Marker device and method of deploying a cavity marker using a surgical biopsy device

Abstract

A biopsy marker introduction assembly is configured for introduction through a specimen retrieval recess into a probe cutter lumen of a handheld breast biopsy handle. Advancing the cutter causes an extending deployment rod to distally translate within an introducer tube of the introduction assembly, pushing a biopsy marker out of a distal end of the probe at a surgical biopsy site. Thereby, the surgeon is able to position the probe and effect deployment of the marker even if using the other hand to position an imaging device such as an ultrasonic transceiver.

1 . A method of deployment of a biopsy marker at a biopsy surgical site within a body by use of a biopsy device, the method comprising:
 retracting a cutter to expose a cutter lumen of a biopsy probe;   inserting a marker and pusher into the cutter lumen; and   distally advancing the cutter to drive the pusher and thus the marker to cause deployment at the biopsy surgical site.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the cutter lumen communicates with a pneumatic source, the method further comprising:
 insufflating the biopsy surgical site with the pneumatic source.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assembling an introduction device by inserting the marker and pusher into an introducer tube sized for the cutter lumen.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 forming a pneumatic seal between the pusher and the introducer tube, wherein distally advancing the cutter forms a syringe pressure proximally to the pneumatic seal.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 forming a pneumatic seal between the pusher and the introducer tube; and   forming a vacuum assist pressure in a distal portion of the cutter lumen, thereby distally drawing the pusher to deploy the marker.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising sizing a thickness of the introducer tube to enable advancing the cutter into the cutter lumen with the introduction assembly inserted therein, wherein distally advancing the cutter comprises distally advancing the cutter into the cutter lumen. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising sizing a thickness of the introducer tube to enable advancing the cutter into the cutter lumen with the introduction assembly inserted therein, wherein distally advancing the cutter comprises distally advancing the cutter into the cutter lumen. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising proximally extending the pusher from the cutter lumen wherein distally advancing the cutter deploys the marker as the cutter approaches the cutter lumen. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising distally advancing the cutter to position the pusher across a distal lateral opening in the biopsy probe enabling retraction of the biopsy probe without disturbing the deployed marker. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising distally advancing the cutter to position the pusher across a distal lateral opening in the biopsy probe enabling retraction of the biopsy probe without disturbing the deployed marker. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising percutaneously deploying the marker during a core needle biopsy procedure. 
     
     
         12 . A device for deploying a biopsy marker through a biopsy instrument having a probe defining a cutter lumen including a distal opening and an accessible proximal opening and a cutter translatable through the cutter lumen, the device comprising:
 a tube configured to be received in the cutter lumen and having a lateral distal opening;   a marker slidingly received in the tube; and   a pusher proximal to the marker and slidingly received in the tube, and having a proximal extension configured for abutment with the cutter to deploy the marker through the lateral distal opening.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising a proximal collar attached proximally to the tube and configured for manipulating the device into the cutter lumen. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising an alignment feature configured to rotationally orient the tube in the cutter lumen. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising a pneumatic sealing feature dynamically sealing the pusher to the tube. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the tube distally includes a deployment opening, the device further comprising a removable sealing tip engageable over the deployment opening. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the distal opening includes a ramped surface to rampingly eject a distal end of the marker. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the pusher distally terminates in a driving surface for rampingly ejecting a proximal end of the marker. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the tube and pusher comprise a resilient material for flexibly inserting the device into the biopsy instrument. 
     
     
         20 . A biopsy system for obtaining a biopsy sample, the biopsy system comprising:
 a core biopsy probe including a cutter lumen that communicates between a distal opening and an accessible proximal opening;   a biopsy handle having an actuator for cutting the biopsy sample through the biopsy probe; and   a marker introduction device comprising:
 a tube configured to be received in the cutter lumen and having a lateral distal opening, 
 a marker slidingly received in the tube, and 
 a pusher proximal to the marker and slidingly received in the tube, and having a proximal extension configured for abutment with the cutter to deploy the marker through the lateral distal opening. 
   
     
     
         21 . The biopsy system of  claim 20 , wherein the pusher is operably configured to dynamically seal to the tube, the biopsy system further comprising a vacuum assist system communicating pneumatically with a distal portion of the probe to assist in marker deployment. 
     
     
         22 . The biopsy system of  claim 21 , wherein the vacuum assist system is operably configured to insufflate a surgical site. 
     
     
         23 . The biopsy system of  claim 21 , wherein the vacuum assist system is operably configured to distally draw the pusher to deploy the marker. 
     
     
         24 . The biopsy system of  claim 20 , wherein the pusher is operably configured to close the distal opening in the biopsy probe subsequent to marker deployment.