	US 11,986,359 B2
	Multi-mode imaging markers
William Blair, San Diego, CA (US); Mike Jones, San Clemente, CA (US); and John Merritt, San Clemente, CA (US)
Assigned to View Point Medical, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed by View Point Medical, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/473,820.
Application 17/473,820 is a continuation of application No. 15/946,479, filed on Apr. 5, 2018, granted, now 11,116,599.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/483,274, filed on Apr. 7, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/645,677, filed on Mar. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0104913 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 6/12 (2006.01); A61B 6/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 6/50 (2024.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)

CPC A61B 90/39 (2016.02) [A61B 6/12 (2013.01); A61B 6/487 (2013.01); A61B 6/502 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00898 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00938 (2013.01); A61B 2090/3908 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3925 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3937 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3954 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3966 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3987 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3995 (2016.02)]

23 Claims

1. A multi-mode composite gel marker, comprising:

a gel material forming an expandable gel marker body;

a plurality of silica shells dispersed within the gel material, each of the plurality of silica shells including a respective shell body having a layer which is formed from silica, a hollow void disposed within an inner surface of the shell body, and a hydrophobic polymer coating that seals the hollow void within each silica shell and prevents ingress of fluids into the hollow void; and

a radiopaque marker carried by the gel material that forms the expandable gel marker body.