Project Description:
Biopsies, surgical procedures that retrieve a small portion of tissue, are often performed for cancer patients as part of a standard protocol for diagnosis and prognosis. This procedure can also be used as a source of cells for the development of patient-derived cell lines or autologous cell therapies. Current biopsy instruments were designed with the purpose of diagnosis; but with the advent of new downstream technologies, new instruments need to consider research and manufacturing applications of biopsy samples. The current instrument uses a spring-loaded needle to cut small sections of tumor tissue. This “tru-cut” method has been used for decades as the standard mechanism of action. The sample is stored in the tip until it is subsequently scraped off the needle. Surgeons repeat this procedure multiple times to acquire enough tissue. This process exposes the tissue to contamination and is operator-dependent. This project aims to construct a biopsy instrument that can standardize the acquisition process and allow for increased sample collection with a decreased procedure time. The designed instrument has a unique needle tip containing multiple scarves in its outer sheath, and a screw-like inner needle that allows for the collection of multiple samples simultaneously. The needle can be retracted into the device such that the sample is stored in a sterile chamber for later retrieval. The new instrument increases collected tissue mass compared to the current device and decreases procedure time, removing the need for multiple insertions of the device. This has the potential to remove operator-specific bias or error from the tumor biopsy process and allow for standardization in the acquisition process. This will reduce procedure time for patients, decrease pain and complications associated with the surgery, and boost the therapeutic manufacturing process in the hopes of curing disease.
