Marker delivery device with releasable plug

Abstract

A tissue marker delivery device includes a hollow cannula and a fibrous marker. The hollow cannula has a distal region. The fibrous marker is disposed within the distal region. The fibrous marker includes a plurality of bioabsorbable strands, and a binding agent. Optionally, the tissue marker delivery device may include a short-term marker that includes an imagable agent that does not interfere with imaging adjacent tissue.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A tissue marker delivery device, comprising:
 a hollow cannula with a distal region; and   a fibrous marker disposed within the distal region comprising:
 a plurality of bioabsorbable strands, and 
 a binding agent. 
   
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the fibrous marker has a 0.5-12 mm diameter. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the fibrous marker has a 5-30 mm length. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the binding agent comprises a water soluble component or the binding agent is water soluble. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the binding agent is water soluble. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35 , further comprising a short-term marker disposed in the hollow cannula, the short-term marker comprises an imagable agent that does not interfere with imaging adjacent tissue. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the imagable agent is imagable with ultrasound. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the imagable agent is imagable with ultrasound for 2 weeks-1 year or 6 weeks-6 months after delivery. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the imagable agent is radiopaque. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39 , further comprising any one or any combination of titanium, platinum, gold, iridium, tantalum, tungsten, silver, and rhodium. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 40 , wherein the imagable agent is imagable with MRI. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 33 , further comprising an imagable agent that does not interfere with imaging adjacent tissue. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein the imagable agent is imagable with ultrasound for 2 weeks-1 year or 6 weeks-6 months after delivery. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 43 , wherein the imagable agent comprises any one or any combination of titanium, platinum, gold, iridium, tantalum, tungsten, silver, and rhodium. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein the imagable agent is imagable with MRI. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein the imagable agent is radiopaque. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the binding agent is water-soluble. 
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 47 , further comprising a short-term marker disposed in the hollow cannula, the short-term marker comprises an imagable agent that does not interfere with imaging adjacent tissue. 
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the imagable agent is imagable with ultrasound for 2 weeks-1 year or 6 weeks-6 months after delivery. 
     
     
         50 . A tissue marker delivery device, comprising:
 a hollow cannula with a distal region;   a fibrous marker disposed within the distal region comprising:
 a plurality of bioabsorbable strands, and 
 a binding agent wherein the binding agent comprises a water soluble component or is water soluble; and 
   a short-term marker disposed in the hollow cannula, the short-term marker comprises an imagable agent that does not interfere with imaging adjacent tissue,   wherein:
 the fibrous marker has a 0.5-12 mm diameter, 
 the fibrous marker has a 5-30 mm length, and 
 the imagable agent is imagable with ultrasound for 2 weeks-1 year or 6 weeks-6 months after delivery.