Collaborative Research: Needles with High Inclination Angle Cutting Edge and Polished Surfaces for High Performance Biopsy

本项目的目标是提高对针设计和制造的基本理解，以便实现更有效的针芯活检。通过优化大倾角针头切割边缘并使针头表面光滑以减少组织-针头界面处的摩擦，从而减少所需的切割力，将增加组织活检长度。该项目涉及三项任务。任务一是利用磁力研磨实现18号不锈钢针管的内外同时抛光。任务2是设计和加工（即，研磨和抛光）大倾角针切割刃。任务3是测量组织和针内部之间的摩擦力，开发活检长度的数学模型作为针切割边缘和内部摩擦力的函数，并优化针的设计和制造，以提供可能的最大活检长度。 如果成功，这项研究的结果将揭示使用工程活检针的软组织的微加工（变形和切割）机制。修改现有的金属切割模型和观察切割组织的新现象可以拓宽传统机械加工领域在生物医学和医疗保健组件中的应用。活组织检查是一种广泛使用的医疗程序，其中组织样本被切割并移除用于检查以识别和诊断疾病。组织切割效率的提高将减少疼痛并提高病理诊断的准确性，创新的针头设计和制造将可应用于任何使用针头的医学领域。研究活动将被整合到研究生和本科生课程中，创造一个学习环境，让学生参与大学工程经验，并提高他们在工程职业生涯中的长期保留。

The objective of this project is to improve the fundamental understanding of needle design and manufacturing in order to enable more efficient needle core biopsy. The tissue biopsy length will be increased by optimizing the high-inclination-angle needle cutting edges and smoothing the needle surfaces to reduce friction at the tissue-needle interface and thereby reduce the required cutting forces. This project involves three tasks. Task 1 is to realize simultaneous internal and external polishing of 18-gauge stainless steel needle tubes using magnetic abrasive finishing. Task 2 is to design and machine (i.e., grind and polish) the high-inclination-angle needle cutting edges. Task 3 is to measure the friction force between tissue and the needle interior, develop the mathematical model of the biopsy length as a function of the needle cutting edge and internal friction force, and optimize the needle design and manufacture to give the maximum biopsy length possible. If successful, the outcomes of this research will reveal the micro-machining (deformation and cutting) mechanisms of soft tissue using the engineered biopsy needles. Modifications to the existing metal-cutting models and observations of new phenomena in cutting tissue can broaden the application of the traditional field of machining to biomedical and healthcare components. Biopsy is a widely used medical procedure in which a tissue sample is cut and removed for examination to identify and diagnose diseases. The improvement in the tissue-cutting efficiency will reduce pain and improve accuracy in pathology diagnosis, and the innovative needle design and manufacturing will be translatable to any field of medicine that uses needles. The research activities will be integrated into graduate and undergraduate courses creating a learning environment that engages the students in the university engineering experience and enhances their long-term retention in engineering careers.