Waterjet Tissue Fragmentation for Intact Stem Cell Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for prostate surgery and cancer diagnosis are less than ideal, leading to longer healing times, potential nerve and vessel damage, and suboptimal cancer detection and treatment outcomes, particularly in cases of benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer, due to inadequate tissue sampling and treatment techniques.
Innovation Solution
A surgical apparatus using a waterjet to fragment tissue and collect intact stem cells, which can be used for genetic testing and diagnosis, employing a filter to collect the fragmented tissue and maintaining stable fluid flow and pressure to minimize surgical site changes, allowing for precise tissue removal and reduced damage to delicate structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If prior methods of prostate surgery are used, then tissue removal can be achieved, but healing time is prolonged and damage to nerves and vessels occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical cutting instruments (scalpels, electrocautery, laser) with a fluid jet system that uses high-velocity liquid to ablate tissue. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact and thermal effects that damage nerves and vessels, while maintaining efficient tissue removal through cavitation and hydrodynamic forces
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a hydraulic system where a high-velocity fluid jet is directed at the tissue to be removed. The fluid pressure and velocity are controlled to achieve precise tissue ablation while sparing adjacent delicate structures like nerves and blood vessels, resolving the contradiction between removal efficiency and safety
2Measurement precision
If traditional tissue sampling methods are used, then diagnosis can be performed, but intact stem cells are not obtained for optimal diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical biopsy methods (needle cores, surgical excision) with fluid jet-based tissue fragmentation and cell extraction. This produces intact stem cells that maintain their native state and molecular integrity, enabling more accurate diagnostic analysis while simplifying the sampling process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of tissue interaction from mechanical force and heat to controlled fluid dynamics. By adjusting fluid velocity, pressure, and composition, the system optimizes cell extraction while preserving stem cell integrity for superior diagnostic accuracy
3Reliability
If aggressive tissue removal is performed to ensure complete cancer treatment, then treatment thoroughness is improved, but damage to surrounding delicate structures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the fluid jet system with locally optimized parameters at different treatment zones. The fluid properties, velocity, and application method are tailored to each specific tissue type and location, enabling complete cancer removal in target areas while automatically sparing adjacent delicate structures like nerves and vessels through selective energy deposition
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing aggressive mechanical resection with controlled fluid jet ablation, the system achieves thorough cancer treatment without the collateral damage to surrounding structures. The fluid energy can be precisely controlled to remove only pathological tissue while preserving healthy adjacent tissues
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 apparatus enables improved tissue sampling and treatment with reduced healing time, minimized damage to nerves and vessels, and enhanced cancer diagnosis and treatment outcomes by providing intact stem cells for analysis and potential use in cell-based therapies.
Implementation Method 1
cavitation with a waterjet is used to fragment the tissue comprising the intact stem cells
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical treatment apparatus comprises a waterjet configured to fragment tissue and provide intact cells such as stem cells with the fragmented tissue. The intact cells can be used in one or more of many ways such as for genetic or other testing, and the intact cells can be identified as stem cells. In many embodiments, the intact cells comprise stem cells. In many embodiments, a waterjet is configured to fragment tissue. The fragmented tissue can be collected with a filter having pores sized smaller than the tissue fragments. In many embodiments cavitation with a waterjet is used to fragment the tissue comprising the intact stem cells. The waterjet may comprise a waterjet immersed in a liquid comprising water so as to form a plurality of shedding pulses. The plurality of shedding pulses can be generated with a frequency sufficient to fragment the tissue. The shedding pulses can generate cavitations that fragment the tissue.