Absorbable sponge with contrasting agent

Abstract

An absorbable sponge containing a contrasting agent (e.g, radiopaque agent) that can be introduced to a biopsy tract or other puncture wound site is provided. The contrasting agent permits identification of the site by fluoroscopy or other imaging techniques.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for marking a bodily site in a patient comprising the steps of: 
 identifying the bodily site; and    positioning a pledget of absorbable sponge material adjacent the bodily site wherein the absorbable sponge material includes a contrasting agent.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the contrasting agent is water insoluble.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the contrasting agent is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tantalum oxide, barium sulfate, gold, tungsten, and platinum and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the contrasting agent is water soluble.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the contrasting agent is selected from the group consisting of metrizamide, iopamidol, iothalamate sodium, iodomide sodium, and meglumine and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sponge material comprises a gelatin based sponge.  
     
     
         7 . The method for performing a biopsy comprising the steps of: 
 removing tissue from a vascular tissue site; and    positioning a pledget of absorbable sponge material adjacent the vascular tissue site wherein the absorbable sponge material includes a contrasting agent.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the contrasting agent is water insoluble.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the contrasting agent is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tantalum oxide, barium, sulfate, gold, tungsten, and platinum and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the contrasting agent is water soluble.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the contrasting agent is selected from the group consisting of metrizamide, iopamidol, iothalamate sodium, iodomide sodium, and meglumine and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A liquid permeable, absorbable gelatin sponge that is prepared by a process that comprises the steps of: 
 (a) preparing an aqueous gelatin solution;    (b) adding an organic solvent in the aqueous gelatin solution to form a second solution;    (c) incubating the second solution;    (d) forming a foam from the second solution wherein a contrasting agent is added to the second solution at any step prior to forming the foam; and    (e) drying the foam.    
     
     
         13 . The gelatin sponge of  claim 12  wherein step (d) comprises whipping the second solution until a foam is produced.