Biological tissue position location and marking

Abstract

Methods of performing surgical operations and associated devices are disclosed. An example method may include locating a first position on a first surface of a biological tissue; locating a second position on a second opposing surface of the biological tissue, the second position corresponding to the first position; and marking the second position on the second surface. The second surface may be generally opposite the first surface. An example method may include, after marking the second position, performing a therapeutic procedure on the biological tissue in the vicinity of the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of marking a biological tissue, the method comprising:
 introducing a marking device into a surgical space, the marking device including an elongated shaft and an at least partially covered, distally disposed absorbent tip;   exposing the tip; and   marking the tissue by applying a marking substance from the tip to the tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the marking substance comprises at least one of an ink, a dye, a radionuclide, a radiopaque substance, and a magnetic substance. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to introducing the marking device into the surgical space, loading the tip with a liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the liquid comprises the marking substance. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the tip is pre-loaded with a dry form of the marking substance; and   wherein loading the tip with the liquid comprises hydrating the tip and the marking substance.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the tip comprises at least one microneedle; and   wherein marking the tissue comprises penetrating the tissue with the microneedle.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the marking device comprises a sheath slidably disposed on the shaft, the sheath being longitudinally movable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration; and   wherein exposing the tip comprises withdrawing the sheath from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the sheath is substantially transparent; and   wherein the method further comprises,   
       prior to exposing the tip, aligning a distal portion of the sheath with a portion of the tissue by viewing at least the portion of the tissue through the sheath. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the tip is longitudinally movable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration; and   wherein exposing the tip comprises extending the tip from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising reloading the tip with the marking substance by moving the tip from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , after introducing the marking device into the surgical space, guiding the tip to a desired location using at least one of magnetic attraction, magnetic repulsion, and an impedance measurement of the tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, before marking the tissue, stabilizing the marking device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein stabilizing the marking device comprises at least one of stabilizing the marking device using suction and stabilizing the marking device using magnetic attraction. 
     
     
         14 . A method of marking a biological tissue, the method comprising:
 locating a position on a biological tissue;   applying a patch at the position; and   transferring a marking substance from the patch to the tissue.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the marking substance comprises at least one of an ink and a dye. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the marking substance comprises a radionuclide. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the marking substance comprises a radiopaque substance. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the marking substance comprises a magnetic substance. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the patch comprises a substrate configured to hold the marking substance. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the substrate is constructed from a bioabsorbable material; and   wherein the method comprises leaving the patch in position on the tissue after a surgical procedure.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the substrate is constructed from a biocompatible material; and   wherein the method comprises removing the patch from the tissue before completion of a surgical procedure.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the substrate is constructed from a biocompatible material; and   wherein the method comprises leaving the patch in position on the tissue after a surgical procedure.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method comprises providing the patch in a dry state. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method comprises applying the patch in the dry state. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method comprises, before applying the patch, hydrating the patch. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 ,
 wherein the patch comprises the substrate and a dry form of the marking substance; and   wherein hydrating the patch comprises hydrating the marking substance.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein hydrating the patch comprises hydrating the patch with a liquid form of the marking substance. 
     
     
         28 . A surgical device for marking a biological tissue, the surgical device comprising:
 an elongated shaft;   a tip disposed distally on the elongated shaft, the tip comprising an absorbent material; and   a sheath slidably disposed on the shaft, the sheath being longitudinally movable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration;   wherein, in the extended configuration, the sheath at least partially covers a distal portion of the shaft and the tip; and   wherein, in the retracted configuration, at least a portion of the tip is exposed.   
     
     
         29 . The surgical device of  claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of the sheath is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical device of  claim 28 , wherein the tip comprises at least one microneedle arranged to penetrate a target tissue. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical device of  claim 28 , wherein the tip is configured to be loaded with a marking substance. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical device of  claim 31 , wherein the tip is loaded with the marking substance. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical device of  claim 32 , wherein the marking substance comprises at least one of an ink and a dye. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical device of  claim 32 , wherein the marking substance comprises a radionuclide. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical device of  claim 32 , wherein the marking substance comprises a radiopaque substance. 
     
     
         36 . The surgical device of  claim 32 , wherein the marking substance comprises a magnetic substance. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical device of  claim 32 , wherein the marking substance is a liquid. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical device of  claim 32 ,
 wherein the marking substance is in a dry state; and   wherein the tip and the marking substance are configured to be hydrated prior to use.   
     
     
         39 . A surgical device for marking a biological tissue, the surgical device comprising:
 an elongated shaft with a distally disposed tip, the tip comprising an absorbent material;   wherein the tip is longitudinally movable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration;   wherein, in the retracted configuration, the tip is positioned substantially within the shaft; and   wherein, in the extended configuration, at least a portion of the tip is exposed.   
     
     
         40 . The surgical device of  claim 39 , wherein the tip is configured to be loaded with a marking substance. 
     
     
         41 . The surgical device of  claim 40 , wherein the tip is loaded with the marking substance. 
     
     
         42 . The surgical device of  claim 41 , wherein the marking substance comprises at least one of an ink and a dye. 
     
     
         43 . The surgical device of  claim 41 , wherein the marking substance comprises a radionuclide. 
     
     
         44 . The surgical device of  claim 41 , wherein the marking substance comprises a radiopaque substance. 
     
     
         45 . The surgical device of  claim 41 , wherein the marking substance comprises a magnetic substance. 
     
     
         46 . The surgical device of  claim 41 , wherein the marking substance is a liquid. 
     
     
         47 . The surgical device of  claim 41 ,
 wherein the marking substance is in a dry state; and   wherein the tip and the marking substance are configured to be hydrated prior to use.   
     
     
         48 . A patch for marking a biological tissue, the patch comprising:
 a substrate; and   a marking substance loaded in the substrate.   
     
     
         49 . The patch of  claim 48 , wherein the substrate is configured to transfer at least some of the marking substance to a biological tissue. 
     
     
         50 . The patch of  claim 48 , wherein the marking substance comprises at least one of an ink and a dye. 
     
     
         51 . The patch of  claim 48 , wherein the marking substance comprises a radionuclide. 
     
     
         52 . The patch of  claim 48 , wherein the marking substance comprises a radiopaque substance. 
     
     
         53 . The patch of  claim 48 , wherein the marking substance comprises a magnetic substance. 
     
     
         54 . The patch of  claim 48 , wherein the substrate is constructed from a bioabsorbable material. 
     
     
         55 . The patch of  claim 48 , wherein the substrate is constructed from a biocompatible material. 
     
     
         56 . The patch of  claim 48 , wherein the patch comprises a dry form of the substrate and a dry form of the marking substance. 
     
     
         57 . The patch of  claim 56 , wherein the patch is configured to be placed on a biological tissue without being pre-hydrated. 
     
     
         58 . The patch of  claim 56 , wherein the patch is configured to hydrated before being placed on a biological tissue. 
     
     
         59 . The patch of  claim 48 , wherein the marking substance comprises a liquid. 
     
     
         60 . The patch of  claim 48 , wherein the substrate comprises a film. 
     
     
         61 . The patch of  claim 48 , wherein the substrate is electrically insulative. 
     
     
         62 . A method of making a biological tissue marking device, the method comprising:
 providing a substrate comprising at least one of a bioabsorbable material and a biocompatible material; and   loading a marking substance into the substrate.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein absorbing the marking substance into the substrate comprises absorbing a liquid marking substance into the substrate. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising, after loading the liquid marking substance into the substrate, dehydrating the substrate and the marking substance. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising, prior to use, hydrating the substrate and the marking substance. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein loading the marking substance into the substrate comprises loading a dry form of the marking substance into the substrate. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 62 ,
 wherein the substrate comprises a film; and   wherein providing the substrate comprises forming the film.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein providing the substrate comprises providing the substrate in a ready-to-use size and shape. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein providing the substrate comprises providing the substrate in a size larger than a desired use size and shape. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the method further comprises cutting the substrate to the desired use size and shape.