Systems and methods for stabilizing a target location within a human body

• US 20070265491A1
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Krag, David, Dimmer, Steve
• Application Number:
  US11/635,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20070265491A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22031 Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi A61B17/221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3201 Scissors for biopsy A61B10/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3211 Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00349 Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00411 actuated by application of energy from an energy source outside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320064 with tissue or sample retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3413 guided by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2063 Acoustic tracking systems, e.g. using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3908 Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/392 Radioactive markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3925 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3929 Active markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3933 : Liquid markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3937 : Visible markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3941 : Photoluminescent markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/395 : with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 : magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 : emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3975 : active
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3983 : Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3987 : Applicators for implanting markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3995 : Multi-modality markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 : Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 : User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/74 : Manipulators with manual electric input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 : Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 : Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/92 : coded with colour
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

Systems and methods for stabilizing a target location within a human body. One embodiment of the system provides a tissue anchor for holding a tissue mass within a human body. The tissue anchor may include a lead; a tissue fastener coupled to the lead; and a marker which can be detected by a position detection system to facilitate placement of the anchor. The tissue anchor can be used to help stabilize tissue in a surgical procedure, e.g., in excising a lesion in amorphous, pliable tissue (e.g., breast tissue) or other body parts.

Claims

1. A tissue anchor for holding a tissue mass within a human body, comprising:

a lead;

a tissue fastener coupled to the lead; and

a first wireless marker carried by the lead and/or the tissue fastener, the first wireless marker generating, in response to an externally applied excitation energy, a first wireless signal that can be detected by a position detection system to determine a position of the first wireless marker relative to a reference location.

2. The tissue anchor of claim 1 further comprising a second wireless marker carried by the lead and/or the tissue fastener at a location spaced from the first wireless marker, the second wireless marker generating, in response to the externally applied excitation energy, a second wireless signal that can be detected by the position detection system to determine a position of the second wireless marker relative to the position of the first wireless marker.

3. The tissue anchor of claim 2 wherein the first wireless signal is different from the second wireless signal, permitting the position detection system to differentiate between the first wireless marker and the second wireless marker.

4. The tissue anchor of claim 2 wherein the first and second wireless markers are spaced from one another along an alignment axis to permit the position detection system to determine angular orientation of the tissue anchor with respect to a reference plane.

5. The tissue anchor of claim 4 further comprising a third wireless marker carried by the lead and/or the tissue fastener at a location spaced from the alignment axis, the third wireless marker generating, in response to the externally applied excitation energy, a third wireless signal that can be detected by the position detection system to determine rotational position of the anchor about the alignment axis.

6. The tissue anchor of claim 1 further comprising an introducer which maintains the tissue fastener in a deployment position for deployment in tissue, but permits the tissue fastener to move to an anchoring position wherein it may grasp tissue.

7. The tissue anchor of claim 6 further comprising a second wireless marker carried by the introducer, the second wireless marker generating, in response to the externally applied excitation energy, a second wireless signal that can be detected by the position detection system to determine a position of the second wireless marker relative to the position of the first wireless marker.

8. A tissue stabilizer system, comprising:

an introducer comprising a delivery element and a drive assembly including a driver associated with the delivery element;

an anchor having a lead and a tissue fastener coupled to the lead, wherein at least a portion of the lead is slidably carried by the delivery element and the tissue fastener is positioned toward a distal end of the delivery element, the driver engaging the anchor to move the anchor with respect to the delivery element; and

a first marker attached to the delivery element and/or the anchor, wherein the first marker provides a first signal which can be detected by a position detection system to determine a position of the first marker relative to a reference location.

9. The tissue stabilizer of claim 8 wherein the delivery element comprises a rigid tube having a sharpened distal tip for advancement through tissue.

10. The tissue stabilizer of claim 9 wherein the tube includes at least one aperture, the aperture being sized to permit advancement of the tissue fastener therethrough to grasp tissue.

11. The tissue stabilizer of claim 8 wherein the first marker is a wireless marker which generates the first signal in response to an externally applied excitation energy, the first signal being a wireless signal detectable by the position detection system without being physically connected thereto.

12. The tissue stabilizer of claim 8 further comprising a second marker carried by the delivery element and/or the anchor at a location spaced from the first marker to define an alignment axis, the second marker generating a second signal that can be detected by the position detection system to determine a position of the second marker relative to the position of the first marker.

13. A tissue anchor for use in connection with a wireless implantable marker implanted in a human body, wherein the implantable marker generates a wireless signal that can be detected by a position detection system external to the human body in response to an excitation energy applied by the position detection system, the tissue anchor comprising:

a lead;

a tissue fastener coupled to the lead; and

a wireless instrument marker carried by the lead and/or the tissue fastener, the wireless instrument marker being adapted to generate, in response to the excitation energy, a wireless instrument signal that can be detected by the position detection system to determine a position of the wireless instrument marker relative to the wireless tissue marker.

14. The tissue anchor of claim 13 further comprising a second wireless marker carried by the lead and/or the tissue fastener at a location spaced from the first wireless marker to define an alignment axis, the second wireless marker generating, in response to the externally applied excitation energy, a second wireless signal that can be detected by the position detection system to determine a position of the second wireless marker relative to the position of the first wireless marker.

15. The tissue anchor of claim 14 wherein the first wireless signal is different from the second wireless signal, permitting the position detection system to differentiate between the first wireless marker and the second wireless marker.

16. The tissue anchor of claim 14 wherein the first and second wireless markers are spaced from one another along an alignment axis to permit the position detection system to determine angular orientation of the tissue anchor with respect to a reference plane.

17. The tissue anchor of claim 16 further comprising a third wireless marker carried by the lead and/or the tissue fastener at a location spaced from the alignment axis, the third wireless marker generating, in response to the externally applied excitation energy, a third wireless signal that can be detected by the position detection system to determine rotational position of the anchor about the alignment axis.

18. The tissue anchor of claim 13 further comprising an introducer which maintains the tissue fastener in a stored position for deployment in tissue, but permits the tissue fastener to move to an anchoring position wherein it may grasp tissue.

19. The tissue anchor of claim 18 further comprising a second wireless marker carried by the introducer, the second wireless marker generating, in response to the externally applied excitation energy, a wireless signal that can be detected by the position detection system to determine a position of the second wireless marker relative to the position of the first wireless marker.

20-47. -47. (canceled)