Diagnostic or therapeutic procedure using implantable targets

Abstract

An implantable device has a body that is substantially rigid and has an imageable shape. The body is further bioabsorbable and may contain permanent metallic elements to aid in its imaging. When the device is implanted in a resected cavity in soft tissue, it can cause the cavity to conform substantially to a known imageable shape. The implantable device is further imageable due to its attenuation properties being different from those of soft tissue such that the boundaries of the tissue corresponding to the predetermined shape can be determined.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 creating a cavity by removing soft tissue through a surgical incision from a location within the body;   inserting into the cavity by an open surgical method a bioabsorbable implant having an open architecture; and   suturing the implant in place within the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is created in a breast. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is created during a lumpectomy procedure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant includes radiopaque marker elements. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant provides an overall volumetric shape. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant is used to determine a target tissue region. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising closing the surgical site. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising imaging the implanted device within the soft tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising planning external radiation to the body based on a position of the implant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising targeting radiation to the body based on a position of the implant. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering radiation to the body based on a position of the implant. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 creating a surgical incision in a breast;   removing a volume of soft tissue of the breast through the surgical incision;   inserting through the open surgical incision a bioabsorbable implant having a plurality of radiopaque markers;   suturing the bioabsorbable implant in place within the breast; and   closing the surgical site.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the volume of soft tissue is removed during a lumpectomy procedure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising imaging the breast after surgical insertion of the implant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising planning external radiation to the breast based on a position of the bioabsorbable implant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising targeting radiation to the breast based on a position of the bioabsorbable implant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising delivering radiation to the breast based on a position of the bioabsorbable implant. 
     
     
         18 . A method of treatment, comprising:
 creating a cavity in soft tissue in a body;   implanting a plurality of radiopaque markers into the cavity through an incision in the body, the plurality of radiopaque markers coupled to a structure that positions the markers in a spaced-apart array that defines a three dimensional volume associated with at least a known portion of the cavity;   securing the structure in place within the body; and   closing the incision.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the structure is a three dimensional, open architecture, bioabsorbable implant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising imaging the plurality of radiopaque markers.