Patent ID: 8170648
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of implanting and removing a localizing wire having a reconfigurable anchor into a tissue mass, comprising: providing the reconfigurable anchor by contacting a distal end of the localizing wire with an intermediate portion of the localizing wire to define a geometric enclosure, the reconfigurable anchor having a release configuration wherein the geometric enclosure has a first completely bounded area, the reconfigurable anchor having an anchoring configuration wherein the geometric enclosure has a second completely bounded area, and wherein the first completely bounded area is smaller than the second completely bounded area; inserting the reconfigurable anchor of the localizing wire into the tissue mass, the geometric enclosure of the reconfigurable anchor having a changeable shape such that the reconfigurable anchor displaces but does not puncture the tissue mass when the reconfigurable anchor changes from the release configuration to the anchoring configuration; configuring the reconfigurable anchor into the anchoring configuration where the reconfigurable anchor anchors the localizing wire in the tissue mass by displacing the tissue mass without puncturing the tissue mass; reconfiguring the reconfigurable anchor from the anchoring configuration to the release configuration, where the anchor does not anchor the localizing wire in the tissue mass; and withdrawing the localizing wire with the reconfigurable anchor in the release configuration from the tissue mass.