Patent ID: 7263159

Claim:
A non-toxic marker for mammographic examination of breast tissue that may anatomical detail present in the tissue, wherein a source of x-ray radiation is provided for generating radiation at a predetermined energy level suitable for imaging breast tissue, the marker is positioned on the breast tissue, and the marker and breast tissue are exposed to the x-ray radiation at the predetermined energy level to generate a radiographic image of the tissue having the shadow of the marker superimposed thereon, the marker comprising: a first outer surface for contacting a patient's breast tissue; a second outer surface located on an opposite side of the marker relative to the first outer surface; and at least one non-toxic partially radiolucent, partially radiopaque material located therebetween, said at least one non-toxic partially radiolucednt, partially radiopaque material defining a density and thickness based on a density of breast tissue and the predetermined energy level of the radiation provided which absorbs from about 20% to about 75% of the incident radiation and, in turn, generates a radiographic image of the tissue having the shadow of the marker superimposed thereon with any anatomical detail present in the tissue clearly visible through the radiographic shadow projected by the maker.