Tissue Marker Hook Assembly for Stable Pre-Surgery Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tissue marking devices require placement on the same day as surgery, leading to inefficiencies in scheduling and patient discomfort due to mechanical deficiencies and high costs associated with capital equipment technologies.

Innovation Solution

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

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a standard tissue marking device with a single hook attached to a rigid wire is used, then the tissue can be marked, but the hook is prone to movement and displacement requiring same-day surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehook position stabilityVSAvoidtime between marking and surgery

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The hook assembly is divided into multiple hooks (at least two hooks) attached to a flexible thread instead of a single rigid wire. This segmentation allows the hooks to distribute forces and maintain position stability while the flexible thread accommodates tissue movement, enabling delayed surgery up to 24 hours after marking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device changes from a rigid wire structure to a flexible thread structure. This parameter change in material rigidity allows the marking device to adapt to tissue deformation and movement, maintaining hook position stability while enabling separation of marking and surgery procedures by up to 24 hours.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If tissue marking is performed on the same day as surgery to avoid hook displacement, then hook position is maintained, but patient scheduling efficiency decreases and patient satisfaction is affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehook position stabilityVSAvoidscheduling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The tissue marking is performed as a preliminary action on a separate day from surgery. The flexible thread with multiple hooks maintains position stability over time, allowing the marking procedure to be completed 24 hours or more before surgery without compromising hook position, thereby improving scheduling efficiency and patient satisfaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If capital equipment technologies are used for tissue marking, then marking can be achieved, but the cost is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue marking accuracyVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The device uses a simple, disposable hook assembly with flexible thread instead of expensive capital equipment. This low-cost single-use device achieves reliable tissue marking accuracy while eliminating the need for expensive imaging-guided systems, making the procedure accessible and cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS12569315B2Tissue marking device and methods of use thereof

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 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.