Embodiments include a fiducial deployment system with a handle configured for actuation of same. A fiducial may include one or more protuberances configured to engage one or more slots in a needle of the system. The needle may be configured to deliver a plurality of fiducials to a target location in serial fashion, one at a time. In certain embodiments, echogenic placement of fiducials may present certain advantages. The handle includes an actuation mechanism with rotatable housing portion or member configured for incrementally or otherwise controlledly deploy one or more fiducials at a time by advancing a stylet through and/or retracting the body of a slotted needle in which fiducials are disposed with a fiducial protrusion extending into the needle slot, which also includes retaining structures that do not impede the needle lumen.

A magnetic marker for use in locating tissue for surgery includes a casing and two to five magnetic elements arranged in a row. The two or more magnetic elements are separated from each other by an isolating material. The magnetic marker may be non-bio-absorbable. This means that the magnetic marker is invariable as it does not decay over time. This invariability ensures that on the basis of the signal measured by a magnetometer device a distance between a probe of the magnetometer device and the magnetic marker can be determined.

Markers and related systems and methods are provided for localizing lesions within a patient's body, e.g., within a breast. The marker includes one or more photosensitive diodes for transforming light pulses striking the marker into electrical energy, one or more antennas, and a switch coupled to the photodiodes and antennas such that the light pulses cause the switch to open and close and modulate radar signals reflected by the marker back to a source of the signals. The antenna(s) may include one or more wire elements extending from a housing, one or more antenna elements printed on a substrate, or one or more chip antennas. Optionally, the marker may include a processor coupled to the photodiodes for identifying signals in the light pulses or one or more coatings or filters to allow selective activation of the marker.

Markers, probes, and related systems and methods are provided for localizing locations within a patient's body, e.g., a lesion within a breast. The marker includes an energy converter e.g., one or more photodiodes, for transforming light energy striking the marker into electrical energy, a storage device coupled to the energy converter for storing the electrical energy, a threshold element that closes a switch when the electrical energy reaches a predetermined threshold to discharge the electrical energy and cause the antenna to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal. The system includes a probe that transmits light into the patient's body and a processor that correlate the frequency of the RF signals to a distance from the probe to the marker.

A biopsy imaging rod (100) includes an elongated rod member (200) having a sharp distal end (210) and a channel extending from a proximal end to an egress port (220) near the distal end, and it also includes an onboard biopsy marker (400) positioned in the channel proximal to the egress port. The biopsy imaging rod also includes a pushrod (300) slideably positioned in the channel adjacent to the biopsy marker extending from the proximal end of the elongated rod member to the egress port, the pushrod biased to bend toward the biopsy marker. The biopsy imaging rod may additionally include an imageable portion between the distal end and the egress port. Methods for making and using the biopsy imaging rod are also disclosed.

A method is provided for treating a gland or duct of a patient. In a particular embodiment, an obstruction in a gland or duct and the orifice thereof can be alleviated; in another, a substance can be injected thereinto; in yet another, the gland can be aspirated. The method includes the step of inserting an elongated6 probe into a gland or duct via an orifice thereinto. In some embodiments the probe can have a longitudinal lumen therethrough, with at least one distal hole through the probe wall in fluid communication with the lumen. The lumen can be used in concert with a source of suction for removing debris from the gland or duct, and/or with a source of a fluid and pumping means, for injecting a substance into the gland or duct.

Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for resecting a tissue mass. The system for resecting a tissue mass includes a first sensor for measuring a signal corresponding to the position and orientation of the tissue mass. The first sensor is dimensioned to fit inside of or next to the tissue mass. The system also includes a second sensor attached to a surgical instrument configured to measure the position and orientation of the surgical instrument. A controller is in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, and the controller executes a stored program to calculate a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor. Accordingly, visual, auditory, haptic or other feedback is provided to the clinician to guide the surgical instrument to the surgical margin.

A positioning device for positioning an abnormal tissue is provided. The positioning device comprises a positioning tube and a positioning suture accommodated in the positioning tube. When the positioning suture is injected into the abnormal tissue, a head portion and a portion of a body portion of the positioning suture are retained inside the abnormal tissue while the rest of the body portion being exposed outside the abnormal tissue, thereby marking a specific area accordingly to facilitate the subsequent excision process.

Methods and devices for removing non-viable tissue at a treatment situs are described. The method can include administering a selective biofilm stain dye to the treatment situs at a dilution that selectively stains non-viable tissue compared to viable tissue at a selectivity ratio that provides a visually identifiable separation between the non-viable tissue and the viable tissue. The selective biofilm stain dye is diluted in water to a concentration of from about 0.001 mg/mL to about 0.5 mg/mL. The method can also include visually identifying the non-viable tissue, and removing the non-viable tissue based on the visual identification.

A biofilm staining device can include an applicator having a dispense tip, a rupture lever adapted to rupture a rupturable capsule and release a selective biofilm stain dye, and a housing sized to retain the rupturable capsule and adapted to allow released selective biofilm stain dye to flow to the dispense tip.

A cannula defines a cannula axis and extends from the body of a localization device. An actuation system and a control rod are slidably and rotatably disposed within the body and the cannula. The control rod is operatively coupled to the actuation system for both slidable actuation and rotatable actuation.