Shape memory marker deployment device

A biopsy system configured to position a marker within soft tissue, comprising:

• (a) a push rod;
• (b) an inner cannula assembly including a grip and an inner cannula, the inner cannula extending distally along a longitudinal axis from the grip to an open distal end, the inner cannula having a resilient portion located proximate to the open distal end, the resilient portion defining a channel extending to the open distal end, the resilient portion having a natural configuration and a stressed configuration, the natural configuration corresponding to the resilient portion being deflected from the longitudinal axis, the stressed configuration corresponding to the resilient portion extending generally along the longitudinal axis, the channel being sized to translate the marker through the channel while in the stressed configuration, the push rod being configured to deploy the marker through the open distal end of the inner cannula and through the channel of the resilient portion;
• (c) an outer cannula disposed entirely around the inner cannula and configured to transition the resilient portion of the inner cannula between the natural configuration and the stressed configuration;
• and
• (d) a needle configured to receive the inner cannula and the outer cannula, the needle including a side aperture, the resilient portion being configured to position the open distal end thereof proximate the side aperture when the inner cannula and outer cannula are fully inserted into the needle, the outer cannula including a length to thereby extend a portion of the outer cannula to the side aperture to thereby expose the portion of the outer cannula through the side aperture.

A method of deploying a biopsy marker into soft tissue, the method comprising:

• positioning an outer cannula into a first position relative to an inner cannula;
• and
• moving the inner cannula or the outer cannula to position the outer cannula in a second position relative to the inner cannula such that a resilient portion and a straight portion of the inner cannula protrudes from a distal end of the outer cannula to transition the resilient portion from a stressed straight position to a relaxed curved position;
• loading the biopsy marker into a proximal end of the inner cannula and then actuating a push rod disposed within the inner cannula to deploy the biopsy marker from an open distal end of the inner cannula;
• advancing each of the outer cannula and the inner cannula into a needle having a lateral opening, and
• deploying the biopsy marker through the lateral opening of the needle to thereby position the biopsy marker lateral to each of the inner cannula, the outer cannula, and the needle and into the soft tissue.