| abstract |
A delivery apparatus for the percutaneous placement of a medical device (10) at an area of interest (92) in a tissue mass (90) comprises an introducer (16) comprising a cannula (20) having an insertion tip (30), an expulsion opening (28) near the insertion tip (30), and a medical device (10) within the cannula (20) comprising an imaging element (12), and a guide element (14) connected to the imaging element (12) and having a separable portion, and wherein the cannula (20) is inserted into the tissue mass (90) such that the medical device (10) can be expelled through the expulsion opening (28) into the tissue mass (90), and when the cannula (20) is withdrawn from the tissue mass (90), the imaging element (12) is placed within the tissue mass (90) at the area of interest (92), and at least part of the guide element (14) extends exteriorly of the tissue mass (90), and when the separable portion is separated from the guide element (14), no part of the guide element (14) extends exteriorly of the tissue mass (90). |