Intraoperative tissue treatment methods

An intraoperative tissue treatment method, for use following the removal of target tissue from a target site leaving access to the target site, comprising:

• introducing an expandable element into a void at a target site;
• expanding the expandable element to at least substantially fill the void;
• determining whether adequate target tissue at the target site was removed;
• and
• if the results of the determining step is no, then:
• separating additional tissue, at least partially surrounding the expanded element, from surrounding tissue using a blade which passes about the expanded element;
• and
• removing the additional tissue and the expanded element from the patient.

An intraoperative tissue treatment method, for use following the removal of target tissue from a target site leaving access to the target site, comprising:

• introducing an expandable element into a void at a target site;
• expanding the expandable element to at least substantially fill the void;
• determining whether adequate target tissue at the target site was removed;
• and
• if the results of the determining step is no, then:
• separating additional tissue, at least partially surrounding the expanded element, from surrounding tissue, said additional tissue comprising an inner, at least partially void-defining surface and an outer surface;
• and
• removing the additional tissue and the expanded element from the patient.

An intraoperative tissue treatment method, for use following the removal of target tissue from a target site leaving access to the target site, comprising:

• introducing an expandable element into a void at a target site;
• expanding the expandable element to at least substantially fill the void;
• determining whether adequate target tissue at the target site was removed;
• and
• if the results of the determining step is no, then:
• separating additional tissue, at least partially surrounding the expanded element, from surrounding tissue;
• the separating step comprising extending an expandable and contractible cutting loop at least partially over the expanded element;
• and
• removing the additional tissue and the expanded element from the patient.

An intraoperative tissue treatment method, for use following the removal of target tissue from a target site leaving access to the target site, comprising:

• introducing an expandable element into a void at a target site;
• expanding the expandable element to at least substantially fill the void;
• determining whether adequate target tissue at the target site was removed;
• and
• if the results of the determining step is no, then:
• separating additional tissue, at least partially surrounding the expanded element, from surrounding tissue;
• the separating step comprising extending a tubular mesh cutter, having a radially expandable and contractible distal cutting end, over the expanded element;
• and
• removing the additional tissue and the expanded element from the patient.

An intraoperative tissue treatment method, for use following the removal of target tissue from a target site leaving access to the target site, comprising:

• introducing an expandable element into a void at a target site;
• expanding the expandable element to at least substantially fill the void;
• determining whether adequate target tissue at the target site was removed;
• and
• if the results of the determining step is no, then:
• substantially simultaneously removing additional tissue, at least partially surrounding the expanded element, and the expanded element from the patient.

An intraoperative tissue treatment method, for use following the removal of diseased tissue from a target site within a patient's breast leaving access to the target site, comprising:

• introducing an expandable element into a void at a target site;
• expanding the expandable element to at least substantially fill the void;
• determining whether all diseased tissue at the target site was removed;
• and
• if the results of the determining step is no, then:
• separating a layer of tissue at least substantially surrounding the expanded element so said layer of tissue comprises an inner, a void-defining surface and an outer surface;
• removing the separated layer of tissue, together with the expanded element, from the patient while maintaining said separated layer of tissue in a substantially intact form;
• and
• inspecting the outer surface for evidence of said diseased tissue.

An intraoperative tissue treatment method, for use following the removal of target tissue from a target site leaving a void at the target site, comprising:

• locating a suction inlet of a suction device in fluid communication with a void at the target site;
• withdrawing fluid through the suction inlet thereby at least partially collapsing the tissue defining the void;
• determining whether all target tissue at the target site was removed;
• if the results of the determining step is no, then:
• removing at least a portion of the collapsed tissue from the patient.

An intraoperative tissue treatment method, for use following the removal of target tissue from a target site leaving a void at the target site, comprising:

• positioning a blocking element at a position distal of the target site, the positioning step being carried out with a radially expandable mesh device as the blocking element;
• locating a suction inlet of a suction device in fluid communication with a void at the target site;
• withdrawing fluid through the suction inlet thereby at least partially collapsing the tissue defining the void;
• determining whether all target tissue at the target site was removed;
• if the results of the determining step is no, then:
• removing at least a portion of the collapsed tissue from the patient.

An intraoperative tissue treatment method, for use following the removal of diseased tissue from a target site within a patient's breast leaving a void at the target site, comprising:

• locating a suction inlet of a suction device within a void at the target site;
• positioning a blocking element at a position distal of the target site;
• withdrawing fluid through the suction inlet thereby at least partially collapsing the tissue defining the void;
• determining whether all diseased tissue at the target site was removed with the excised tissue;
• and
• if the results of the determining step is no, then:
• passing a tissue separator through tissue surrounding the target site thereby separating at least a portion of the collapsed tissue, comprising an outer surface, at least partially surrounding the target site from surrounding tissue;
• passing a radially expandable, tubular mesh material between the collapsed tissue portion and the surrounding tissue;
• removing the collapsed tissue portion, the blocking element, the tissue cutter and the tubular mesh material from the patient while maintaining said collapsed tissue portion in a substantially intact form;
• and
• inspecting the outer surface for evidence of said diseased tissue.

An intraoperative tissue treatment method, for use following the removal of tissue from a target site leaving a void at the target site and a sheath at least part way along a passageway from a region external of the patient to a void at a target site, comprising:

• maintaining the sheath at least part way along the passageway from the region external of the patient to the void at the target site;
• passing a generally flexible bag-type implant though the sheath and into the void;
• at least partially filling the void with the implant;
• and
• removing the sheath from the patient.