Method of Enhancing Ultrasound Visibility of Hyperechoic Materials

Abstract

A permanent or temporary marker is embedded within a hydrogel plug used in a biopsy procedure to indicate the location of a suspicious lesion so that the marker may be found in a subsequent surgical procedure. A combination of at least one permanent and at least one temporary marker may be used. Inserts of differing sizes and shapes may also be placed into the hydrogel plugs during their manufacturing process and removed from the plugs after the plugs have cured so that air-filled cavities are left in the plug. These cavities are temporary but may be used to augment location of a permanent marker.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for facilitating ultrasound viewing of a hyperechoic material disposed within tissue, comprising the steps of:
 selecting at least one hyperechoic material from a group of hyperechoic materials including permanent and temporary, biodegradable hyperechoic materials;   encapsulating said at least one hyperechoic material within a hypoechoic material so that the hypoechoic material surrounds the at least one hyperechoic material and therefore identifies the location of the at least one hyperechoic material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 employing a hydrogel as said hypoechoic material.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 inserting the at least one hyperechoic material within the hydrogel when the hydrogel is in a non-hydrated state; and   inserting the hydrogel into tissue so that natural moisture of the body hydrates said hydrogel;   whereby the hydrated hydrogel is easily seen under ultrasound; and   whereby the position of the at least one hyperechoic material is indicated by the hydrated hydrogel.   
     
     
         4 . A method for facilitating ultrasound viewing of a hyperechoic material disposed within tissue, comprising the steps of:
 positioning at least one insert having a predetermined size and shape into a hydrogel plug when said hydrogel plug is manufactured;   removing said at least one insert from said hydrogel plug after said hydrogel plug has been manufactured;   whereby at least one air-filled cavity is formed in said hydrogel plug.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of:
 positioning said at least one insert within said hydrogel plug so that said at least one insert is wholly embedded with the hydrogel plug.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of:
 positioning said at least one insert within said hydrogel plug so that said at least one insert is in open communication with an external surface of the hydrogel plug.   
     
     
         7 . A method for facilitating ultrasound viewing of a hyperechoic material disposed within tissue, comprising the step of:
 selecting at least one hyperechoic material from a group of hyperechoic materials including permanent and temporary, biodegradable materials;   positioning said at least one hyperechoic material adjacent a hypoechoic material so that the hypoechoic material is near the at least one hyperechoic material and therefore identifies the location of the at least one hyperechoic material.