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Abstract

An implant for marking a location within the tissue of a patient after biopsy is self-anchoring. In one embodiment a strip of a shape memory alloy such as Nitinol can be straightened to facilitate insertion through a small gauge needle but, once exposed within the tissue to body temperature, assumes a helical coil configuration, thereby mechanically clamping to the tissue. In other embodiments the implants include barbs of resilient, deformable metal which can be straightened for insertion into a small gauge needle, but once the implant exits the forward end of the needle the barbs spring outward, anchoring the implant within the tissue. A method for implanting a plurality of markers within the tissues of a patient involves a needle having a plurality of markers sequentially loaded therewithin. The forward end of the needle is inserted into the tissues of the patient and advanced to a first target location, at which point a first marker is ejected into the tissues of the patient. The forward end of the needle is then relocated to a second target site, and a second marker is ejected into the tissues of the patient.

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First Claim