Patent Grant
9492570
This invention is directed to subcutaneous cavity and sentinel node marking devices, delivery devices, and methods. More particularly, a cavity marking device, delivery device, and method are disclosed that enable one to determine the location, orientation, and periphery of the cavity by radiographic, mammographic, echographic, or other noninvasive techniques. The cavity marking device typically is made up of one or more resilient bodies and a radiopaque or echogenic marker. Also disclosed are a composition and method for noninvasively locating the sentinel lymph node in a mammalian body to determine if cancerous cells have spread thereto.
Over 1.1 million breast biopsies are performed each year in the United States alone. Of these, about 80% of the lesions excised during biopsy are found to be benign while about 20% of these lesions are malignant.
In the field of breast cancer, stereotactically guided and percutaneous biopsy procedures have increased in frequency as well as in accuracy as modern imaging techniques allow the physician to locate lesions with ever-increasing precision. However, for any given biopsy procedure, a subsequent examination of the biopsy site is very often desirable. There is an important need to determine the location, most notably the center, as well as the orientation and periphery (margins) of the subcutaneous cavity from which the lesion is removed.
For example, in cases where the lesion is found to be benign, a visual, noninvasive follow-up examination of the biopsy site is often performed to ensure the absence of any suspect tissue and the proper healing of the cavity from which the tissue was removed. Such follow-up examination is also performed where the lesion is found to be malignant and the physician is confident that all suspect tissue was removed and the tissue in the region of the perimeter or margins of the cavity is “clean”.
In some cases, however, the physician may be concerned that the initial biopsy failed to remove a sufficient amount of the lesion. Furthermore, in some percutaneous biopsy procedures, such as those using the Mammotome biopsy probe, it is very difficult to guarantee clean margins. Such a biopsied lesion is colloquially referred to as a “dirty lesion” or “having a dirty margin” and requires follow-up observation of any suspect tissue growth in the surrounding marginal area of the initial biopsy site. Thus, an excision around the original biopsy site must often be performed. In such a case, the perimeter of the cavity should preferably be identified, as the cavity may contain cancerous cells. Identification of the cavity perimeter is desirable to avoid the risk of opening the cavity, which could release and spread the cancerous cells. Moreover, the site of the re-excised procedure itself requires follow-up examination, providing further impetus for accurate identification of the location of the re-excised site. Therefore, a new marker may be placed after re-excision.
Prior methods of marking biopsy cavities utilize one or more tissue marking clips as the biopsy site-marking device. Most commonly, these marker clips have a “horseshoe” configuration. The marker clips attach to the walls of the cavity when the free ends or limbs of the “horseshoe” are pinched together, trapping the tissue. This device has significant drawbacks.
For instance, prior to placing the marker clip at the cavity site, care must be taken to remove residual tissue debris, typically by vacuum, to minimize the possibility that the marker clip attaches to any loose tissue as opposed to the cavity wall. Once the cavity is prepared, the clip must be examined to ensure that the limbs of the clip are substantially straight. If the limbs have been prematurely bent together, the clip will be discarded, as it will most likely not attach properly to the cavity wall. Actual placement of the clip often requires additional vacuum of the cavity wall to draw the wall into the aperture between the limbs of the marking clip so that a better grip is obtained between the limbs of the clip. Additionally, there is always the possibility that the clip may detach from the cavity wall during or after withdrawal of the tools used to place the clip into the cavity.
Aside from the problems inherent in the placement of the marking clip, there are also limitations associated with how well the marking clip can identify a biopsy cavity. As the marking clip must trap tissue for proper attachment, in cases of endoscopic, fluoroscopic, or blind placement, the clip can only be placed on a wall of the cavity substantially opposite to the opening of the cavity.
Moreover, patient concern limits the number of clips that may be placed in a cavity. As a result, the medical practitioner is forced to identify the outline of a three dimensional cavity by a single point as defined by the marking clip. Obviously, determination of the periphery of a biopsy cavity from one point on the periphery is not possible.
These limitations are compounded as the biopsy cavity fills within a few hours with bodily fluids, which eventually renders the cavity invisible to noninvasive techniques. Another difficulty in viewing the clip stems from the fact that the clip is attached to the side, not the center, of the cavity. This makes determining the spatial orientation and position of the cavity difficult if not impossible during follow-up examination. Additionally, during a stereotactic breast biopsy procedure, the breast is under compression when the marking clip is placed. Upon release of the compressive force, determining the location of the clip can be unpredictable, and any information once known about the orientation and location of the periphery of the cavity is lost.
The marker clip does not aid in the healing process of the biopsy wound. Complications and false information may arise if the marker strays from its original placement site. As described above, if a re-excision of the site is required, the marker clip may also interfere when excision of a target lesion is sought.
Other devices pertaining to biopsy aids are directed to assisting in the healing and closure of the biopsy wound, but they do not address the clinical need or desire of accurately preserving the location and orientation of the biopsy cavity. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,347,234; 5,388,588; 5,326,350; 5,394,886; 5,467,780; 5,571,181; and 5,676,146.
In cases where a biopsy excises lesion or tumor is suspected to be cancerous, it is desirable to determine whether any cancerous cells have spread from the site of the original lesion or tumor. A sentinel node (SN) is the first lymph node to receive drainage of lymphatic fluid and cells from a tumor or malignant growth. For various cancers such as malignant melanoma and breast cancer, identification of the SN is now a standard technique for determining whether cancerous cells have migrated to a lymph gland from the site of the original lesion or tumor. Increasing data suggests that the status of the SN may predict whether other nodes in the axilla (i.e. the armpit) harbor cancerous cells. Although identification of the SN may be desirable after some biopsy procedures, there are occasions where identification of the SN is desirable even though no biopsy procedure is performed. In fact, a thorough analysis of multiple sections (0.5-mm intervals) of a sentinel node or nodes is more likely to detect hidden micrometastases than a routine single-section examination of many regional nodes, including the sentinel node, according to Jannink et al. in “Serial Sectioning of Sentinel Nodes in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study,” Annals of Surgical Oncology, 5(4):310-314.
Thus, accurately determining the location of a SN, permits removal of the SN to determine its pathology. If the SN does not contain cancerous cells, the cancer has not spread and the stage of the cancer can be determined. The ability to make this determination from an examination of the SN minimizes the number of lymph nodes removed and eliminates the need to remove additional lymph nodes. In a review in Breast Diseases: A Year Book® Quarterly Vol. 10 No. 3, of a paper by Hack et al., “Physical and Psychological Morbidity After Axillary Lymph Node Dissection for Breast Cancer,” J Clin Oncol 17:143-149, 1999, Vetto states that approximately 27% of patients undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy for early-stage breast cancer still require axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) due to the existence of a positive node. Accordingly, the remaining 63% of the patients could benefit by an SN biopsy and avoid having radical dissection.
Previously, it was impossible to locate the sentinel node without performing ALND. In the case of breast cancer, determining whether the cancerous cells migrated involved removal of all axillary lymph nodes. This required radical surgery. This painful option often lead to complications that resulted in significant morbidity and even mortality. As discussed by Hack et al., pain and discomfort after ALND significantly corresponded to quality of life after the procedure. According to Hack et al., patients with more than 13 lymph nodes dissected reported more pain than women with fewer lymph nodes dissected.
More recently, a technique known as “sentinel node biopsy” allowed for accurate mapping of a SN's location by the use of blue dye and a radioactive tracer, separately or in combination. Typically, a dye and/or a radioactive tracer are injected around the location of a tumor, into the biopsy cavity or tumor cavity (if the tumor was partially or completely removed), or “subdermally” into the parenchymal tissue anterior to the tumor. This latter technique is described by De Cicco et al. (1999) in “Lymphoscintigraphy and Radioguided Biopsy of the Sentinel Axillary Node in Breast Cancer,” J Nucl Med 39:2080-2084, 1998, and in a review of that article by Haigh et al. (1999) in Breast Diseases: A Year Book® Quarterly, Vol. 10 No 3. The dye migrates from the tumor site through the lymphatic channels to the regional lymph nodes that serve the cancerous tissue. The SN, which is the node most likely to be involved with cancer, is identified through surgery and removed for pathologic analysis. When a radioactive tracer is used, a gamma probe or like-device is used to further assist a physician in identifying the site of the SN.
Unfortunately, visualization of the blue dye depends upon the surgeon localizing it, and no preoperative assessment of mapping is possible. Therefore, the surgeon must first make an incision in the general vicinity of the lymph nodes, then dissect around the area to locate the blue dye. Another complication arises as the dye may cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. This reaction may leave a mark on the skin similar to a ‘tattoo.’
Using a radioactive tracer, alone or in combination with blue dye, to locate the SN also has some disadvantages. It is an interdisciplinary process, requiring nuclear medicine personnel, adherence to radiation safety regulations, preparation of the radiocolloid, and gamma detection instrumentation. Furthermore, the safety of this procedure is questionable. See e.g., Miner et al. (1999). “Guidelines for the Safe Use of Radioactive Materials During Localization and Resection of the Sentinel Lymph Node,” Ann Surg Oncol 6:75-82.
In the case of a lumpectomy, when the lesion is known to be cancerous, locating the SN is desirable so that the SN is removed in the same procedure as the lumpectomy. In fact, even if the pathology of the lesion is not yet known, there are reasons for initiating the SN localization during a breast biopsy procedure, as discussed below.
Previously, imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, MRI, and CT, attempted to non-invasively find and diagnose cancerous lymph nodes prior to removing them. However, according to Schlag. (1998). “The ‘Sentinel Node’ Concept: More Questions Raised than Answers Provided?” Oncologist 1998; 3(5):VI-VII, general criteria such as size, shape, structure, or texture in the various imaging modalities are unreliable, and these techniques result in low sensitivity and/or low specificity. As described by Veronesi et al. (1997). “Sentinel-node biopsy to avoid axillary dissection in breast cancer with clinically negative lymph-nodes,” Lancet June 28; 349(9069):1864-7, in 32 (38%) of 85 patients with metastatic axillary nodes, the only positive node was the sentinel node. Accordingly, if all of the nodes were checked by imaging instead of locating and biopsying the SN, the chances of missing the cancer would likely have been much higher. Furthermore, because of usually low specificity, these techniques require surgical excision and examination of multiple lymph nodes, many of which may contain no cancer. In contrast, by identifying only one or a few SN's, without trying to make any diagnosis of cancer prior to tissue removal, the excision is much less extensive, yielding a smaller tissue sample. Also, the histological examination of one or a few SN's can be more thorough than the case where many lymph nodes require examination.
Therefore, one objective of the invention described herein is to provide a marking device, delivery device, and method that enable noninvasive determination of cavity location, orientation, and periphery.
Another objective of is to provide an atraumatic marking device that does not rely on pinching or piercing tissue.
Another objective is to provide a method of delivering through a small opening a marking device for marking the borders of a cavity.
Another objective is to provide a composition and method for localizing and marking a sentinel node.
Another objective is to provide a composition capable of (1) deposition in or around a lesion and migration to and accumulation in the associated sentinel node, and (2) noninvasive detection.
Another objective is to provide a method for remotely detecting the location of a sentinel node with a minimum of trauma and toxicity to the patient.
Yet another objective is to provide a composition and method for both marking a lesion cavity and locating the sentinel node in the same procedure.
This invention relates to devices and procedures for percutaneously marking a biopsy or lumpectomy cavity. In particular, the inventive device is a biopsy cavity marking body made of a resilient, preferably bioabsorbable material having at least one preferably radiopaque or echogenic marker. The device may take on a variety of shapes and sizes tailored for the specific biopsy cavity to be filled. For example, the device in its simplest form is a spherical or cylindrical collagen sponge having a single radiopaque or echogenic marker located in its geometric center. Alternatively, the body may have multiple components linked together with multiple radiopaque or echogenic markers.
A further aspect of the invention allows the marker or the body, singly or in combination, to be constructed to have a varying rate of degradation or bioabsorption. For instance, the body may be constructed to have a layer of bioabsorbable material as an outer “shell.” Accordingly, prior to degradation of the shell, the body is palpable. Upon degradation of the shell, the remainder of the body would degrade at an accelerated rate in comparison to the outer shell.
The marking device may additionally contain a variety of drugs, such as hemostatic agents, pain-killing substances, or even healing or therapeutic agents that may be delivered directly to the biopsy cavity. Furthermore, the material and configuration of the sponge itself may be hemostatic. Importantly, the device is capable of accurately marking a specific location, such as the center, of the biopsy cavity, and providing other information about the patient or the particular biopsy or device deployed.
The marking device is preferably, although not necessarily, delivered immediately after removal of the tissue specimen using the same medical instrument used to remove the tissue specimen itself. Such medical instruments are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,111,828; 5,197,484; 5,353,804; 5,511,566; 5,546,957; 5,560,373; 5,817,033; pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/145,487, filed Sep. 1, 1998 and entitled “PERCUTANEOUS TISSUE REMOVAL DEVICE”; and pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/184,766, filed Nov. 2, 1998 and entitled “EXPANDABLE RING PERCUTANEOUS TISSUE REMOVAL DEVICE”. The marking device is compressed and loaded into the delivery device and percutaneously advanced to the biopsy site where, upon exiting from the delivery device, it expands to substantially fill the cavity from the biopsy. The physician may then use follow-up noninvasive detection techniques, such as x-ray mammography or ultrasound, to identify, locate, and monitor the biopsy cavity site over a period of time.
The marking device is usually inserted into the patient's body either surgically via an opening into the body cavity, or using a minimally invasive procedure employing such medical instruments as a catheter, introducer, biopsy probe, or similar device, or a specially-designed delivery device used alone or in conjunction with a catheter, introducer, biopsy probe, or similar device. When inserted via the minimally invasive procedure, the resiliency of the body allows the marking device to be compressed upon placement in a delivery device. Upon insertion of the cavity marking device into the cavity, the resiliency of the body causes the cavity marking device to self-expand, substantially filling the cavity. Following expansion, the marking device volume following expansion preferably is 3 to 30 times its compressed volume, and more preferably 5 to 22 times, and most preferably about 10 times. The resiliency of the body can be further predetermined so that the body is palpable, thus allowing tactile location by a surgeon in subsequent follow-up examinations. Typically, the filler body is required to be palpable for approximately 3 months. However, this period may be increased or decreased as needed.
The expansion of the resilient body can be aided by the addition of a biocompatible fluid, which is absorbed into the body. For instance, the fluid can be a saline solution, a painkilling substance, a healing agent, a therapeutic fluid, or any combination of such fluids. The fluid or combination of fluids may be added to and absorbed by the body of the device before or after deployment of the device into a cavity. For example, the body of the marking device may be presoaked with the fluid and then delivered into the cavity. In this instance, the fluid aids the expansion of the body of the device upon deployment. Another example is provided as the device is delivered into the cavity without being presoaked. In such a case, fluid is delivered into the cavity after the body of the device is deployed into the cavity. Upon delivery of the fluid, the body of the device soaks up the fluid, thereby aiding the expansion of the cavity marking device as it expands to fit the cavity. The fluid may be, but is not limited to being, delivered by the access device. Furthermore, expansion of the body of the marking device may be aided by body fluids, such as the fluid component of blood, already present in the cavity.
By “biocompatible fluid” what is meant is a liquid, solution, or suspension that may contain inorganic or organic material. For instance, the biocompatible fluid is preferably saline solution, but may be water or contain adjuvants such as medications to prevent infection, reduce pain, or the like. Alternatively or additionally, the fluid may be used to mark the sentinel lymph node, as will be described later. Obviously, the liquid is intended to be a type that does no harm to the body.
After placement of the cavity marking device into the cavity, the bioabsorbable body degrades at a predetermined rate. As the body of the cavity marking device is absorbed, tissue is substituted for the bioabsorbable material. Moreover, while the body degrades, the marker, which is usually suspended substantially in the volumetric center of the body of the device, is left in the center of the cavity. Thus, during a subsequent examination, a medical practitioner having knowledge of the dimensions of the body of the cavity marking device can determine the location as well as the periphery of the biopsy cavity. The orientation of the cavity is self-evident as the marker is left in substantially the center of the cavity. For the case where multiple markers are used, the markers are usually placed in a manner showing directionality.
The body, marker, or radiopaque or echogenic coatings can be made to degrade in situ and be absorbed into the patient's body over a predetermined period of time. It is generally preferred that if the marker's radiopacity or echogenicity is chosen to degrade over time, such degradation does not take place within at least one year after implantation of the inventive device. In this way, if a new lump or calcification (in the case of a breast biopsy) is discovered after the biopsy, such a marker will allow the physician to know the relation of such new growth in relation to the region of excised tissue. On the other hand, and as discussed below, a bioabsorption period of three months is preferred for any such coatings on the perimeter of the body itself.
Another variation of the invention is that the body of the marking device is formed from a bioabsorbable thread-like surgical material, for example a suture material. Preferably, the surgical material is resilient. In this variation the surgical material is looped through a marker. The marking device may have any number of loops or any number of opposing pairs of loops. Another variation of the marking device includes an opposing member on each loop. For example, a loop could be folded to form the opposing member.
This invention further includes the act of filling the biopsy cavity with a bioabsorbable liquid, aerosol or gelatinous material, preferably gelatinous collagen, allowing the material to partially solidify or gel and then placing a marker, which may have a configuration as described above, into the center of the bioabsorbable material. The gel may also be made radiopaque or echogenic by the addition of radiopaque or echogenic materials, such as powdered tantalum, tungsten, barium carbonate, bismuth oxide, barium sulfate or other barium- or bismuth-containing compounds.
This method may be combined with any aspect of the previously described devices as needed. For instance, one could insert a hemostatic or pain-killing substance as described above into the biopsy cavity along with the bioabsorbable material. Alternatively, a bioabsorbable marker could be inserted into a predetermined location, such as the center, of the body of bioabsorbable material.
It is within the scope of this invention that either or both of the marker or markers and the bioabsorbable body may be radioactive, especially if a regimen of treatment using radioactivity is contemplated.
This procedure may be used in any internal, preferably soft, tissue, but is most useful in breast tissue, lung tissue, prostate tissue, or lymph gland tissue. Obviously, though, treatment and diagnosis of breast tissue problems forms the central theme of the invention.
In contrast to the marker clips as described above, the cavity marking device has the obvious advantage of marking the geometric center of a biopsy cavity. Also, unlike the marking clip which has the potential of attaching to loose tissue and moving after initial placement, the marking device self-expands upon insertion into the cavity, thus providing resistance against the walls of the cavity thereby anchoring itself within the cavity. The marking device may be configured to be substantially smaller, larger, or equal to the size of the cavity; however, in some cases the marking device will be configured to be larger than the cavity. This aspect of the biopsy site-marking device provides a cosmetic benefit to the patient, especially when the biopsy is taken from the breast. For example, the resistance provided by the cavity marking device against the walls of the cavity may minimize any “dimpling” effect observed in the skin when large pieces of tissue are removed, as, for example, during excisional biopsies. The marking device may be configured to allow tissue ingrowth, being replaced by tissue as it is absorbed into the patient's body.
The invention further includes a delivery device and method for placement of a marking device. For example, the invention includes a sheath capable of being placed in contact with a cavity, a cartridge or applicator in which a marking device may be placed, and a disengaging arm onto which the cartridge is mounted. The marking device will preferably have a frictional fit with the cartridge. Preferably, the sheath is placed in contact with the cavity, for example, simultaneously with the biopsy device or soon after the biopsy device obtains a sample. The sheath may be placed at a point of entrance of the cavity or it may be partially inserted into the cavity. The delivery device cartridge and engaging arm are then inserted into the sheath and advanced into the cavity until a portion of the cartridge containing the marking device is positioned within the cavity but a portion of the cartridge is still within the sheath. Next, the delivery device cartridge is retracted while the disengaging arm prevents the marking device from being retracted from the cavity. Thus, the marking device remains in the cavity and radially expands to substantially fill the cavity. Hence, the marking device is delivered and expands in the cavity without a need for simultaneously pushing the marking device into the cavity. Another aspect of this invention is that the frictional fit between a marking device and a cartridge may be sufficiently increased to minimize premature placement of the marking device into the cavity.
Other delivery devices and methods for using them are disclosed, including a “sheath-over-probe” device and method and “through-cannula” devices and methods. These devices and methods are well suited to apply the marking device having a body comprising absorbable suture or collagen and described herein, but could be used with any of the marking devices in the present application.
The “sheath-over-probe” device includes a sheath that slides over a probe, such as a biopsy probe. It is well suited for use with the Mammotome® 11 GA Probe (now owned by Johnson & Johnson) but may be sized to fit other commercially available biopsy devices. The sheath is introduced into the body along with the probe. After obtaining a biopsy sample, the probe is removed, leaving the sheath in place. The marking device is then delivered through the sheath.
The “through-cannula” device is intended for insertion through the cannula portion of a biopsy device; it, too, is well suited for the Mammotome® 11 GA Probe but may be sized to fit other commercially available biopsy devices.
Although the subcutaneous cavity marking device and methods described above are suited for percutaneous placement of the marker within a biopsy cavity it is not intended that the invention is limited to such placement. The device and method are also appropriate for intraoperative or surgical placement of the marker within a biopsy cavity.
The present invention also provides an alternative method to remotely detect sentinel nodes (SN). This method includes the deposit, preferably by injection via a thin needle applicator or using a marker delivery device described herein, of a remotely detectable contrast agent that will migrate to the SN, allowing the exact location of the SN to be pinpointed and targeted for removal using minimally invasive techniques. This method eliminates the need for potentially toxic radioactive tracer material. In addition, the lack of toxicity of such agents obviates the need to remove the lesion and/or the SN on the same day.
These agents may be any biologically compatible agents capable of remote detection. Examples of such remote detection include, but are not limited to magnetism such as a magnetometer, Hall effect sensor, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); ultrasound; thermal means; high intensity ultraviolet techniques: fluorescent dye techniques; singly or in combination.
One example of such a contrast agent is an echogenic microsphere capable of reflecting ultrasonic energy. These microspheres, which average typically between 0.2 microns and 5 microns in diameter, may be mixed with a biologically compatible carrier-fluid and injected into the body in the vicinity of the lesion. Upon an exposure to ultrasonic energy, the spheres reflect the energy creating an ultrasonic reflection. The ultrasonic reflection resulting from a large number of the microspheres that have accumulated in the SN permits detection of the particular node by a conventional ultrasonic probe. Such microspheres are available at various pharmaceutical companies such as Acusphere, Sonus, and Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp.
Another example of a detectable agent is a biologically compatible magnetically detectable body such as a magnetic microsphere. Such a magnetically detectable body can be the echogenic microsphere described above that is either fabricated from or coated with a magnetic material. Alternatively, the magnetically detectable body may be a solid or other type of magnetic body capable of being incorporated into a carrier fluid and deposited around the lesion or its cavity as described above. These bodies are preferably capable of migration to and accumulation in the SN so that, in a similar fashion to the echogenic microspheres, the cumulative magnetic field produced by these magnetic bodies allows for location of the SN by remote and noninvasive means.
Yet another such contrast agent is a radiopaque fluid or suspension containing radiopaque particles, detectable using X ray, fluoroscopy, or computed tomography (CT). Again, this contrast agent is preferably capable of migration to and accumulation in the SN to enable one to noninvasively determine the location of the SN.
The following illustrations are examples of the invention described herein. It is contemplated that combinations of aspects of specific embodiments or combinations of the specific embodiments themselves are within the scope of this disclosure.
In the bodies of
The ring-shaped markers 154 of
Obviously, markers 150 and 154 may reside in locations other than those demonstrated in
Tissue regrowth in a particular orientation can also be promoted by a body design shown in
A trio of markers is also shown in
Shell 142 may be designed to have a varying bioabsorption rate depending upon the thickness and type of material making up the shell 142. In general, the shell can be designed to degrade over a period ranging from as long as a year or more to as little as several months, weeks, or even days. It is preferred that such a bioabsorbable shell be designed to degrade between two and six months; especially preferred is three months. In the design of
As will be described in additional detail with respect to
Each of the bodies depicted in
Examples of synthetic bioabsorbable polymers that may be used for the body of the device are polyglycolide, or polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactide, or polylactic acid (PLA), poly s-caprolactone, polydioxanone, polylactide-co-glycolide, block or random copolymers of PGA and PLA, and other commercial bioabsorbable medical polymers. Preferred is spongy collagen or cellulose. As mentioned above, materials such as hemostatic and pain-killing substances may be incorporated into the body and marker of the cavity marking device. The use of hemostasis-promoting agents provides an obvious benefit, as the device not only marks the site of the biopsy cavity but aids in healing the cavity as well. Furthermore, such agents help to avoid hematomas. These hemostatic agents may include AVITENE Microfibrillar Collagen Hemostat; ACTIFOAM collagen sponge, sold by C. R. Bard Inc.; GELFOAM Sterile Powder or Sponge, manufactured by The Upjohn Company (Michigan); SURGICEL Fibrillar from Ethicon Endosurgery, Inc.; TISSEEL VH, a surgical fibrin sealant sold by Baxter Healthcare Corp.; Helistat collagen sponge from Integra Lifesciences; Helitene absorbable collagen hemostatic agent in Fibrillar form; and polyethylene glycol (PEG) or collagen/PEG compositions from Cohesion. Such agents also have the useful property of expanding between 3 and 30 times their compressed volume upon release into a cavity and/or upon hydration. The device may also be made to emit therapeutic radiation to preferentially treat any suspect tissue remaining in or around the margin of the biopsy cavity. It is envisioned that the marker would be the best vehicle for dispensing such local radiation treatment or similar therapy. Also, the body itself may be adapted to have radiopaque, echogenic, or other characteristics that allow the body to be located by noninvasive technique without the use of a marker. Such characteristics permit the possibility of locating and substantially identifying the cavity periphery after deployment but prior to absorption of the device. Such an embodiment may allow delivery in liquid or gel form through a much smaller lumen than those marking devices having one of the markers previously described. Furthermore, an echogenic coating may be placed over the radiopaque marker to increase the accuracy of locating the marker during ultrasound imaging.
Further, as illustrated in
One method of making the marking device 182 or 184, a marker 154 (or any other marker) may be placed on the edge of a sheet of filler body material such as gelatin or collagen. The sheet may then be rolled or folded to form a device having an elongated body 178 or 180 having a circular or rectangular cross section. Alternatively, a block of collagen or other filler body material may be cut into a rectangular or cylindrical shape. A needle may be used to create a hole through one end lengthwise, preferably only halfway through. A tube containing a marker such as marker 154 may be placed into the hole created by the needle, and a plunger used to push the marker out of the tube and into the filler body, where it may be held in place by friction. Multiple markers may be used to help provide orientation when visualized in the patient on X ray, ultrasound, etc.
One advantage of the collagen material and some of the other materials disclosed herein for the body of the marking device is that it can be easily cut with scissors, a knife, or a scalpel. Therefore, a physician can trim the body of the marking device to fit the cavity during the procedure. This is especially useful when creating the cavity and placing the marking device surgically. Furthermore, if re-excision in the same region is required, the surgeon will have no trouble cutting through the body of the marking device.
The marker itself may aid in deploying the body. The marker may be made of a spring material such as superelastic nickel titanium alloy or stainless spring steel for delivery in compression to expand the body to substantially fill the cavity. The barb 156 of
The hollow sphere 152 of
An important aspect of the invention is that the marker may be radiopaque, echogenic, mammographic, etc. so that it can be located by noninvasive techniques. Such a feature can be an inherent property of the material used for the marker. Alternatively, a coating or the like can be added to the marker to render the marker detectable or to enhance its detectability. For radiopacity, the marker may be made of a nonbioabsorbable radiopaque material such as platinum, platinum-iridium, platinum-nickel, platinum-tungsten, gold, silver, rhodium, tungsten, tantalum, titanium, nickel, nickel-titanium, their alloys, and stainless steel or any combination of these metals. By mammographic we mean that the component described is visible under radiography or any other traditional or advanced mammography technique in which breast tissue is imaged.
As previously discussed, the marker can alternatively be made of or coated with a bioabsorbable material. In this case, the marker can, for instance, be made from an additive-loaded polymer. The additive is a radiopaque, echogenic, or other type of substance that allows for the noninvasive detection of the marker. In the case of radiopaque additives, elements such as barium- and bismuth-containing compounds, as well as particulate radiopaque fillers, e.g., powdered tantalum or tungsten, barium carbonate, bismuth oxide, barium sulfate, etc. are preferred. To aid in detection by ultrasound or similar imaging techniques, any component of the device may contain air bubbles or may be combined with an echogenic coating. One such coating is ECHO-COAT from STS Biopolymers. Such coatings contain echogenic features, which provide the coated item with an acoustically reflective interface and a large acoustical impedance differential. As stated above, an echogenic coating may be placed over a radiopaque marker to increase the accuracy of locating the marker during ultrasound imaging.
Note that the radiopacity and echogenicity described herein for the marker and the body are not mutually exclusive. It is within the scope of the present invention for the marker or the body to be radiopaque but not necessarily echogenic, and for the marker or the body to be echogenic but not necessarily radiopaque. It is also within the scope of the invention that the marker and the body are both capable of being simultaneously radiopaque and echogenic. For example, if a platinum ring marker were coated with an echogenic coating, such a marker would be readily visible under x-ray and ultrasonic energy. A similar configuration can be envisioned for the body or for a body coating.
The marker is preferably large enough to be readily visible to the physician under x-ray or ultrasonic viewing, for example, yet be small enough to be able to be percutaneously deployed into the biopsy cavity and to not cause any difficulties with the patient. More specifically, the marker will not be large enough to be palpable or felt by the patient.
Another useful version of the invention is shown in
Here one or more markers may traverse two or more body member segments through the interior of the body members 302 as shown in
Of course, when used in conjunction with other connecting markers, marker 318 need not necessarily connect each body member; it may be used solely to indicate the orientation or location of each individual sponge or the entire device, depending on the material, geometry, size, orientation, etc. of marker 318. When not used in this connecting function, therefore, marker 318 need not traverse two body members 302 as shown in
A variety of patterns can be envisioned in which all or part of the perimeter of the sponge body is marked. For example, a marker 322 can wrap around the body 302 in a helical pattern (
Another possible configuration is obtained by combining the suture or wire markers 158 in a body with any other type marker 150, 152, 154, or 156 or vice versa. For example, in
Also, turning back to the marking device 100 in
Any of the previously-described additional features of the inventive device, such as presence of pain-killing or hemostatic drugs, the capacity for the marker to emit therapeutic radiation for the treatment of various cancers, the various materials that may make up the marker and body, and their size, shape, orientation, and geometry, may be incorporated into the device described above in conjunction with
Turning now to
Finally, in
In
Turning now to
Each of the markers shown in
Each of the markers shown in
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As shown in
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From the foregoing, it is understood that the invention provides an improved subcutaneous cavity marking device and method. While the above descriptions have described the invention for use in the marking of biopsy cavities, the invention is not limited to such. One such application is evident as the invention may further be used as a lumpectomy site marker. In this use, the cavity marking device yields an improved benefit by marking the perimeter of the lumpectomy cavity. Other such applications of the invention include delivering a marker to a naturally occurring body cavity and delivering a marker to an area of tissue that does not have a cavity. Furthermore, although some of the embodiments described herein were described with respect to a percutaneous procedure, they may be used in an open surgical procedure as well; in that case, the marking device may be delivered by hand without the use of a delivery system, and the marking device may not require compression for delivery through a small opening. Also, the marking system may be provided as a kit, wherein the marking device is preloaded in the delivery device; alternatively, the marking device may be provided separately for loading into the delivery device by the operator, with or without the aid of a loading tool, which also may be provided in the kit. The kit may be provided with variously sized and/or variously shaped marking devices, allowing the operator to choose the particular device most suited for the cavity to be marked. Having more than one marking device available in the kit also allows the operator to mark more than one location, if needed.
Furthermore, as will be described with respect to
These agents may be any biologically compatible agents capable of remote detection. Examples of such remote detection include, but are not limited to, magnetism such as a magnetometer, Hall effect sensor, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); ultrasound; X ray, fluoroscopy, or CT; thermal means; high intensity ultraviolet techniques; fluorescent dye techniques; etc.; singly or in combination.
One example of such a contrast agent is an echogenic microsphere capable of reflecting ultrasonic energy. These microspheres, preferably averaging typically between 0.2 microns and 5 microns in diameter, and preferably less than 2 microns in diameter, may be mixed with a biologically compatible carrier fluid and injected into the body in the vicinity of the lesion, where they will accumulate in the SN. The echogenic microspheres may comprise hollow bubbles fill with air, CO2, nitrogen, or fluorinated gas. For example, these microbubbles may comprise microencapsulated perfluorocarbon. The echogenic contrast agent may, but does not necessarily, contain microparticles of silicon or a silicon compound, such as silicone or SiO2, preferably in a dilute suspension. Upon an exposure to ultrasonic energy, the spheres reflect the energy creating an ultrasonic reflection. The ultrasonic-reflection resulting from a large number of the microspheres that have accumulated in the SN permits detection of the particular node by a conventional ultrasonic probe. Another example of an agent is a biologically compatible magnetically detectable body such as a magnetic microsphere. Such a magnetically detectable body can be the echogenic microsphere described above that is either fabricated from or coated with a magnetic material; alternatively, it may be a solid or other type of magnetic body capable of being incorporated into a carrier fluid and deposited around the lesion or its cavity as described herein. These bodies should be capable of migration to and accumulation in the SN so that, in a similar fashion to the echogenic microspheres, the cumulative magnetic field presented by these magnetic bodies allows one to remotely and noninvasively determine the location of the SN.
As an alternative or addition to being echogenic, the contrast agent may have sufficient radiopacity to be detectable using fluoroscopy, mammography, or other X ray imaging.
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The removed tissue is evaluated histologically for cancer. If cancer is found in the sentinel lymph node, the migrating and accumulating properties of the contrast agent can be used to determine where additional lymph nodes are that should be removed. That is, the contrast agent that was used to detect the SN can be one that accumulates quickly in the first node (“sentinel node”) for identification within preferably 5 to 20 minutes. The agent will continue to migrate through the lymphatic system, but preferably more slowly, with a portion of the contrast agent accumulating in each lymph node for detecting during a window of approximately 1 day to 1 month following injection. This facilitates detection of additional lymph nodes that the physician may want to remove in the case where cancer is detected in the sentinel node. Removing such lymph nodes may be therapeutic by decreasing the tumor burden, thus increasing the efficacy of subsequent chemotherapy. The lymph nodes preferably are removed percutaneously using image guidance of the same modality used to detect them.
In a similar manner as depicted in
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Once removed, the tissue sample is evaluated for the presence of cancer. If cancer is found in the sentinel lymph node, the contrast agent can again be used to determine where additional lymph nodes are that should be removed. As described above, a contrast agent can be used that will accumulate quickly in the first node (“sentinel node”) for identification within preferably 5 to 20 minutes. The agent will continue to migrate through the lymphatic system, but more slowly, with a portion of the contrast agent accumulating in each lymph node for detecting during a window of approximately 1 day to 1 month following injection. This provides an easy way to detect the additional lymph nodes that may need to be removed in the case where cancer is detected in the sentinel node. The lymph nodes preferably are removed using image guidance of the same modality used to detect them.
The invention herein has been described by examples and a particularly desired way of practicing the invention has been described. However, the invention as claimed herein is not limited to that specific description in any manner. Furthermore, the features described for one embodiment may be combined with other embodiments herein disclosed. Equivalence to the description as hereinafter claimed is considered to be within the scope of protection of this patent.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/869,282, entitled “Device and method for safe location and marking of a biopsy cavity”, filed Jun. 18, 2002, which is currently pending, which is the national stage entry of International Patent Application No. PCT/US99/30619, filed Dec. 23, 1999, entitled “DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SAFE LOCATION AND MARKING OF A CAVITY AND SENTINEL LYMPH NODES”, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/347,185, filed Jul. 2, 1999, entitled “SUBCUTANEOUS CAVITY MARKING DEVICE AND METHOD”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,904, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/285,329, filed Apr. 2, 1999, entitled “SUBCUTANEOUS CAVITY MARKING DEVICE AND METHOD”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,782, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/220,618, filed Dec. 24, 1998, entitled “SUBCUTANEOUS CAVITY MARKING DEVICE AND METHOD”, which is abandoned.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100234726 A1 | Sep 2010 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09869282 | US | |
| Child | 12777710 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09347185 | Jul 1999 | US |
| Child | 09869282 | US | |
| Parent | 09285329 | Apr 1999 | US |
| Child | 09347185 | US | |
| Parent | 09220618 | Dec 1998 | US |
| Child | 09285329 | US |
