Devices for defining and marking tissue

• US 7,044,957 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Devicor Medical Products Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Burbank, Fred H., Ritchart, Mark A., Foerster, Seth A., Zerhouni, Elias A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anhtuan T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baxter, Jessica R.
• Application Number:
  US09/776,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20010034528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 606181-185, 606/167, 606/116, 606/117, 600/562, 600/564, 600/431, 600/407, 600/420
• US Class Current: 606/185
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0275 with sample notch, e.g. on the side of inner stylet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3908 Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3987 Applicators for implanting markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4501 Quick connect or release [e.g., spring and detent]

Abstract

In order to later identify the location of a biopsy or surgery, various means and methods for permanently and non-surgically marking selected tissue in the human body are used. Later visualization of the markers is readily accomplished using state-of-the-art imaging systems.

Claims

1. A marker instrument comprising:

a cube comprising;

a lumen;

an axial opening at a proximal end of said tube;

a closed tip at a distal end of said tube;

a side exit port proximal to said closed tip; and

a plurality of marker elements disposed in said lumen;

wherein said plurality of marker elements includes at least one radiopaque marker element, and wherein at least one marker has a shape different from that of at least one other marker.

2. A marker instrument, according to claim 1 wherein at least one marker comprises a metal.

3. A marker instrument according to claim 1 wherein at least one marker comprises non-metallic material.

4. A marker instrument according to claim 1 wherein at least one marker has a size different from that of at least one other marker.

5. A device for deploying a tissue marker at a biopsy site, the device comprising:

a lube comprising;

a lumen; and

a side exit port communicating with said lumen;

a plurality of tissue markers disposed in said lumen proximal of said side exit port;

an element slidably disposed in said lumen for pushing said markers distally in said lumen for deployment of said markers through said side exit port;

wherein at least one of said markers is visible using an imaging system, and wherein at least one marker has a size different from that of at least one other marker.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein at least one of said markers is radiopaque.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the device is adapted to be inserted through an outer piercing needle of a biopsy instrument.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein at least one of said markers comprises stainless steel.

9. The device of claim 5 wherein said tissue markers are disposed end to end in said lumen.

10. The device of claim 5 wherein at least one marker has a shape different from that of at least one other marker.

11. The device of claim 5 wherein said markers are disposed in said lumen such that said markers are deployed one at a time.

12. The device of claim 5 wherein at least one marker comprises a metal.

13. The device of claim 5 wherein at least one marker comprises a non-metallic material.

14. A device for deploying a tissue marker at a biopsy site, the device comprising:

a tube comprising;

a lumen;

a side exit port communicating with said lumen;

a plurality of discrete tissue markers disposed in said lumen, wherein at least one marker has a size different from that of at least one other marker; and

an element disposed in said lumen for pushing said markers distally in said lumen for deployment of said markers through said side exit port.

15. A device for deploying a tissue marker at a biopsy site, the device comprising:

a tube comprising;

a lumen;

a side exit port communicating with said lumen;

a plurality of discrete tissue markers disposed in said lumen, wherein at least one marker has a shape different from that of at least one other marker; and

an element disposed in said lumen for pushing said markers distally in said lumen for deployment of said markers through said side exit port.