System and method for percutaneous deployment of sensors

A system for tracking the location of a tissue mass located within an anatomical structure in the body of a patient, the system comprising:

• diagnostic images to track the location of the tissue mass and a virtual model;
• a deployment system comprising:
• an outer cannula comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and an outer cannula lumen extending therebetween;
• a needle cannula comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a needle cannula lumen extending therebetween, the needle cannula being sized to be slidably received within the outer cannula lumen;
• a pusher comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the pusher being slidably received within the needle cannula;
• a J-bar and electrical lead assembly comprising:
• a fiducial sensor comprising at least one mount for mounting the fiducial sensor to tissue, wherein the fiducial sensor is configured to assume (i) a radially-reduced profile when the fiducial sensor is radially constricted, and (ii) a radially-expanded profile when the fiducial sensor is not radially constricted;
• an expandable basket configured to assume (i) a radially-reduced profile when the expandable basket is radially constricted, and (ii) a radially-expanded profile when the expandable basket is not radially constricted;
• an electrical lead configured to extend between the fiducial sensor and the expandable basket to electrically connect the fiducial sensor to the expandable basket;
• at least one connector mounted to the expandable basket in electrical communication with the electrical lead, such that electrical power supplied to the at least one connector powers the fiducial sensor;
• wherein the J-bar and electrical lead assembly is disposed within the needle cannula lumen such that the fiducial sensor is disposed proximal to the distal end of the needle cannula, the expandable basket is disposed proximal to the fiducial sensor, and the electrical lead is disposed intermediate the fiducial sensor and the expandable basket;
• wherein the pusher is disposed within the needle cannula lumen such that the distal end of the pusher is disposed proximal to the expandable basket;
• and
• wherein the needle cannula is disposed within the outer cannula lumen to be selectively movable relative thereto.

A method for tracking the location of a tissue mass located within an anatomical structure in the body of a patient, the method comprising:

• tracking the location of the tissue mass based on diagnostic images and a virtual model;
• providing a system comprising:
• a deployment system comprising:
• an outer cannula comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and an outer cannula lumen extending therebetween;
• a needle cannula comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a needle cannula lumen extending therebetween, the needle cannula being sized to be slidably received within the outer cannula lumen;
• a pusher comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the pusher being slidably received within the needle cannula;
• a J-bar and electrical lead assembly comprising:
• a fiducial sensor comprising at least one mount for mounting the fiducial sensor to tissue, wherein the fiducial sensor is configured to assume (i) a radially-reduced profile when the fiducial sensor is radially constricted, and (ii) a radially-expanded profile when the fiducial sensor is not radially constricted;
• an expandable basket configured to assume (i) a radially-reduced profile when the expandable basket is radially constricted, and (ii) a radially-expanded profile when the expandable basket is not radially constricted;
• an electrical lead configured to extend between the fiducial sensor and the expandable basket to electrically connect the fiducial sensor to the expandable basket;
• at least one connector mounted to the expandable basket in electrical communication with the electrical lead, such that electrical power supplied to the at least one connector powers the fiducial sensor;
• disposing the J-bar and electrical lead assembly within the needle cannula lumen such that the fiducial sensor is disposed proximal to the distal end of the needle cannula, the expandable basket is disposed proximal to the fiducial sensor, and the electrical lead is disposed intermediate the fiducial sensor and the expandable basket;
• disposing the pusher within the needle cannula lumen such that the distal end of the pusher is disposed proximal to the expandable basket;
• disposing the needle cannula within the outer cannula lumen;
• inserting the outer cannula into the anatomy of the patient until the distal end of the outer cannula is disposed against an outer surface of the anatomical structure;
• moving the needle cannula distally relative to the outer cannula such that the needle cannula enters into the anatomical structure and moves distally to the location of the tissue mass,
• applying a distally-directed force against the expandable basket using the pusher so that the J-bar and electrical lead assembly disposed within the needle cannula lumen moves distally, and/or applying a distally-directed force against the J-bar and electrical lead assembly using the pusher while moving the needle cannula proximally so that the position of the J-bar and electrical lead assembly is maintained while the needle cannula is withdrawn proximally, until the fiducial sensor is not constrained by the needle cannula, such that the fiducial sensor assumes the radially-expanded profile at a location proximate to the tissue mass, and such that the at least one mount anchors the fiducial sensor in the anatomical structure;
• moving the outer cannula and needle cannula proximally in concert, whereby to move the expandable basket proximally, until the distal end of the outer cannula and the distal end of the needle cannula are disposed at the outer surface of the anatomical structure;
• applying a distally-directed force against the expandable basket using the pusher so that the expandable basket disposed within the needle cannula lumen moves distally, and/or applying a distally-directed force against the expandable basket using the pusher while moving the needle cannula and outer cannula proximally so that the position of the expandable basket is maintained while the needle cannula and outer cannula are withdrawn proximally, until the expandable basket is not constrained by the needle cannula or the outer cannula, such that the expandable basket assumes the radially-expanded profile at the outer surface of the anatomical structure, and such that the electrical lead extends between the fiducial sensor and the expandable basket.