IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,442,623
Granted Patent B2
US 8,442,623 · App. 12/133,212 · Granted May 14, 2013

Site marker visible under multiple modalities

Inventors: Zachary R. Nicoson (Indianapolis, IN); Brian Zimmer (Indianapolis, IN); Joseph L. Mark (Indianapolis, IN); Nicholas Terwiske (Bloomington, IN); Laresha Fluker (Indianapolis, IN)
Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,442,623
App. No.
12/133,212
Filed
Jun 4, 2008
Granted
May 14, 2013
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3737
USPC
600/431
Abstract

Various embodiments of a site marker are disclosed that comprise a body portion and a marker element. The body portion is constructed of a bioabsorbable material and defines at least one cavity therein. The marker element is captured within one of the cavities. The marker element is constructed of a material that may be imaged under at least one imaging modality.

Claims (33)

1. A site marker comprising:

a first body portion that defines a first cavity therein;

a second body portion that defines a second cavity therein; and wherein the second body portion is positioned within the first cavity; and

at least one imageable marker element captured within the second cavity such that the imageable marker element is moveable within the second cavity,

wherein the material of the second body portion is a flexible mesh material having openings therein, and

wherein said openings are smaller in size than the size of the marker element such that the marker element cannot escape the second cavity.

2. A site marker comprising:

a first body portion that defines a first cavity therein;

a second body portion that defines a second cavity therein: and wherein the second body portion is positioned within the first cavity; and

at least one imageable marker element captured within the second cavity such that the imageable marker element is moveable within the second cavity,

wherein the marker element has a predetermined shape based on visibility of the marker element under a certain imaging modality, and

wherein the predetermined shape is one of a Venus symbol, bow-tie, and ribbon.

3. A site marker, comprising:

a body portion, wherein the body portion is flanked by at least partially closed ends and wherein the body portion is attached to itself at a first location that is spaced inwardly from one of the ends such that the partially closed ends cooperate with the first location so as to create more than one cavity; and

at least one imageable marker element captured within at least one of the more than one cavities, but enabling the marker to move within the cavity.

4. The site marker of claim 3 , wherein the body portion is formed as a hollow cannula.

5. The site marker of claim 3 , wherein the body portion is attached to itself at a second location that is spaced inwardly from the ends of the body portion.

6. The site marker of claim 3 , wherein each cavity houses a separate marker element.

7. A site marker, comprising:

a body portion that defines at least one cavity of open space therein; and

at least one imageable solid marker element wherein the imageable solid marker element is captured within the at least one cavity, such that said imageable solid marker element is permitted to move freely within the entire open space of the at least one cavity.

8. The site marker of claim 7 , wherein the body portion is flanked by at least partially closed ends.

9. The site marker of claim 8 , wherein the partially closed ends are closed to a degree prevents the imageable solid marker from escaping the cavity.

10. The site marker of claim 7 , comprising a first fused segment and a second fused segment, with the cavity being positioned between the first and second fused segments.

11. The site marker of claim 7 , wherein the body portion is defined by a first end and a second end, and wherein the first and second ends of the body portion are woven so as to close the body portion to form the cavity.

12. The site marker of claim 7 , wherein the body portion defines a plurality of cavities and wherein one of the cavities includes a therapeutic agent.

13. The site marker of claim 7 , wherein the body portion is constructed with openings therein, wherein said openings are smaller in size than the size of the imageable solid marker element such that the imageable solid marker element cannot escape the cavity.

14. The site marker of claim 7 , wherein the imageable solid marker element is a three dimensional imageable marker element.

15. The site marker of claim 7 , wherein the imageable solid marker element is permitted to move freely within the entire open space of the at least one cavity without being impeded by any other material.

16. The site marker of claim 7 , wherein the imageable solid marker element comprises foam.

17. A site marker, comprising:

a body portion that defines at least one cavity of open space therein; and

at least one imageable solid marker element, wherein the imageable solid marker element is captured within the at least one cavity, such that said imageable solid marker element is permitted to move freely within the cavity, wherein the body portion defines a plurality of cavities and wherein one of the cavities includes a therapeutic agent, and wherein the therapeutic agent is housed in a cavity that is separate from the imageable solid marker element.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC., ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; CYTYC CORPORATION, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR-BY-CONVERSION TO CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075566/0039 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8081301 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 035820 FRAME: 0239. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE. Recorded Nov 9, 2017
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 044727/0529 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8081301 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 028810 FRAME: 0745. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 9, 2017
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 044432/0565 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 7, 2015
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036307/0199 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE REEL/FRAME 028810/0745 Recorded Jun 4, 2015
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 035820/0239 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 1, 2012
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 028810/0745 →
TERMINATION OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENTS AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Aug 26, 2010
From: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; R2 TECHNOLOGY, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS II LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS III, INC.; CYTYC PRENATAL PRODUCTS CORP.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 024892/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2008
From: SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 021311/0201 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2008
From: NICOSON, ZACHARY R.; ZIMMER, BRIAN; MARK, JOSEPH L.; TERWISKE, NICHOLAS; FLUKER, LARESHA
To: SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021240/0175 →
FOURTH SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 10, 2008
From: SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 021228/0613 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 11242334 · Oct 3, 2005
Continuation In Part 10964087 · Oct 13, 2004
Related Publication 20080269603A1 · Oct 30, 2008