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US 12,611,203 B2Granted
Biopsy carrier
AssigneeCutiss AG
InventorsAstrid Welti, Claude Holenstein, Vincent Ronfard, Anna-Lena Dittrich, Reto Frei, Christian Wullschleger, Sebastian Wollmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a device adapted to facilitate transport of a biopsy sample from a sterile extraction site to laboratory-type equipment by which the biopsy sample is processed, while maintaining the biopsy sample wetted and sterile and automatically transferring the biopsy sample from the device to the laboratory-type equipment.
Claims15
A biopsy carrier for transporting a biopsy sample, the carrier comprising:
- an aseptically closed structure having a cavity prefilled with transport medium;
- a selectively sealable and unsealable outlet tube attached to a port in said structure, the port being in fluid communication with the cavity;
- wherein, the cavity is configured to receive a biopsy sample such that the biopsy sample is maintained under sterile and wetted conditions while being transported to laboratory-type equipment, thereby maintaining the viability of the biopsy sample;
- wherein the biopsy sample is caused to be discharged through the outlet tube to the laboratory-type equipment;
- and
- a sample support assembly, the sample support assembly comprises:
- a blade support, which is recessed with a plurality of blade-receiving slots within each of which is received a corresponding blade of the plurality of blades and with a plurality of spaced apertures, such that each aperture is delimited by one or more blade-receiving slots;
- and wherein the blade support comprises a plurality of legs extending from the underside of the blade support;
- a stripper plate comprising a planar plate in abutting relation with the underside of said blade support, a plurality of blade guards protruding upwards from the planar plate, each blade guard is accommodated in a corresponding aperture in the blade support, and an aperture accommodating the corresponding leg of the blade support;
- a force transmitting unit located beneath the stripper plate and comprising a contact plate, which is set in parallel to the stripper plate and the blade support and is in contact with the plurality of legs of the blade support, and a force applier which extends perpendicularly from the underside of the contact;
- and optionally
- a blade frame placed in juxtaposition with a corresponding portion of the blade support that is positioned radially outwardly from the apertures formation of the blade support, the blade frame comprising a plurality of spaced grooves, each of which is configured to receive the end of a corresponding blade, and a peripheral curved portion of the same curvature as the peripheral portion of the blade support and aligned therewith;
- wherein when no force is transmitted to the force applier, the blade guards extend higher than the plurality of blades and form a grid onto which the biopsy sample is introduced;
- wherein when force is transmitted to the force applier, the contact plate pushes the blade support by means of the plurality of legs away from the stripper plate, in the direction of the transmitted, thus causing the plurality of blades to surpass the plurality of blade guards in height, thereby causing the plurality of blades to cut through the biopsy sample;
- and
- wherein the force that is transmitted to the force applier is manually transmitted, or automatically transmitted by a wirelessly operated piston mechanism located between the bottom of the carrier and the force applier.
13 more elements
A biopsy carrier for transporting a biopsy sample, the carrier comprising:
- an aseptically closed structure having a cavity prefilled with transport medium;
- a selectively sealable and unsealable outlet tube attached to a port in said structure, the port being in fluid communication with the cavity;
- wherein, the cavity is configured to receive a biopsy sample such that the biopsy sample is maintained under sterile and wetted conditions while being transported to laboratory-type equipment, thereby maintaining the viability of the biopsy sample;
- and
- wherein the biopsy sample is caused to be discharged through the outlet tube to the laboratory-type equipment;
- one or more pre-processing elements, for pre-processing the biopsy sample prior to the discharging of the biopsy sample to the laboratory-type equipment,
- wherein the one or more pre-processing elements is selected from at least one of:
- a plurality of blades for cutting the biopsy sample into pieces;
- one or more nozzles for introducing liquid to the biopsy sample, wherein the liquid is a washing solution, a disinfecting solution, a solution comprising a reagent or a buffer;
- one or more additional ports for introducing liquid to the biopsy sample, wherein the liquid is a washing solution, a disinfecting solution, a solution comprising a reagent or a buffer;
- one or more additional ports for extracting liquid from the cavity of the biopsy carrier;
- one or more micro-needles for conditioning the surface of the biopsy sample;
- one or more sensors for measuring the pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemistry components and/or the temperature of the liquid inside the cavity;
- a bacteria test component;
- and
- a transparent part allowing visual contact with the biopsy sample by an imager;
- one or more contact elements which, following motion between the one or more contact elements relative to the plurality of blades, are set in pressing contact with both the biopsy sample and the plurality of blades to cause comminution of the biopsy sample and to immobilize the biopsy sample;
- a closure carrying the one or more contact elements and which is in releasable engagement with the aseptically closed structure, to occlude cavity;
- wherein engagement of the closure with the structure causes the one or more contact elements to be set in pressing contact with both the biopsy sample and the plurality of blades.
16 more elements
A biopsy carrier for transporting a biopsy sample, the carrier comprising:
- an aseptically closed structure having a cavity prefilled with transport medium;
- a selectively sealable and unsealable outlet tube attached to a port in said structure, the port being in fluid communication with the cavity;
- wherein, the cavity is configured to receive a biopsy sample such that the biopsy sample is maintained under sterile and wetted conditions while being transported to laboratory-type equipment, thereby maintaining the viability of the biopsy sample;
- and
- wherein the biopsy sample is caused to be discharged through the outlet tube to the laboratory-type equipment;
- one or more pre-processing elements, for pre-processing the biopsy sample prior to the discharging of the biopsy sample to the laboratory-type equipment;
- wherein the one or more pre-processing elements is selected from at least one of:
- a plurality of blades for cutting the biopsy sample into pieces;
- one or more nozzles for introducing liquid to the biopsy sample, wherein the liquid is a washing solution, a disinfecting solution, a solution comprising a reagent or a buffer;
- one or more additional ports for introducing liquid to the biopsy sample, wherein the liquid is a washing solution, a disinfecting solution, a solution comprising a reagent or a buffer;
- one or more additional ports for extracting liquid from the cavity of the biopsy carrier;
- one or more micro-needles for conditioning the surface of the biopsy sample;
- one or more sensors for measuring the pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemistry components and/or the temperature of the liquid inside the cavity;
- a bacteria test component;
- and
- a transparent part allowing visual contact with the biopsy sample by an imager;
- one or more contact elements which, following motion between the one or more contact elements relative to the plurality of blades, are set in pressing contact with both the biopsy sample and the plurality of blades to cause comminution of the biopsy sample and to immobilize the biopsy sample;
- wherein the one or more contact elements are a plurality of protrusions formed in a releasable closure, and the plurality of blades are fixed to a body member associated with the structure.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.