Devices and methods for performing procedures on a breast
AssigneeRubicor Medical, Inc.
InventorsJames W. VETTER, Scott C. ANDERSON, Jordan S. TUTTLE, Daniel M. BROUNSTEIN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A needle is used to mark a tissue area of interest. The needle may have one or more indicators which indicate selected angular orientations relative to the needle. The indicators may also be coupled to anchors which are deployed in the tissue to anchor the needle in the tissue. The needle may be positioned to guide an excisional device to remove tissue.
Claims27
1-23. (canceled)
A method of positioning a needle in a patient's breast for a medical procedure, comprising the steps of:
- providing a needle having at least one movable indicator for indicating an angular orientation when viewed along a longitudinal axis of the needle, the needle having a distal portion and a proximal portion;
- positioning the distal portion in a patient's breast with the proximal portion remaining outside the breast;
- moving the indicator to a position which provides an indication of a selected angular orientation relative to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- performing a medical procedure using information from the selected angular orientation.
A needle for introduction into a patient's breast, compromising:
- an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a first indicator for indicating an angular orientation when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the first indicator being movable by the user to a selected angular orientation.
A method of excising breast tissue, comprising the steps of:
- providing a guide element and a cutting device, the cutting device having a deploying cutting element mounted on a shaft;
- introducing the guide element into patient's breast;
- advancing the cutting device into the patient's breast, the cutting device being slidably coupled to the guide element so that the guide element guides the cutting device as the cutting device is advanced into the patient's breast;
- deploying a cutting element on the cutting device after the advancing step;
- rotating the shaft so that the cutting element severs breast tissue;
- and
- removing the breast tissue which has been severed by the cutting element.
A system for removing breast tissue, comprising:
- a guide element;
- and
- a cutting device, the cutting device having a deployable cutting element mounted on a shaft, the cutting device being configured to be slidably coupled to the guide element.
49-54. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.