Method of Enhancing Ultrasound Visibility of Hyperechoic Materials
First Claim
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1. A method for facilitating ultrasound viewing of a hyperechoic material disposed within tissue, comprising the steps of:
- selecting at least one hyperechoic material from a group of hyperechoic materials including permanent and temporary, biodegradable hyperechoic materials;
encapsulating said at least one hyperechoic material within a hypoechoic material so that the hypoechoic material surrounds the at least one hyperechoic material and therefore identifies the location of the at least one hyperechoic material.
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Abstract
A permanent or temporary marker is embedded within a hydrogel plug used in a biopsy procedure to indicate the location of a suspicious lesion so that the marker may be found in a subsequent surgical procedure. A combination of at least one permanent and at least one temporary marker may be used. Inserts of differing sizes and shapes may also be placed into the hydrogel plugs during their manufacturing process and removed from the plugs after the plugs have cured so that air-filled cavities are left in the plug. These cavities are temporary but may be used to augment location of a permanent marker.
21 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating ultrasound viewing of a hyperechoic material disposed within tissue, comprising the steps of:
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selecting at least one hyperechoic material from a group of hyperechoic materials including permanent and temporary, biodegradable hyperechoic materials; encapsulating said at least one hyperechoic material within a hypoechoic material so that the hypoechoic material surrounds the at least one hyperechoic material and therefore identifies the location of the at least one hyperechoic material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for facilitating ultrasound viewing of a hyperechoic material disposed within tissue, comprising the steps of:
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positioning at least one insert having a predetermined size and shape into a hydrogel plug when said hydrogel plug is manufactured; removing said at least one insert from said hydrogel plug after said hydrogel plug has been manufactured; whereby at least one air-filled cavity is formed in said hydrogel plug. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A method for facilitating ultrasound viewing of a hyperechoic material disposed within tissue, comprising the step of:
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selecting at least one hyperechoic material from a group of hyperechoic materials including permanent and temporary, biodegradable materials; positioning said at least one hyperechoic material adjacent a hypoechoic material so that the hypoechoic material is near the at least one hyperechoic material and therefore identifies the location of the at least one hyperechoic material.
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Specification