Device and method for facilitating hemostasis of a biopsy tract

Abstract

A biopsy cannula and a delivery catheter are configured to deliver one or more absorbable sponge pledgets to a biopsy site after removal of one or more tissue samples from the site. The delivery catheter allows a large amount of hydrated sponge material to be delivery to the biopsy site to facilitate hemostasis. One example of the delivery catheter includes a closed distal end, a side port, a tapered section, and an enlarged proximal portion for receiving the pledget. The side port of the delivery catheter is arranged to delivery the pledget through the side port of the biopsy cannula. In order to fill a relatively large biopsy site where multiple tissue samples have been taken in a radial pattern, the biopsy cannula is rotated and additional pledgets are delivered to the biopsy site at different radial locations. The absorbable sponge pledget may also be used as a marker for location of the biopsy site at a later time.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for injecting a sponge into tissue, the system comprising: 
 a catheter having a closed distal end and a side port adjacent the distal end for delivering a pledget of sponge material in a hydrated state to the tissue; and    an adaptor connected to the catheter for hydrating and delivering the pledget to the catheter, the adaptor having a tapered lumen with a large diameter proximal end and a small diameter distal end, wherein the small diameter distal end is connected to the cannula.    
     
     
         2 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein the adaptor is fixed to the catheter.  
     
     
         3 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein the adaptor is removable from the catheter.  
     
     
         4 . The system of    claim 1   , further comprising a biopsy cannula having a tissue puncturing distal end and a side port positioned adjacent the distal end, wherein the catheter is configured to fit within the biopsy cannula to deliver the pledget to the tissue.  
     
     
         5 . The system of    claim 4   , wherein the biopsy cannula includes a first indexing member and the catheter includes a second indexing member for radially aligning the catheter with the cannula.  
     
     
         6 . The system of    claim 5   , wherein the first and second indexing members include at least one projection and at least one corresponding recess.  
     
     
         7 . The system of    claim 1   , further comprising a pledget of sponge material preloaded in the adapter.  
     
     
         8 . The system of    claim 7   , wherein the sponge is an absorbable sponge material.  
     
     
         9 . The system of    claim 7   , wherein the sponge contains a radiopaque marker.  
     
     
         10 . The system of    claim 4   , wherein the biopsy cannula is a breast biopsy cannula.  
     
     
         11 . A method of delivering an absorbable radiopaque marker to a biopsy site comprising: 
 removing tissue from a biopsy site through a cannula inserted to the biopsy site; and    delivering an absorbable radiopaque marker through the cannula to the biopsy site.    
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein the absorbable radiopaque marker is formed of an absorbable sponge material.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein the tissue is removed from the biopsy site through a side port of the cannula and the absorbable radiopaque marker is delivered through the side port of the biopsy cannula.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein the cannula remains in place at the biopsy site after removal of the tissue for delivery of the absorbable radiopaque marker.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein the absorbable radiopaque marker is formed of a hemostatic sponge material.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein the tissue is removed from a breast biopsy site.  
     
     
         17 . A method of facilitating hemostasis of a biopsy site comprising: 
 removing tissue from a biopsy site through a side port of a cannula inserted to the biopsy site; and    delivering a hemostasis promoting material through the side port of the cannula to the biopsy site.    
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 17   , wherein multiple tissue samples are removed at different radial locations around the cannula and delivery of the hemostasis promoting material is repeated at different radial locations around the cannula.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 17   , wherein the hemostasis promoting material is delivered by hydrating and compressing the hemostasis promoting material and injecting the material by fluid pressure to the biopsy site.  
     
     
         20 . The method of claims  17 , wherein the hemostasis promoting material is a sponge pledget.  
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 20   , wherein the sponge pledget is absorbable.  
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 20   , wherein the sponge pledget includes a radiopaque marker.  
     
     
         23 . The method of    claim 17   , wherein the tissue is removed from a breast biopsy site.