Removable localizing wire
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of implanting and removing a localizing wire having a reconfigurable anchor into a tissue mass, comprising:
- providing the reconfigurable anchor by contacting a distal end of the localizing wire with an intermediate portion of the localizing wire to define a geometric enclosure, the reconfigurable anchor having a release configuration wherein the geometric enclosure has a first completely bounded area, the reconfigurable anchor having an anchoring configuration wherein the geometric enclosure has a second completely bounded area, and wherein the first completely bounded area is smaller than the second completely bounded area;
inserting the reconfigurable anchor of the localizing wire into the tissue mass, the geometric enclosure of the reconfigurable anchor having a changeable shape such that the reconfigurable anchor displaces but does not puncture the tissue mass when the reconfigurable anchor changes from the release configuration to the anchoring configuration;
configuring the reconfigurable anchor into the anchoring configuration where the reconfigurable anchor anchors the localizing wire in the tissue mass by displacing the tissue mass without puncturing the tissue mass;
reconfiguring the reconfigurable anchor from the anchoring configuration to the release configuration, where the anchor does not anchor the localizing wire in the tissue mass; and
withdrawing the localizing wire with the reconfigurable anchor in the release configuration from the tissue mass.
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Abstract
A localizing wire includes an anchor portion that can change shape from a collapsed shape to an expanded shape and thereby anchor within a tissue mass. The localizing wire has an exterior portion that can lie flat against the tissue mass. The localizing wire can be repositioned or withdrawn without the need for the reinsertion of an introducer.
128 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of implanting and removing a localizing wire having a reconfigurable anchor into a tissue mass, comprising:
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providing the reconfigurable anchor by contacting a distal end of the localizing wire with an intermediate portion of the localizing wire to define a geometric enclosure, the reconfigurable anchor having a release configuration wherein the geometric enclosure has a first completely bounded area, the reconfigurable anchor having an anchoring configuration wherein the geometric enclosure has a second completely bounded area, and wherein the first completely bounded area is smaller than the second completely bounded area; inserting the reconfigurable anchor of the localizing wire into the tissue mass, the geometric enclosure of the reconfigurable anchor having a changeable shape such that the reconfigurable anchor displaces but does not puncture the tissue mass when the reconfigurable anchor changes from the release configuration to the anchoring configuration; configuring the reconfigurable anchor into the anchoring configuration where the reconfigurable anchor anchors the localizing wire in the tissue mass by displacing the tissue mass without puncturing the tissue mass; reconfiguring the reconfigurable anchor from the anchoring configuration to the release configuration, where the anchor does not anchor the localizing wire in the tissue mass; and withdrawing the localizing wire with the reconfigurable anchor in the release configuration from the tissue mass. - 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 method of marking a lesion in a tissue mass, the method comprising:
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installing a localizing wire into a tube having at least one lumen, the localizing wire comprising a localizing thread and a localizing anchor, the localizing anchor defining a single enclosed perimeter having a collapsed enclosed shape delineating a first completely bounded area in the at least one lumen and an expanded enclosed shape delineating a second completely bounded area greater than the first completely bounded area outside the at least one lumen, the expanded enclosed shape resulting from a change in shape of the single enclosed perimeter from the collapsed enclosed shape; inserting the tube into the tissue; and moving one of the localizing wire and the tube to place the localizing anchor outside the at least one lumen at a first selected location relative to the lesion so that the localizing anchor expands from the first completely bounded area to the second completely bounded area to exert an expansive force against the tissue mass without puncturing the tissue mass. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification