Current minimally invasive laparoscopic tissue–harvesting techniques for pathological purposes involve taking multiple imprecise and inaccurate biopsies, usually using a laparoscopic forceps or other assistive devices. Potential hazards, e.g., cancer spread when dealing with tumorous tissue, call for a more reliable alternative in the form of a single laparoscopic instrument capable of repeatedly taking a precise biopsy at a desired location. Therefore, the aim of this project was to design a disposable laparoscopic instrument tip, incorporating a centrally positioned glass fiber for tissue diagnostics; a cutting device for fast, accurate, and reliable biopsy of a precisely defined volume; and a container suitable for sample storage. Inspired by the sea urchin's chewing organ, Aristotle's lantern, and its capability of rapid and simultaneous tissue incision and enclosure by axial translation, we designed a crown-shaped collapsible cutter operating on a similar basis. Based on a series of in vitro experiments indicating that tissue deformation decreases with increasing penetration speed leading to a more precise biopsy, we decided on the cutter's forward propulsion via a spring. Apart from the embedded spring-loaded cutter, the biopsy harvester comprises a smart mechanism for cutter preloading, locking, and actuation, as well as a sample container. A real-sized biopsy harvester prototype was developed and tested in a universal tensile testing machine at TU Delft. In terms of mechanical functionality, the preloading, locking, and actuation mechanism as well as the cutter's rapid incising and collapsing capabilities proved to work successfully in vitro. Further division of the tip into a permanent and a disposable segment will enable taking of multiple biopsies, mutually separated in individual containers. We believe the envisioned laparoscopic optomechanical biopsy device will be a solution ameliorating time-demanding, inaccurate, and potentially unsafe laparoscopic biopsy procedures.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
March 2014
Design Innovation Paper
Bioinspired Spring-Loaded Biopsy Harvester—Experimental Prototype Design and Feasibility Tests
Filip Jelínek,
Filip Jelínek
BioMechanical Engineering Department,
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering,
Mekelweg 2,
e-mail: f.jelinek@tudelft.nl
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering,
Delft University of Technology
,Mekelweg 2,
Delft 2628 CD
, Netherlands
e-mail: f.jelinek@tudelft.nl
Search for other works by this author on:
Gerwin Smit,
Gerwin Smit
BioMechanical Engineering Department,
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering,
Mekelweg 2,
e-mail: g.smit@tudelft.nl
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering,
Delft University of Technology
,Mekelweg 2,
Delft 2628 CD
, Netherlands
e-mail: g.smit@tudelft.nl
Search for other works by this author on:
Paul Breedveld
Paul Breedveld
BioMechanical Engineering Department,
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering,
Mekelweg 2,
e-mail: p.breedveld@tudelft.nl
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering,
Delft University of Technology
,Mekelweg 2,
Delft 2628 CD
, Netherlands
e-mail: p.breedveld@tudelft.nl
Search for other works by this author on:
Filip Jelínek
BioMechanical Engineering Department,
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering,
Mekelweg 2,
e-mail: f.jelinek@tudelft.nl
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering,
Delft University of Technology
,Mekelweg 2,
Delft 2628 CD
, Netherlands
e-mail: f.jelinek@tudelft.nl
Gerwin Smit
BioMechanical Engineering Department,
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering,
Mekelweg 2,
e-mail: g.smit@tudelft.nl
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering,
Delft University of Technology
,Mekelweg 2,
Delft 2628 CD
, Netherlands
e-mail: g.smit@tudelft.nl
Paul Breedveld
BioMechanical Engineering Department,
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering,
Mekelweg 2,
e-mail: p.breedveld@tudelft.nl
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering,
Delft University of Technology
,Mekelweg 2,
Delft 2628 CD
, Netherlands
e-mail: p.breedveld@tudelft.nl
Manuscript received June 13, 2013; final manuscript received December 16, 2013; published online January 20, 2014. Assoc. Editor: Rosaire Mongrain.
J. Med. Devices. Mar 2014, 8(1): 015002 (6 pages)
Published Online: January 20, 2014
Article history
Received:
June 13, 2013
Revision Received:
December 16, 2013
Citation
Jelínek, F., Smit, G., and Breedveld, P. (January 20, 2014). "Bioinspired Spring-Loaded Biopsy Harvester—Experimental Prototype Design and Feasibility Tests." ASME. J. Med. Devices. March 2014; 8(1): 015002. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4026449
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
Flow Diverter Technology for the Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Review
J. Med. Devices (June 2025)
Editorial
J. Med. Devices (March 2025)
An MR-Safe Pneumatic Stepper Motor: Design, Control, and Characterization
J. Med. Devices (March 2025)
Related Articles
Bioinspired Crown-Cutter—The Impact of Tooth Quantity and Bevel Type on Tissue Deformation, Penetration Forces, and Tooth Collapsibility
J. Med. Devices (December,2014)
Minimizing Invasiveness of Liver Resection Using an Integrated Tissue Ablation and Division Device With Blood Flow Sensing
J. Med. Devices (December,2013)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Automated Cutting and Transplanting System for Tissue Culture Seedlings
International Conference on Mechanical Engineering and Technology (ICMET-London 2011)
Breathing and Living Walls
Advanced Energy Efficient Building Envelope Systems
Analysis on Influence of the Tool Orthogonal Rake on Cutting Force, Temperature and Deformation
Proceedings of the 2010 International Conference on Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Technologies (MIMT 2010)