The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 17, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 16, 2000
Bryan T. Burney, Fishers, IN (US);
Michael E. Miller, Trafalgar, IN (US);
Joseph L. Mark, Indianpolis, IN (US);
EMX, Inc., Franklin, IN (US);
Abstract
A biopsy-marking assembly for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site in a patient and marking the biopsy site is provided. The biopsy marking assembly includes a biopsy device and a marking element for marking the biopsy site. In preferred embodiments, the marking assembly is configured so that the marking element is deposited at the biopsy site before the tissue sample is taken. In some embodiments, the marker element is a V-shaped rod including two legs and a joint between the two legs. In some embodiments, the biopsy device includes an outer hollow needle defining a lumen therethrough and an inner needle slidingly engaged within the lumen. The inner needle defines a marker chamber for carrying the marker element for delivery to the biopsy site, and a cavity for receiving a tissue sample. Methods are also provided for obtaining a biopsy sample and marking the biopsy site. The methods include loading a marker element into a biopsy device to obtain a biopsy-marker assembly, inserting the biopsy-marker assembly into a patient, depositing the marker element in the biopsy site and then obtaining a biopsy sample.