Fiducial markers and related methods
AssigneeSolstice Corporation
InventorsDanforth S. DeSena, Peter Caravan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In part, the invention relates to fiduciary markers suitable for affixing to a patient that are detectable with respect an imaging modality such as MRI and methods of making the same. The markers include a paramagnetic material disposed therein that generates a distinguishable signal relative to a patient or other biological sample of interest during an imaging data collection session. Further, the markers demonstrate desirable signal to noise ratios across two or more MRI data collection procedures in one embodiment. The length of the markers is also adjustable by, for example, cutting or tearing a substrate upon which a substantially fluid-free region straddles a specified separation position on the substrate.
Claims24
A non-invasive fiducial marker comprising:
- a first flexible membrane having a thickness (M);
- an elongate cavity defined by the first flexible membrane having a volume (V);
- and
- an aqueous solution including a concentration of paramagnetic material sufficient to increase a signal to noise ratio of the marker in an image and a substantially radiopaque material, the aqueous solution disposed in and substantially filling the elongate cavity, the aqueous solution filled elongate cavity having an interior three-dimensional shape including a length (L), a width (W), and a height (H), wherein the first flexible membrane comprises a first sealed end and a second sealed end, wherein each of the first sealed end and the second sealed end tapers to a substantially aqueous solution-free region of the first flexible membrane.
A non-invasive fiducial marker comprising:
- a flexible membrane having a thickness (M);
- a cavity defined by the flexible membrane having a volume (V);
- and
- an aqueous solution comprising a substantially radiopaque material and a concentration of paramagnetic material sufficient to increase a signal to noise ratio of the marker in an image, the aqueous solution disposed in and substantially filling the cavity, the aqueous solution filled cavity having an interior three-dimensional shape including a length (L), a width (W), and a height (H), wherein the substantially radiopaque material comprises BaCl2.2H2O, wherein the concentration of BaCl2.2H2O by weight per unit volume ranges from greater than about 0% to less than about 50%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.