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:
Aug. 07, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1999
John Fisher, Belleair, FL (US);
Biopsy Sciences, LLC, Clearwater, FL (US);
Abstract
A guide needle for locating the position of a lesion or tumor in soft tissue has an inflatable balloon adjacent its pointed tip so that the position of the guide needle with respect to the lesion or tumor can be determined upon visual inspection of an ultrasound, CT scan, or other imaging technique when the balloon is inflated. A flexible bulbous reservoir positioned near a proximal end of the guide needle contains a saline solution or other suitable contrasting liquid fluid and is in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon through a tube. Squeezing the bulbous reservoir inflates the balloon and releasing the bulbous reservoir deflates the balloon. A clamp attachable to the proximal end of the tube is closed after the bulbous reservoir has been squeezed to lock the balloon into its inflated configuration when the guide needle is properly positioned relative to the lesion or tumor. The inflated balloon indicates the position of the guide needle and also anchors the guide needle into position. A biopsy tool is inserted into the guide needle to harvest samples of tissue from the lesion or tumor.