Patent ID: 11882992
Assignee: VIEW POINT MEDICAL, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A composite marker, comprising:
a gel body having an outer surface, wherein the gel body is at least partially cross-linked to persist in a human body for at least 3 weeks;
a first plurality of sealed ultrasound reflective elements, each sealed ultrasound reflective element respectively comprising a porous particle having a respective outer surface, a respective plurality of cavities and a gas in the plurality of cavities to provide reflectivity of ultrasound imaging signals, wherein each ultrasound reflective element comprises a hydrophobic coating on the respective outer surface thereof that at least temporarily seals respective pores thereof with the gas entrapped therein, the hydrophobic coating comprises a mono-, di-, tri-, or tetra-alkoxysilane; and
at least one radiopaque element carried in or on the gel body, wherein the at least one radiopaque element is not disposed around the outer surface of the gel body,
wherein the first plurality of sealed ultrasound reflective elements with the hydrophobic coating at least on the respective outer surface thereof are carried in a colloidal dispersion in the at least partially cross-linked gel body.