Mri detectable obturator

Abstract

An obturator for marking an intracorporeal site includes an elongated shaft having an inner lumen, a proximal end, and a substantially closed distal end, the substantially closed distal end being formed of a penetrable membrane. A stylet has an MRI detectable distal shaft portion configured for removable insertion into the inner lumen of the elongated shaft to a location proximal to the penetrable membrane. The MRI detectable distal shaft portion is configured to not interfere with magnetic resonance imaging of tissue proximate thereto.

1 . An obturator for marking an intracorporeal site comprising:
 an elongated shaft having an inner lumen, a proximal end, and a substantially closed distal end, the substantially closed distal end being formed of a penetrable membrane; and   a stylet having an MRI detectable distal shaft portion configured for removable insertion into the inner lumen of the elongated shaft to a location proximal to the penetrable membrane, the MRI detectable distal shaft portion configured to not interfere with magnetic resonance imaging of tissue proximate thereto.   
     
     
         2 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The obturator of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially closed distal end has a rounded external surface. 
     
     
         35 . A marker delivery apparatus, comprising:
 an MRI detectable obturator having an elongated shaft, an inner lumen, a proximal end, and a substantially closed distal end, the substantially closed distal end being formed of a penetrable membrane, the MRI detectable obturator configured to not interfere with magnetic resonance imaging of tissue proximate thereto; and   a marker delivery tube configured to be slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the MRI detectable obturator, the marker delivery tube having a marker delivery lumen, a proximal end, and a distal tip, the marker delivery lumen being configured to contain one or more tissue markers, and the distal tip being configured to puncture the penetrable membrane of the substantially closed distal end of the MRI detectable obturator to form a passage through which the distal tip extends to facilitate delivery of the one or more tissue markers.   
     
     
         36 . The marker delivery apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the distal tip of the marker delivery tube is needle shaped. 
     
     
         37 . The marker delivery apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the substantially closed distal end has a rounded external surface. 
     
     
         38 . A marker delivery apparatus, comprising:
 an obturator for marking an intracorporeal site including:
 an elongated hollow shaft having an inner lumen, a proximal end, and a substantially closed distal end, the substantially closed distal end being formed of a penetrable membrane; and 
 a stylet having an MRI detectable distal shaft portion configured for removable insertion into the inner lumen of the elongated hollow shaft to a location proximal to the penetrable membrane; and 
   a marker delivery tube configured to be slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the obturator, the marker delivery tube having a marker delivery lumen, a proximal end, and a distal tip, the marker delivery lumen being configured to contain one or more tissue markers, and the distal tip being configured to puncture the penetrable membrane of the substantially closed distal end of the obturator to form a passage through which the distal tip extends for delivery of the one or more tissue markers.   
     
     
         39 . The marker delivery apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the distal tip of the marker delivery tube is needle shaped. 
     
     
         40 . The marker delivery apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the marker delivery tube is non-magnetic. 
     
     
         41 . The marker delivery apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the substantially closed distal end has a rounded external surface.