Composite Breast Tissue Marker for Use with Companion Localization Device (2020-012)

Technical Summary:

This invention is partially comprised of the polymeric carrier, with the purpose of being highly bio-compatible and biodegradable within the patient over the course of a predetermined timeline. It is additionally comprised of ferrous nanoparticles, with the purpose of enabling the location of the marker to be determined magnetically by a probe. Currently, competing technologies such as Magseed and Mamaloc utilize all metal markers, which creates voids in MRI images and incompatibility issues render them not recommended for patients with nickel allergies. Additionally, the all-metal body of these seeds can lead to the detector device having to be recalibrated during surgery, due to thermal drift throwing off the accuracy of its measurements. Due to the biocompatibility of the marker’s PLGA/PLA composition, this device has utility as a primary marker, due to the ability to be placed long in advance of surgery and indefinitely maintained in the tissue until a predetermined date of biodegradation. Because this technology substantially reduces reliance on high-cost imaging facilities necessary for both radioseeds and wires, this technology and technologies of its type are substantially cost saving.