Imageable biopsy site marker

Abstract

A biopsy site marker having at least one small marker body or pellet of bioresorbable material such as gelatin, collagen, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid which has a radiopaque object, preferably with a non-biological configuration. The at least one bioresorbable body or pellet with a radiopaque object is deposited into the biopsy site, by an delivery device that includes an elongated tubular body with a piston slidable within the tubular body. One end of the tube is placed into the biopsy site. At least one but preferably several marker bodies or pellets are deposited sequentially into the biopsy site through the tube. At least the bioresorbable materials of the detectable markers remain present in sufficient quantity to permit detection and location of the biopsy site at a first time point (e.g., 2 weeks) after introduction but clear from the biopsy site or otherwise do not interfere with imaging of tissues adjacent the biopsy site at a second time point (e.g., 5-7 months) after introduction.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 719,448, filed on Nov. 21, 2003, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 684,124, filed on Oct. 10, 2003, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 001,043, filed on Oct. 31, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,241), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09 / 343,975 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,041), filed on Jun. 30, 1999, and a continuation-in-part application to application Ser. No. 09 / 241,936, filed on Feb. 2, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,034, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is in the field of markers to be employed at biopsy sites to permanently mark the site, and to methods and apparatus for applying the permanent marker. More particularly, the present invention relates to a marker that is optimally adapted for marking biopsy sites in human breast tissue with permanently placed markers tha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a biopsy site marker that can be easily detected and distinguished from other objects using various imaging techniques such as X-ray, CT scan, mammography, and ultrasound. The marker is made of small bodies or pellets of gelatin that enclose a radio (X-ray) opaque object. The gelatin pellets are deposited into the biopsy site and typically do not move or manipulate from the surrounding tissue. The marker can be easily distinguished from granules or lines of calcification that may be present and can be used to mark the biopsy site for future reference. The marker is also detectable by energy emitted by the marker, such as radioactive substances or signals emitted by the marker. The invention also provides a method for placing the biopsy site marker into the biopsy cavity and a combination of imaging, visual, palpation, and emission / detection techniques for the marker.

Problems solved by technology

Proper diagnostic procedures, frequent examination by well known techniques such as “mammography” and prompt subsequent surgical treatment have, however, significantly reduced the mortality rate caused by this form of cancer.

After the biopsy sample is taken, it may take several days or even a week before the results of the examination of the sample are obtained, and still longer before an appropriate treatment decision is reached.

However, due to the consistency of breast tissue and the fact that these biopsy site markers are typically introduced while the breast is still compressed between the mammography plates, these biopsy markers of the prior art may become attached to adjacent bands of connective tissue that do not remain at the specific location of the biopsy after the breast has been decompressed and removed from the mammography apparatus, and may suffer from additional disadvantages as well.

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