, with specifically designed compression and support surfaces that have controlled opening sizes and patterns. This parameter control ensures uniform compression across multiple samples, reducing sample-to-sample variation while maintaining high processing efficiency.
3Productivity
If larger openings are used in the compression surface to speed up processing, then productivity increases, but smaller lymph nodes may be lost, reducing diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the local quality principle by using a distributed array of openings of specific sizes in the compression surface rather than a single large opening. This allows different regions of the tissue sample to be processed through appropriately sized openings, ensuring that even small lymph nodes are captured while maintaining efficient processing. The support surface also features openings that work in coordination with the compression surface openings to prevent loss of small tissue elements.
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
This approach enhances the accuracy of lymph node examination by ensuring uniform compression and minimizing sample variation, thereby improving the consistency and reliability of cancer staging results.
Implementation Method 1
Acetone dissolves lipids without affecting the integrity of fibrous tissue
Implementation Method 2
By pulling the lever manually, the pathologist forces the ram into the tube through one end while the other end of the tube is blocked, thereby compressing the sample in the tube. Compressing the sample forces the liquid phase including the fatty components to be extruded out of the small holes in the tube
Data Source
AI summary
A filtration assembly for separating solids from liquids contained in a sample, and a method for preparing such a sample are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, the filtration assembly includes an inner element (100) with proximal and distal ends (102,103) and a sample (200) disposed therein. A reinforcing sleeve (300) is disposed around the inner element (100) to form a sample receiver (250) with proximal and distal ends (252,253). A filter (400) is disposed at the open proximal end of the sample receiver (252) and a filtrate receiver (500) is placed over the filter (400) and threadedly engaged with the sample receiver (250) to clamp the filter (400) therebetween. Then, the receivers (250,500) are inverted and a pressure is applied to the sample (200) to force a liquid component (200a) through the filter (400) into the filtrate receiver (500), while solids (200b) are retained in the sample receiver (250).