Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for marking tissue location

US5879357A · kind A · utility

256Cited by
38References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 10, 1997
Grant dateMar 9, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 10, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2090/3987
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A surgical apparatus for marking a location within tissue which includes (i) a needle including a housing and an elongated tube having a sharp distal end, (ii) an elongated cable configured and dimensioned to pass through a longitudinal passageway formed through the needle, (iii) an elongated tissue marker attached adjacent a distal end of the elongated cable such that the elongated marker is movable between a retracted orientation and a deployed orientation, and (iv) an actuator assembly operatively associated with the elongated marker, wherein movement of the actuator assembly from a first position to a second position moves the elongated marker from the retracted position to the deployed position. A method of marking a particular location in body tissue is also provided, which includes the steps of (i) inserting an apparatus into a section of body tissue, (ii) deploying an elongated marker having an elongated cable attached thereto from the apparatus into the tissue, (iii) retaining the elongated cable relative the distal end of the apparatus, and (iv) moving the elongated marker into an orientation substantially perpendicular to the elongated cable.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.