Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A medical device for localizing a nonpalpable lesion in a breast, comprising: a tubular needle (11) having a passageway (12) extending therethrough for accommodating a retractable wire guide, said needle comprising a distal end (13) tapered for insertion into the site of said lesion; said wire guide having a straight portion (14) and a metallic preformed distal portion (16), characterised in that the distal portion is preformed into a resilient configuration, of substantially at least more than a 180 degree turn.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A wire guide for localizing a nonpalpable lesion in a breast, said guide comprising: a straight portion; and a distal portion preformed into a resilient configuration of substantially more than a 180 degree turn, said guide being for use in the device of claim 1, and being of material and configuration such that it can be smoothly inserted into and smoothly withdrawn from the region of the lesion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 or guide of claim 2, characterised in that the resilient configuration is in the form of at least one coil, with an acuate distal end (17).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device or guide of claim 3, characterised in that said resilient configuration is in the form of a helical configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The device or the guide of claim 4, characterised in that said distal portion resilient configuration assumes an unwound configuration when positioned in said passageway of said needle, said distal portion resuming the resilient helical coil configuration as said distal portion of said wire guide is extended from said passageway of said needle, said helical configuration including a passageway (18) extending longitudinally through and laterally from said straight portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 1,3,4 or 5, or the guide of claim 2,3,4 or 5, characterised in that said distal end of the wire guide is of superelastic metallic alloy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device or guide of claim 6, characterised in that the alloy is of nickel and titanium, and/or of material having a predetermined transformation temperature which is normally below the normal operating temperature.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
99 words
The device of any one preceding device claim, further characterised by a second cannula (22) having a distal end (29) and a passageway (30) extending longitudinally therethrough; wherein said distal portion includes an unwound configuration for positioning in said passageway of said second cannula; and wherein the first mentioned cannula includes a proximal end, said distal end of said second cannula piece abutting against said proximal end of said first cannula when transferring said distal portion of said wire guide in said unwound configuration from said passageway of said second cannula to said passageway of said first cannula piece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of claim 8, further characterised by a cap (31) having a passageway extending longitudinally therein sized for reviewing said first and second cannulas and aligning said passageways thereof, the first cannula optionally having a plurality of indentations in an outer surface thereof about said distal tapered end, for guidance purposes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
299 words
A medical device for localizing a nonpalpable lesion in a breast comprising: a tubular introducer needle including a first cannula having a first distal end tapered for insertion into said breast to the site of said lesion, a first proximal end, a first passageway extending longitudinally between said first ends, a plug-drawn interior surface about said first passageways, and an outer surface having a plurality of semispherical indentations therein about said first distal end; a second cannula including a second distal end, a second proximal end, a second passageway extending longitudinally between said second ends and a second plug-drawn interior surface about said second passageway; a connector having a passageway extending longitudinally therein and sized for receiving said first and second cannulas and aligning said passageways thereof; and a wire guide having a straight portion and a distal portion, said distal portion including a superelastic, nickel and titanium metallic alloy and being preformed into a resilient helical coil configuration including at least more than a 180 degree turn, an acuate distal end, and a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough and laterally from said straight portion, said alloy having a predetermined transformation temperature, said distal end portion assuming an unwound configuration when positioned in said first passageway of at least one of said first and second cannulas, said at least more than a 180 degree turn following a path scribed by said acuate distal end as said distal portion is extended from said first passageway at said tapered first distal end of said cannula, said second distal end of said second cannula abutting against said first proximal end of said first cannula when transferring said distal portion of said wire guide in said unwound configuration from said second passageway of said second cannula to said first passageway of said first cannula.