Biopsy Site Marker With Wireless-Powered Vibration Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for marking biopsy sites, such as wire localization and ultrasound/x-ray technology, can be inconvenient, uncomfortable, or limited by equipment needs and tissue attributes, making it challenging to accurately relocate biopsy sites for subsequent surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A biopsy site marker that includes a bioabsorbable carrier with a marker element and a locator, which emits vibrations or other signals to enhance localization under ultrasound or x-ray guidance, anchored by a coiled structure and optionally powered by ultrasonic radiation or body energy, facilitating precise site marking and relocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wire localization methods are used to mark biopsy sites, then the biopsy site can be pinpointed, but the patient experiences discomfort and inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the protruding wire component from the final marker configuration. The marker is inserted through the skin during biopsy but the wire is retracted or removed afterward, leaving only a small portion visible or completely internalized. This extracts the harmful protruding element while preserving the localization function through alternative means such as imaging-visible marker materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces imaging technology (ultrasound, MRI, or x-ray) as an intermediary to locate the marker. Instead of directly visualizing a protruding wire, the system uses imaging fields to detect the marker's position. This mediator allows accurate localization without requiring the marker to physically protrude from the skin.
2Measurement precision
If ultrasound or x-ray technology is used to locate markers, then biopsy sites can be identified, but additional equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The marker is designed to be multi-functional by incorporating materials that respond to multiple imaging modalities (ultrasound, MRI, and/or x-ray). This universal design allows the same marker to be detected by different imaging systems, reducing the need for specialized equipment and making the system more versatile across different clinical settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The marker itself contains inherent imaging properties (such as echogenicity for ultrasound, contrast characteristics for MRI, or radiopacity for x-ray) that enable it to be self-detected by standard imaging equipment. The marker serves its own localization function without requiring external active components or complex positioning systems.
3Measurement precision
If markers are placed at biopsy sites, then site relocation is facilitated, but the markers must remain visible over time
Solution Approach 1:
The marker employs composite materials that combine different functional properties: biocompatible and biodegradable carrier materials (such as polymers or hydrogels) combined with imaging-visible components (such as radiopaque particles, echogenic structures, or MRI-visible materials). This composite structure allows the marker to maintain visibility through imaging modalities while the biodegradable portion gradually integrates with or dissolves in the surrounding tissue over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The marker's physical and chemical parameters are designed to change over time in a controlled manner. The biodegradable materials gradually degrade, changing the marker's size, composition, and mechanical properties, while the imaging-visible characteristics are maintained throughout the degradation process. This parameter change allows the marker to remain detectable by imaging systems even as it integrates with the tissue.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The marker provides enhanced visibility and localization of biopsy sites, ensuring accurate relocation over time, reducing patient discomfort and equipment reliance, and enabling efficient surgical planning.
Implementation Method 1
the locator being configured to emit vibrations in response to ultrasonic radiation
Implementation Method 2
a locator, the locator being configured to emit vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
A biopsy site marker includes a carrier, a marker element, and a locator. At least a portion of the marker element is disposed within a portion of the carrier. The locator is configured to emit vibrations into tissue proximate the biopsy site marker.