Punch Biopsy

​Skin biopsies are common procedures performed by dermatologists and other physicians for the diagnosis and treatment of various dermatoses and skin tumours. Punch biopsies are the commonest method to obtain skin biopsies and is estimated that a few million punch biopsies are performed per year worldwide. The currently available punch biopsy devices require the additional use of extra instruments (i.e. forceps, scissors, and surgical blades) to remove the specimen from the biopsy bed. However, this increased handling of the specimen can lead to crush, compression, or laceration artefacts that can affect the interpretation of the biopsy by pathologists, leading to missed or wrong diagnoses. The current procedure is also cumbersome and requires several steps, leading to increased risk of sharps injuries to the clinician or assistant, as well as increased cost. 

In a pilot project with engineers from Singapore Polytechnic, we had designed a 1st generation prototype 4-in-1 punch biopsy device which integrates the entire punch biopsy procedure into a single device, to improve the overall effectiveness and specimen yield of punch biopsies. We aim to further develop our prototype by improving on the functionality, ergonomics, and form-factor of our current 1st generation prototype and to fabricate it in material that is disposable, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive to manufacture in bulk.