US5941890A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable surgical marker
Assignee: Devicor Medical Products Inc
•
Filing: 1998-06-26
•
Granted: 1999-08-24
•
Expires: 2018-06-26
Abstract
Abstract An implantable marker for implantation in tissue of a surgical patient is disclosed. The marker has a base and an elevated bridge. A pair of legs descend from first and second transitions of the bridge. Each leg has a distal tip, a generally straight leg arm adjacent the tip, and a camming marker surface between the transitions of the base and the straight leg arm. The camming marker surfaces extend outwardly from the straight leg arms of the legs. In its open configuration, the first and second straight leg arms of the legs of the marker are generally parallel to each other. In its closed configuration, the first and second straight leg arms converge towards each other, and a marker apex is formed at the distal tips of the legs. The marker is particularly adapted for fixation in tissue to mark the site of a lesion or other abnormal tissue which may be removed during a biopsy procedure, for example a breast biopsy procedure. Advantageously, the camming marker surfaces of the legs of the marker facilitate the ability to form the marker upon pushing the marker distally into the tissue, thus insuring deep penetration of the marker and the grasping of a sufficient amount of tissue to securely fix the marker to the tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 James W. Voegele
- 👤 Michael E. Boehm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61B17/00; A61B17/064; A61B17/0644; A61B17/068; A61B17/0682; A61B2090/3904; A61B2090/3908; A61B2090/3987
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
An implantable marker for implantation in tissue of a surgical patient, said marker comprising: a) a base, said base including an elevated bridge having a top and a pair of top arcuate surfaces separated by said top, said bridge bounded by first and second transitions; b) a first leg descending from said first transition of said base, said first leg including: i) a first distal tip remote from said first transition; ii) a generally straight first leg arm adjacent said first distal tip; and iii) a first camming marker surface between said first transition of said base and said first straight leg arm, said first camming marker surface extending outwardly from said first straight leg arm; c) a second leg descending from said second transition of said base, said second leg including: i) a second distal tip remote from said second transition; ii) a generally straight second leg arm adjacent said second distal tip; and iii) a second camming marker surface between said second transition of said second base and said second straight leg arm, said second camming marker surface extending outwardly from said second straight leg arm; and d) a first reverse cleat protruding from said first camming marker surface and said first transition, and a second reverse cleat protruding from said second camming marker surface and said second transition; wherein said first and second straight leg arms are generally parallel to each other when said marker is in an open configuration, and said first and second straight leg arms gradually converge towards each other from a spaced-apart position adjacent said first and second transitions when said marker is in a closed configuration so as to form a marker apex at said first and second distal tips of said legs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
291 words
An implantable marker for implantation in tissue of a surgical patient, said marker comprising: a) a base, said base including an elevated bridge having a top and a pair of top arcuate surfaces separated by said top, said bridge bounded by first and second transitions; b) a first leg descending from said first transition of said base, said first leg including: i) a first distal tip remote from said first transition; ii) a generally straight first leg arm adjacent said first distal tip; and iii) a first camming marker surface between said first transition of said base and said first straight leg arm, said first camming marker surface extending outwardly from said first straight leg arm; c) a second leg descending from said second transition of said base, said second leg including: i) a second distal tip remote from said second transition; ii) a generally straight second leg arm adjacent said second distal tip; and iii) a second camming marker surface between said second transition of said second base and said second straight leg arm, said second camming marker surface extending outwardly from said second straight leg arm; and d) a first reverse cleat protruding from said first camming marker surface and said first transition, and a second reverse cleat protruding from said second camming marker surface and said second transition; wherein said first and second straight leg arms are generally parallel to each other when said marker is in an open configuration, and said first and second straight leg arms gradually converge towards each other from a spaced-apart position adjacent said first and second transitions when said marker is in a closed configuration so as to form a marker apex at said first and second distal tips of said legs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The implantable marker of claim 1 wherein said marker is symmetrical about a centerline axis drawn parallel to said first and second straight leg arms and taken through the center of said elevated bridge of said base of said marker.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The implantable marker of claim 2 wherein said marker has a diamond-shaped configuration in the closed position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The implantable marker of claim 3 wherein said first and second distal tips of said legs are beveled pointed tips.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The implantable marker of claim 4 wherein said elevated bridge has an arcuate bottom surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The implantable marker of claim 5 wherein said top of said elevated bridge is a generally flat top, and said bridge includes a bridge flexure region of reduced thickness between said flat top and said arcuate bottom surface of said elevated bridge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The implantable marker of claim 6 wherein said first and second reverse cleats are generally triangular in configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The implantable marker of claim 7 wherein said first and second reverse cleats protrude generally parallel to said first and second straight leg arms of said legs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2111404A
Cited
US2347961A
Cited
US2549731A
Cited
US3273562A
Cited
US3150379A
Cited
US3203220A
Cited
US3583663A
Cited
US4080959A
Cited
US4114859A
Cited
US4399810A
Cited
US4407283A
Cited
US4505273A
Cited
US4649151A
Cited
US4586503A
Cited
US4733664A
Cited
US4607638A
Cited
US4787387A
Cited
US4874122A
Cited
US4762260A
Cited
US4983176A
Cited
US5221269A
Cited
US5192270A
Cited
US5147307A
Cited
US5246156A
Cited
US5366479A
Cited
US5240011A
Cited
US5209754A
Cited
US5222975A
Cited
WO1996008208A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-23 | 2003-02-22 | 2003-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-23 | 2007-02-22 | 2007-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-23 | 2011-02-22 | 2011-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |