Post-biopsy cavity treatment implants and methods
First Claim
1. A method for mapping a lymphatic system following a cavity generating procedure, comprising:
- providing a post-biopsy cavity treatment implant, the implant including a collagenous matrix having a non-uniform cross-linking density that is configured to cause the implant to swell non-uniformly when placed within an aqueous environment, the implant including a dye or a pigment contained therein;
implanting the provided post-biopsy cavity treatment implant into the cavity;
closing the cavity with the post-biopsy cavity treatment implant implanted therein;
causing the dye/pigment to be released from the implant and to propagate through the lymphatic system, and visualizing the propagated dye/pigment in the lymphatic system using a selected visualization mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implant for filling a cavity created by an excisional procedure includes first and second portions. The first portion may include a first collagenous matrix that defines a first selected crosslinking density and the second portion may include a second collagenous matrix that defines a second selected cross-linking density that is different than the first cross-linking density. The first and second cross-linking densities may be selected so as to cause the first and second portions to swell in such a manner that the implant swells into a size and a shape that is similar to the predetermined size and shape of the cavity when the implant is implanted. An aqueous solution may be added to the cavity if the cavity is not sufficiently aqueous to cause the implant to swell.
70 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method for mapping a lymphatic system following a cavity generating procedure, comprising:
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providing a post-biopsy cavity treatment implant, the implant including a collagenous matrix having a non-uniform cross-linking density that is configured to cause the implant to swell non-uniformly when placed within an aqueous environment, the implant including a dye or a pigment contained therein; implanting the provided post-biopsy cavity treatment implant into the cavity; closing the cavity with the post-biopsy cavity treatment implant implanted therein; causing the dye/pigment to be released from the implant and to propagate through the lymphatic system, and visualizing the propagated dye/pigment in the lymphatic system using a selected visualization mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification