Patent ID: 6234177
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for locating a marker in a void of body tissue created by a biopsy, the apparatus comprising:a needle having an axial lumen defined by a side wall of the needle, a proximal opening and an aperture in the side wall extending into the lumen near a distal end of the needle;a resilient imaging marker, the imaging marker being adapted to be self-biased to an expanded state in the void of body tissue and compactable to compacted state, the marker in the compacted state residing in the lumen; anda plunger having a leading end residing in the axial lumen of the needle, the plunger being axially advancable within the lumen between a deploying position and a deployed position, the leading end positioning the marker at the aperture in the deployed position, whereat the marker self biases to an expanded state extending out of the aperture and into the void of body tissue.