Tissue site markers for in vivo imaging
First Claim
1. An intracorporeal site marker for marking a selected site within tissue of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising an ultrasound detectable body having a multi-planar surface contour which includes a plurality of distinct recessed planar surface portions that define a plurality of exposed recessed exterior boundaries having a high contrast in acoustical impedance when the marker is placed in tissue of the selected site, so as to reflect ultrasound during ultrasound imaging, and which is recognizably artificial when the marker is subject to ultrasound or X-ray imaging, so as to be readily distinguishable from biological features within the tissue site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intracorporeal site marker has high ultrasound reflectivity, presents a substantial acoustic signature from a small marker, so as to avoid obscuring diagnostic tissue features in subsequent imaging studies, and can be readily distinguished from biological features. The biopsy site marker may include features to fix the marker to the biopsy site so as to resist migration from the biopsy cavity.
537 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. An intracorporeal site marker for marking a selected site within tissue of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising an ultrasound detectable body having a multi-planar surface contour which includes a plurality of distinct recessed planar surface portions that define a plurality of exposed recessed exterior boundaries having a high contrast in acoustical impedance when the marker is placed in tissue of the selected site, so as to reflect ultrasound during ultrasound imaging, and which is recognizably artificial when the marker is subject to ultrasound or X-ray imaging, so as to be readily distinguishable from biological features within the tissue site.
- 8. An intracorporeal site marker for marking a selected site within tissue of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising an ultrasound detectable body having a multi-planar surface contour which includes a plurality of distinct recessed planar surface portions that culminate at a recessed apex, the multi-planar surface contour being configured to define a plurality of boundaries having a high contrast in acoustical impedance when the marker is placed in tissue of the selected site, so as to reflect ultrasound during ultrasound imaging, and which is recognizably artificial when the marker is subject to ultrasound or X-ray imaging, so as to be readily distinguishable from biological features within the tissue site, and, an encapsulation portion that surrounds the entirety of the ultrasound detectable body.
- 11. An intracorporeal site marker for marking a selected site within tissue of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising an ultrasound detectable body having at least one multi-planar surface contour which includes a plurality of distinct recessed planar surface portions that culminate at a recessed apex, the multi-planar surface contour being configured to define a plurality of boundaries having a high contrast in acoustical impedance when the marker is placed in tissue of the selected site, so as to reflect ultrasound during ultrasound imaging, and which is recognizably artificial when the marker is subject to ultrasound or X-ray imaging, so as to be readily distinguishable from biological features within the tissue site, and, an encapsulation portion that surrounds only a portion of the ultrasound detectable body.
- 14. An intracorporeal site marker for marking a selected site within tissue of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising an ultrasound detectable body having a multi-planar surface contour that is X-shaped along a longitudinal axis and which includes a plurality of distinct recessed planar surface portions that culminate at a recessed apex adjacent the longitudinal axis, the multi-planar surface contour being configured to define a plurality of boundaries having a high contrast in acoustical impedance when the marker is placed in tissue of the selected site, so as to reflect ultrasound during ultrasound imaging, and which is recognizably artificial when the marker is subject to ultrasound or X-ray imaging, so as to be readily distinguishable from biological features within the tissue site.
Specification