Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-11
2003-11-25
Jaworski, Francis J. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C600S439000, C600S458000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06654629
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to biomarkers, and more particularly to an implantable biomarker that can be used as part of an image guided system that utilizes ultrasound imaging techniques.
2. Description of Related Art
The first class of prior art biomarkers include materials that have different ultrasound reflective properties and only remain in the body temporarily, eventually being reabsorbed by the body. An example of this technology is shown in Burbank et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,034, assigned to SENOREX®, that teaches detectable markers that may be introduced by a cavity created by removal of a biopsy specimen to mark the location of the biopsy site so that it may be located in a subsequent medical/surgical procedure. The marker preferably includes gasses, saline solutions, or similar materials. The markers remain present in sufficient quantity to permit detection and location of the biopsy site at the first time point (e.g., 2 weeks) after introduction but clear from the biopsy site or otherwise not interfere with imaging of tissues adjacent the biopsy site at a second time point several months after introduction.
Unger, U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,408 teaches a substantially homogeneous aqueous suspensions of low density microspheres which are presented as contrast media for imaging the gastrointestinal tract and other body cavities using computed tomography. In one embodiment, the low density microspheres are gas-filled. With computed tomography, the contrast media serve to change the relative density of certain areas within the gastrointestinal tract and other body cavities, and improve the overall diagnostic efficacy of this imaging method.
Unger, U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,381 teaches liposomes suitable as ultrasound contrast agents which contain media of various types including gases, gaseous precursors activated by pH, temperature or pressure, as well as other solid or liquid contrast enhancing agents. Methods of using and synthesizing the ultrasound contrast agents are also disclosed.
Klaveness et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,925, teaches a gas containing, or gas generating, polymer microparticles or microballoons used as a contrast agent in ultrasound imaging.
Scarborough, U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,146 teaches a surgical implant containing a resorbable radiopaque marker that enables the position and/or orientation of the implant to be readily determined by x-ray or other radiographic technique following its surgical implantation into the body. Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,250 teaches a an animal identification system for swine or other livestock which employs an identification implant or pellet consisting of food grade material and imprinted with information to identify the source of the animal and its carcass after slaughter. The pellet is implanted under the hide or skin of the animal for purposes of identification. In the case of swine, the identification pellet is located in the fat layer of the shoulder area underneath its hide or skin. The pellet and the imprinted information consist of food grade material which is capable of being dissolved with the fat layer or disintegrated into cracklings in a rendering process. The pellet remains in the carcass after the animal is slaughtered until its removal to permit identification of the source of the animal. If the pellet is not removed, it is either dissolved with the fat of the animal or disintegrated into cracklings in the rendering process. Installation tools are disclosed for implanting the identification pellet in a horizontal or vertical orientation under the hide or skin of the animal.
Many references utilize metal reference markers that are then observed using x-rays. Example of these devices are as follows:
Kvavle et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,732 describes X-ray techniques that are used to detect early evidence of breast cancer. When such evidence is found, a target is implanted in the suspect area while the patient is being x-rayed. The target has an attached line which leads from the target out through the skin of the patient. A biopsy is made with a cutting tool guided on the line attached to the target, thereby obtaining a biopsy specimen accurately centered on the suspect area.
Liprie, U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,781 teaches a composite source wire for use in treating malignant tumors within a patient's body by localized in vivo radiation with a radioactive source, via a catheter providing a path from a point external to the body to the tumor site. The source wire includes a thin continuous cylindrical flexible elongate stainless steel tube having encased therein a backbone wire running from its proximal end to a point short of its distal end to strengthen and enhance its flexibility, a cylindrical radioactive core adjacent to the distal end in abutting relation to the backbone wire, and a cylindrical plug at the distal end in abutting relation to the other end of the core, with the backbone wire, core and plug being tightly secured within the tube and the tube being securely enclosed about the plug with a tapered tip portion formed at that point. The source wire has an overall diameter sized to permit ease of movement through the catheter in advancement to the tumor site for the radiation treatment and to allow its retraction through the catheter from the point external to the body. The exterior surface of the tube is gold plated from its tip to the far end of the portion overlying the core. The source wire has an extremely small diameter (under 0.7 mm) and is sufficiently flexible that even in high radioactive dose sizes it is capable of passing through very narrow and even kinked catheters, making it useful for treating inoperable tumors such as common bile duct pancreatic cancer.
Hoffinan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,237 describes marker members of radiopaque material in the form of bands each of a different geometric configuration which are sutured to the point at which a surgical graft to a blood vessel is made as in a coronary bypass operation. These ring or other shaped radiopaque members provide markers identifying the exact coronary blood vessel that the graft will lead to, each geometrical shape identifying a different coronary vessel bypassed, thus facilitating bypass graft catherization by identifying the entry point of any specific bypass graft.
Lam et al., 0 679 372 A2 teaches a radiopaque marker associated with a stent which is adapted to be implanted into a body lumen of a patient to maintain the patency thereof and a convenient and accurate method for affixing the radiopaque marker to the stent. The radiopaque marker defining an acceptable profile and capable of facilitating, under fluoroscopy, the identification of the position, diameter and length of a stent without obscuring the lesion being repaired and without impeding the deformation of an expendable stent.
Bahler et al., EP 0 146 699 A1 teaches implants consisting of contrast body and anchoring body fixed positionally secure in the bone with the aid of a structure of the anchoring body and thus form, in the bone, immovable reference points for the measurement of x-ray pictures.
Ellis, U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,255, describes a method and system for correlating accuracy of computer tomography (CT) image resolution. Small radio-opaque markers having a diameter less than one slice width of a CT scan are embedded in the object, such as a bony skeletal member, to be measured, the object is then CT scanned so that the radio-opaque markers appear in at two slices of the scan. The markers are also physically located by detecting them with a sensor, such as a positioning pointer. Also described is one form of marker comprising a tantalum to sphere mounted in a ceramic, preferably alumina, pin.
Jensen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,960 B1, teaches a radiographic marker that is used to indicate a biopsy site and entry path. The marker has an arrow shape configuration with a shaft and a pair of limbs extending from the shaft at an angle of less than abo
Jaworski Francis J.
Karich Eric
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