@article{prahl09e,
  author = {Scott Prahl and Amanda Dayton},
  title = {Optical Wire Illuminator},
  journal = {United States Provisional Patent Application},
  year = {2009},
  abstract = {The invention is for an optical wire lumpectomy (OWL) system. This system has three components: an optical wire, an optical fiber, and a light source. The optical wire is a replacement for the Kopans wire commonly used for wire-localized breast lumpectomies. The optical wire consists of a metallic hook, a translucent plastic tube, a crimping ring to retain the hook in the tube. A metallic wire is inserted into the tube to provide rigidity. Before surgery, the optical wire is placed by a radiologist with x-ray or ultrasonic guidance in exactly the same manner as a traditional Kopans wire. At surgery, the metallic wire is removed and an optical fiber is inserted into the optical wire. The optical fiber is coupled to a light source to create a glowball of light around a breast lesion. The glowball helps the surgeon find and remove the lesion.},
}