Patent ID: 7819820
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A marking apparatus for the percutaneous placement of an imaging marker at a predetermined location in a tissue mass to facilitate subsequent determination of the predetermined location, the marking apparatus comprising: a self-contained marking device including: a handle to be grasped by a user; a cannula comprising: a plunger mounted to a stylet, the stylet having a distal end and being slidably received within the lumen for movement between a ready position, where the distal end of the stylet is spaced inwardly from the self-piercing tip to form a marker recess that is in communication with the lateral opening and that is sized to receive an imaging marker, and an expelled position, where the distal end of the stylet is advanced a sufficient distance into the marker recess to expel a marker contained therein through the lateral opening; wherein the cannula includes a ramp adapted to guide an imaging marker advanced by the distal end of the stylet through the lateral opening and wherein the distal end of the stylet moves laterally along the ramp to substantially close off the lateral opening when the stylet is advanced after the distal end of the stylet contacts the ramp, and wherein the distal end of the stylet is beveled such that an angled surface of the beveled stylet substantially closes the lateral opening in the cannula when the stylet is in an expelled position to expel the marker.