Surgical marking composition and method
First Claim
1. A kit comprising a first composition, a second composition, a marker, and a mixer;
- wherein;
(a) neither said first composition alone, nor said second composition alone, readily polymerizes under ambient conditions;
(b) said mixer comprises compartments that are adapted to hold a first liquid and a second liquid, and to keep the first and second liquids separate from each other; and
then, at a time selected by the user, to mix at least some of the first liquid with at least some of the second liquid, and to extrude the resulting mixture;
(c) the first liquid comprises said first composition, or the first liquid comprises said first composition mixed with a first solvent; and
the second liquid comprises said second composition, or the second liquid comprises said second composition mixed with a second solvent;
wherein the first and second solvents may be the same or different;
(d) the first liquid comprises said marker;
or the second liquid comprises said marker;
or said mixer comprises compartments to hold the marker separate from the first and second liquids, and then to mix said marker with the first and second liquids;
whereby, the mixture extruded by said mixer comprises said marker;
(e) the extruded mixture is initially liquid, but polymerizes into a hardened solid or semi-solid over a period between about 10 seconds and about 180 seconds after extrusion;
(f) the extruded mixture, when liquid, will adhere to living tissue; and
after hardening, will stay adhered to the tissue for a period between about two weeks and about five years;
but the extruded mixture is ultimately biodegradable after the passage of sufficient time;
(g) the first composition, the second composition, and the marker are all sterilized, and are all substantially free from pathogens;
(h) the extruded mixture, when hardened, is nonpyrogenic and nontoxic; and
(i) said marker substantially enhances imaging of the hardened, extruded mixture as compared to the imaging that is otherwise obtainable for the tissue to which the mixture adheres;
by at least one imaging technique.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical marking system has been developed that can be easily used during surgery to mark an area of the body, e.g., the margins of a tumor resection cavity, for post-operative radiation therapy or subsequent evaluation by CT, MRI, or radiography. This marker system is formed as a semi-liquid solution that is expelled into the resection margins as a stream that quickly polymerizes in situ into a solid or semi-solid strand that adheres to the surrounding tissue. Several of these strands may be placed to outline the cavity surface. One or more of the polymerizing agents contain one or more imageable markers for post-operative imaging or therapy. The method allows a surgeon to outline the margins of a surgical site in all directions. In addition, radioactive isotopes or therapeutic drugs can be added to the marker strands for in situ therapy.
39 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A kit comprising a first composition, a second composition, a marker, and a mixer;
- wherein;
(a) neither said first composition alone, nor said second composition alone, readily polymerizes under ambient conditions;
(b) said mixer comprises compartments that are adapted to hold a first liquid and a second liquid, and to keep the first and second liquids separate from each other; and
then, at a time selected by the user, to mix at least some of the first liquid with at least some of the second liquid, and to extrude the resulting mixture;
(c) the first liquid comprises said first composition, or the first liquid comprises said first composition mixed with a first solvent; and
the second liquid comprises said second composition, or the second liquid comprises said second composition mixed with a second solvent;
wherein the first and second solvents may be the same or different;
(d) the first liquid comprises said marker;
or the second liquid comprises said marker;
or said mixer comprises compartments to hold the marker separate from the first and second liquids, and then to mix said marker with the first and second liquids;
whereby, the mixture extruded by said mixer comprises said marker;
(e) the extruded mixture is initially liquid, but polymerizes into a hardened solid or semi-solid over a period between about 10 seconds and about 180 seconds after extrusion;
(f) the extruded mixture, when liquid, will adhere to living tissue; and
after hardening, will stay adhered to the tissue for a period between about two weeks and about five years;
but the extruded mixture is ultimately biodegradable after the passage of sufficient time;
(g) the first composition, the second composition, and the marker are all sterilized, and are all substantially free from pathogens;
(h) the extruded mixture, when hardened, is nonpyrogenic and nontoxic; and
(i) said marker substantially enhances imaging of the hardened, extruded mixture as compared to the imaging that is otherwise obtainable for the tissue to which the mixture adheres;
by at least one imaging technique. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- wherein;
Specification