Devices and methods for performing procedures on a breast
AssigneeEncapsule Medical, LLC
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.
Claims24
A method of positioning a needle in a patient's breast for a medical procedure, comprising the steps of:
- providing a needle having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being movable between a rigid condition and a flexible condition which may be selected by a user;
- positioning the distal portion in a patient's breast with the proximal portion remaining outside the breast, the distal portion being in the rigid condition for facilitating introduction into the patient's breast;
- changing the proximal portion from the rigid condition to the flexible condition after the positioning step;
- and
- performing a medical procedure on the patient's breast.
A needle for marking a patient's breast when performing a medical procedure on the patient, comprising:
- a distal portion having an elongate, rigid shaft;
- and
- a proximal portion coupled to the distal portion, the proximal portion being selectively movable between a rigid condition and a flexible condition, wherein the proximal portion is in the rigid condition during introduction into a patient's breast and is movable to the flexible condition after introduction into the breast.
24-54. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.