Patent ID: 7670350

Claim:
An improved clip for marking breast tissue of a biopsy site or the site of an aspirated cyst during a radiographic analysis, the clip extending along an axis between a first end and a second end and comprising a metal structure consisting essentially of: a first arc segment having a first end located at the first end of the clip and a second end located at the second end of the clip; a second arc segment having a first end located at the first end of the clip and a second end located at the second end of the clip, the second arc segment being coplanar with the first arc segment; and an apex disposed along the clip axis defining where the first and second arc segments adjoin and converge, wherein, after being driven through an exit opening of a delivery tube of a delivery device, the metal structure penetrates breast tissue, wherein the metal structure is configured so that (i) it resides entirely within the delivery tube prior to being driven through the exit opening, (ii) it deploys through the exit opening of the delivery device, and (iii) in both an original pre-deployment state and a post-deployment state: the first ends of the first and second arc segments project in a direction outward relative to the clip axis, and the second ends of the first and second arc segments project in a direction outward relative to the clip axis, while residing within the delivery tube, the first ends of the first and second arc segments project in a direction generally away from the second ends of the first and second arc segments; (iv) while it resides within the delivery tube prior to being driven through the exit opening, and after being driven through the exit opening the first and second arc segments are arcuate; and (v) the first ends and the second ends of the first and second arc segments penetrate breast tissue after being driven through the exit opening of the delivery tube, the clip does not form a spiral configuration, and thereby substantially prevent migration of the deployed clip within the breast.