Importance

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Abstract

An implantable marker for implantation in tissue of a surgical patient is disclosed. The marker has a base and an elevated bridge. A pair of legs descend from first and second transitions of the bridge. Each leg has a distal tip, a generally straight leg arm adjacent the tip, a camming marker surface between the transitions of the base and the straight leg arm, and a camming marker surface notch. The camming marker surfaces extend outwardly from the straight leg arms of the legs. In its pre-formed configuration, the first and second straight leg arms of the legs of the marker are generally parallel to each other. In its open form configuration, the first and second straight leg arms initially converge towards each other, then diverge into an open form generally taking the shape of the letter 'W'. The marker is particularly adapted for fixation in tissue to mark the site of a lesion or other abnormal tissue which may be removed during a biopsy procedure, for example a breast biopsy procedure. Advantageously, the camming marker surfaces of the legs of the marker and the camming marker surface notches facilitate the ability to form the marker upon pushing the marker distally into the tissue, thus insuring deep penetration and anchoring of the marker securely in the tissue regardless of tissue density.

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First Claim