Localization element with energized tip
First Claim
1. A tissue-localizing device comprising:
- a sleeve having a lumen;
an insulating layer at least partially covering an outer surface of said sleeve; and
a locator element at least partially disposed in the lumen of said sleeve in a slidable manner, said locator clement having a distal portion and a distal end, said locator element further having a plurality of electrically conductive surface regions electrically isolated from one another, said locator element further adapted to penetrate tissue so that the distal portion of the locator element forms at least a partial loop that defines a volume of tissue when said locator element is deployed in tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is an improved tissue-localizing device with an electrically energized locator element for fixedly yet removably marking a volume of tissue containing a suspect region for excision. The electrical energizing of the locator element facilitates the penetration of the locator element in to subject'"'"'s tissue and minimizes resistance due to dense or calcified tissues. At least one locator element is deployed into tissue and assumes a predetermined curvilinear shape to define a tissue border containing a suspect tissue region along a path. Multiple locator elements may be deployed to further define the tissue volume along additional paths defining the tissue volume border that do not penetrate the volume. Delivery of electric current may be achieved through monopolar or bipolar electronic configuration depending on design needs. Various energy sources, e.g. radio frequency, microwave or ultrasound, may be implemented in this energized tissue-localizing device.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A tissue-localizing device comprising:
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a sleeve having a lumen; an insulating layer at least partially covering an outer surface of said sleeve; and a locator element at least partially disposed in the lumen of said sleeve in a slidable manner, said locator clement having a distal portion and a distal end, said locator element further having a plurality of electrically conductive surface regions electrically isolated from one another, said locator element further adapted to penetrate tissue so that the distal portion of the locator element forms at least a partial loop that defines a volume of tissue when said locator element is deployed in tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A tissue-localizing device comprising:
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a sleeve having a lumen; an insulating layer at least partially covering an outer surface of said sleeve; and a locator element at least partially disposed in the lumen of said sleeve in a slidable manner, said locator element having a distal portion and a distal end, the distal portion having a plurality of discrete electrically conductive surface regions at or near said distal end, the locator element further adapted to penetrate tissue so that the distal portion of the locator element forms at least a partial loop that defines a volume of tissue when said locator element is deployed in tissue. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A tissue-localizing device comprising:
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a sleeve having an insulating layer at least partially covering an outer surface of said sleeve; and an electrically conductive locator element at least partially disposed in the lumen of said sleeve in a slidable manner, said locator element having a distal portion, the locator element further adapted to penetrate tissue so that the distal portion of the locator element forms at least a partial loop that defines a volume of tissue when said locator element is deployed in tissue. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A tissue-localizing device comprising:
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a sleeve having an electrically conductive region and a lumen, said sleeve further having an insulating layer at least partially covering an outer surface thereof; and a locator element at least partially disposed in the lumen of said sleeve in a slidable manner, said locator element having a distal portion and a distal end, the distal end having a plurality of electrically conductive regions electrically isolated from one another, the locator element further adapted to penetrate tissue so that the distal portion of the locator element forms at least a partial loop that defines a volume of tissue when said locator element is deployed in a mammalian tissue. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A tissue-localizing device comprising:
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a sleeve having a lumen; an insulating layer at least partially covering an outer surface of said sleeve; a locator element at least partially disposed in the lumen of said sleeve in a slidable manner and having a distal portion and a plurality of electrically conductive surface regions electrically isolated from one another, said locator element further adapted to penetrate tissue so that the distal portion of the locator element forms at least a partial loop that defines a volume of tissue when said locator element is deployed in tissue; a power supply capable of generating a RF electric current; an electrically conductive member adapted for connection to tissue; a first electrically conductive path connecting said power supply to said electrically conductive region; and a second electrically conductive path connecting said power supply to said electrically conductive member. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A method of placing a locator element in a mammalian tissue, comprising the steps of:
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a.) penetrating through tissue with a sleeve containing a locator element at least partially disposed in a lumen defined by said sleeve, said sleeve further having an insulating layer at least partially covering an outer surface thereof, said locator element having a distal portion and a distal end, said locator element further having a plurality of electrically conductive surface regions electrically isolated from one another; and b.) advancing said locator element through said sleeve and penetrating the tissue so that the distal portion of the locator element forms at least a partial loop such that said locator element when fully deployed substantially surrounds a volume of tissue. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. A method of placing a locator element in a mammalian tissue, comprising the steps of:
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a.) connecting an electrically conducting pad to a surface on a mammalian body; b.) penetrating through a tissue on said mammalian body with a sleeve containing a locator element at least partially disposed in a lumen defined by said sleeve, said sleeve further having an insulating layer at least partially covering an outer surface thereof, said locator element having a distal portion, the distal portion having an electrically conductive surface region; c.) advancing said locator element through said sleeve and penetrating the tissue so that the distal portion of the locator element forms a partial loop such that said locator element when fully deployed substantially surrounds a volume of tissue next to the sleeve; and d.) energizing said locator element with an electric current while said locator element is being advanced through the tissue.
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45. A method of placing a locator element in a mammalian tissue, comprising the steps of:
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a.) penetrating into a tissue with a sleeve containing a locator element at least partially disposed in a lumen defined by said sleeve, said sleeve further having an insulating layer at least partially covering an outer surface thereof, said locator element having a distal portion, the distal portion further having a plurality of electrically conductive regions, wherein said sleeve further has an electrically conductive region; b.) advancing said locator element through said sleeve and penetrating the tissue so that the distal portion of the locator element forms at least a partial loop such that said locator element when fully deployed substantially surrounds a volume of tissue next to the sleeve; and c.) allowing a current to flow between at least one of said plurality of electrically conductive regions and said electrically conductive region of the sleeve.
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46. A method of placing a locator element in a mammalian tissue, comprising the steps of:
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a.) penetrating through tissue with a sleeve containing a locator element at least partially disposed in a lumen defined by said sleeve, said sleeve further having an insulating layer at least partially covering an outer surface thereof, said locator element having a distal portion, the distal portion having an electrically conductive surface region, said locator element further adapted to penetrate tissue so that the distal portion of the locator element forms at least a partial loop that defines a volume of tissue when said locator element is deployed in tissue; b.) advancing the locator element into the tissue; and c.) applying an alternating current to said electrically conductive region. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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Specification