# US 11,896,444 B2 · Tissue marking device and method of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,444 B2 - Document ID: US11896444B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/207,471 - Filed: 2021-03-19 - Published: 2021-09-30 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-13 - Assignees: DFC Medical LLC - Applicants: DFC Medical LLC - Inventors: Linda Henderson; James Robert Henderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896444B2 ## CPC - A61B 90/39: {Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers} - A61B 2090/3908: {Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue} - A61B 2090/3937: {Visible markers} - A61B 2090/3983: {Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery} - A61B 2090/3987: {Applicators for implanting markers} - A61B 2090/3991: {having specific anchoring means to fixate the marker to the tissue, e.g. hooks} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A tissue marking device enables the deployment of a hook to mark a location within a breast. The deployment is performed by inserting a needle in tissue until it arrives at a target location and pressing on the end of a rod that embeds the hook in the tissue. A thread is attached to the hook and is left exposed to facilitate locating the hook. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tissue marking device for marking a targeted tissue in a breast of a patient, the device comprising: a thread of flexible construction rigidly attached to a hook, the thread having at least one marking band rigidly attached thereto and elevated from a central axis thereof and the hook having at least one marking band rigidly attached thereto and elevated from a central axis thereof; and a tool for positioning the hook in the targeted tissue of a breast, the tool comprising: a needle comprising a body defining a first tube, the first tube having an open first end and an open second end; a rod comprising a second tube having an open first end and an open second end, wherein the rod is configured to pass through the first tube of the needle while the thread extends through the second tube of the rod out the open first end of the rod and the open first end of the needle, wherein the rod is configured to extend the hook into a patient's skin into the targeted tissue, and wherein the needle and the rod are each configured to be removed from the patient's skin leaving the thread protruding from the patient's skin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the tool rod comprises: an elbow portion at a first end, wherein the elbow portion is configured to stop movement of the rod in the needle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the rod comprises a rubber stopper at a first end, wherein the rubber stopper is configured to stop movement of the rod in the needle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the rod comprises a plastic stopper at a first end, wherein the plastic stopper is configured to stop movement of the rod in the needle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one marking band rigidly attached to the hook is configured to visually communicate a set distance to facilitate measurement of the targeted tissue. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one marking band rigidly attached to the hook is further configured to tactilely communicate a set distance to facilitate measurement of the targeted tissue. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one marking band rigidly attached to the thread is configured to visually communicate a set distance to facilitate measurement of the targeted tissue. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the at least one marking band rigidly attached to the thread is further configured to tactilely communicate a set distance to facilitate measurement of the targeted tissue. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method of marking a targeted tissue in a breast of a patient, the method comprising: inserting the device of claim 1 in the breast of the patient such that the hook is near the targeted tissue; pressing the rod to extend the hook past the needle and embed the needle in the targeted tissue; and removing the needle and the rod from the breast. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: leaving the thread exposed from the patient's skin. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: securing the thread to the patient's skin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the inserting, pressing, and removing steps are performed at a first time, the method further comprising: having the patient return at a second time, after the first time, for a surgery. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the rod comprises an elbow portion at a first end, wherein the elbow portion is configured to stop movement of the rod in the needle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the rod comprises a rubber stopper at a first end, wherein the rubber stopper is configured to stop movement of the rod in the needle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the rod comprises a plastic stopper at a first end, wherein the plastic stopper is configured to stop movement of the rod in the needle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one marking band rigidly attached to the hook is configured to visually communicate a set distance to facilitate measurement of the targeted tissue. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one marking band rigidly attached to the hook is further configured to tactilely communicate a set distance to facilitate measurement of the targeted tissue. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one marking band rigidly attached to the thread is configured to visually communicate a set distance to facilitate measurement of the targeted tissue. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one marking band rigidly attached to the thread is further configured to tactilely communicate a set distance to facilitate measurement of the targeted tissue.