Patent ID: 8328710
Filing Date: 2012-12-11
Classification: A61B,A61M,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for maintaining access to a breast biopsy cavity at an intracorporeal location in a patient's breast tissue following removal of a cancerous lesion, comprising: a. providing a catheter having an elongate shaft, a proximal shaft section, a distal shaft section, and a cavity filling member on the distal shaft section configured to at least partially fill the breast biopsy cavity; b. inserting the catheter through an opening in the patient's breast skin and advancing the catheter through a biopsy channel within the breast tissue until the cavity filling member on the distal shaft section of the catheter is disposed in the breast biopsy cavity; c. detaching the proximal shaft section from the distal shaft section with the distal shaft section remaining under the breast skin; and d. closing the opening in the patient's breast skin so as to prevent pathogen access therethrough, while the distal shaft section maintains subcutaneous access to the breast biopsy cavity via the biopsy channel.