Unmet Need
Around 250,000 patients are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and overall, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In order for proper diagnosis, biopsies must be performed, usually requiring minor, open surgery. The procedures commence with needle localization, where the radiologist inserts a needle into the breast lesion of interest. New localization procedures are being developed, but although these procedures mark the lesion within the breast, the ideal incision location and approach tract for the surgeon is not made obvious. Thus, there is a need for a method by which to locate and clearly mark the lesion in the breast for accurate removal.
Technology Overview
Inventors have created an invention that is a dual lumen needle, allowing an interventionalist to mark both the breast lesion as well as the approach tract. The needle allows the target mass in the breast to be marked in a different color of fluorescent ink than the tract, which simplifies identification of the breast target. The design of the needle may include two lumens and two ports, or may be comprised of a single lumen with coaxial end-hole and side-hole needles, depending upon the procedure and the location of the malignancy.
Stage of Development
The invention is currently undergoing development.
