Ultrasonic and x-ray detectable biopsy site marker and apparatus for applying it
First Claim
1. A marker body which is deliverable to a biopsy site within a patient, comprisinga preshaped pellet formed of bioabsorbable material having a plurality of gas bubbles dispersed therein which are configured to facilitate ultrasonic observation of the pellet at the biopsy site within the patient, and having an X-ray detectable element of specific predetermined non-biological configuration embedded therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A biopsy site marker comprises small bodies or pellets of gelatin which enclose substantially in their interior a radio (X-ray) opaque object. The gelatin pellets are deposited into the biopsy site, typically a cylindrical opening in the tissue created by the recent use of a vacuum assisted large core biopsy device, by an applicator device that includes an elongated cylindrical body that forms a flexible tube and a piston slidable in the tube. One end of the tube is placed into the biopsy site. Typically, several gelatin pellets, only some of which typically do, but all of which may contain the radio opaque object, are deposited sequentially into the site through the tube. The radio opaque objects contained in the gelatin bodies are of a non-biological configuration and readily identifiable as man-made object, so that in observation by typical mammography equipment they do not assume the shape of a line, whereby they are readily distinguishable from granules and lines of calcification.
340 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A marker body which is deliverable to a biopsy site within a patient, comprising
a preshaped pellet formed of bioabsorbable material having a plurality of gas bubbles dispersed therein which are configured to facilitate ultrasonic observation of the pellet at the biopsy site within the patient, and having an X-ray detectable element of specific predetermined non-biological configuration embedded therein.
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13. In combination:
- an applicator tube having an internal lumen, an open end and a closed end and a ramp shaped opening in proximity of the closed end;
a flexible rod dimensioned to fit into and be slidable in the internal lumen, and a plurality of biopsy site markers comprising a body of dehydrated gelatin, and an X-ray detectable element of specific predetermined non-biological configuration embedded in said body of gelatin, said biopsy site markers being enclosed in the internal lumen, from where they can be pushed out with the flexible rod through the ramp-shaped opening into a biopsy site. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- an applicator tube having an internal lumen, an open end and a closed end and a ramp shaped opening in proximity of the closed end;
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23. A marker body which is deliverable to a biopsy site within a patient, comprising:
a preshaped pellet formed of dehydrated bioabsorbable material having a plurality of gas bubbles dispersed therein which are configured to facilitate ultrasonic observation of the pellet at the biopsy site within the patient, and having an X-ray detectable element of specific predetermined non-biological configuration embedded therein.
Specification