Tonsillar Oropharyngeal Lavage Device for Deep Crypt Cell Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic devices are ineffective in retrieving diagnostic epithelial cells from the deeper tonsillar crypts, which are the potential anatomic location of early Human Papillomavirus (HPV) associated oropharyngeal cancer (OPC).
Innovation Solution
The development of an endoscopic device equipped with two separate lavage tips, one conical and one curved, designed to deliver a pulsating water spray and apply a constant vacuum to invert tonsillar crypts, allowing for the retrieval of epithelial cells from both palatine and lingual tonsils. The device includes a dual filtering system for cytological and molecular studies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional endoscopy procedures with surface biopsy techniques are used, then the procedure is simple and easy to perform, but the deeper tonsillar crypts cannot be accessed and diagnostic tissue cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the tonsillar crypt access function into separate components: the rigid stylet provides structural support and defines the access path, while the flexible distal end with lateral openings enables penetration into the crypts. This segmentation allows the device to maintain simplicity in handling while achieving deep crypt access capability that surface biopsy techniques cannot provide.
2Ease of manufacture
If brush biopsy technique is used for surface sampling, then the procedure is non-invasive and simple, but it cannot retrieve cells from the deeper crypts where early OPC originates
Solution Approach 1:
The device introduces a rigid stylet as an intermediary tool that facilitates access to the deeper crypts. The stylet acts as a mediator between the operator and the difficult-to-reach crypt regions, enabling reliable tissue sampling from the precise anatomical location where early OPC originates, thereby improving diagnostic reliability while maintaining procedural simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If forceps biopsy is used for tissue sampling, then surface tissue can be obtained, but the deeper cryptic epithelial cells remain inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from surface-level sampling in two dimensions to deep crypt access by adding the depth dimension. The elongated structure with lateral openings at the distal end enables the device to reach into the third dimension (depth) of the tonsillar crypts, allowing forceps to retrieve cryptic epithelial cells that are inaccessible to conventional surface biopsy techniques.
4Device complexity
If conventional endoscopy is used for visualization, then the procedure is straightforward, but the crypts cannot be inverted or accessed for sampling
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines multiple functions into a single instrument: the rigid stylet provides structural support and access path definition, the flexible distal end enables navigation into crypts, and the lateral openings facilitate cell retrieval. This multi-functional design allows a single device to perform both visualization support and deep tissue sampling, enhancing adaptability while maintaining relative structural simplicity.
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
The endoscopic device effectively samples the deeper tonsillar crypts, overcoming the limitations of surface sampling, and provides a dual filtering system for comprehensive diagnostic analysis, enabling early detection of HPV-associated OPC.
Implementation Method 1
deliver a pulsating water spray to the tonsil
Implementation Method 2
applying a constant vacuum to the tonsil... simultaneously retrieving the liquid tissue sample
Implementation Method 3
routed through a dual filtering system... consisting of two separate filters of different porosity
Data Source
AI summary
A lavage device for retrieval of tonsillar cryptic epithelial cells of the oropharynx for the early detection of HPV associated oropharyngeal cancer. The device consists of two specialized designed tips. The first special conical tip is designed and adapts to the convex surface of the palatine tonsils, while the second tip is used to reach the lingual tonsil at the base of the tongue. Each tip is connected to a base handle, dual lumen tubing and a water pump and vacuum pump on an opposite end thereof. The lavage liquid collected from either the palatine tonsil or lingual tonsil is placed in a sterile collection container and then passed through a dual filtering system to have the epithelial cells examined in both a cytological and molecular manner at the appropriate laboratory. The lavage liquid collected may help in the early detection of cancers associated with the HPV virus.