Signal tag detection components, devices, and systems

• US 10,245,118 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2017
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elucent Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Elucent Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: van der Weide, Daniel W., Lee, Jr., Fred T., Stewart, Robert C., Wilke, Lee G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Christine H
• Application Number:
  US15/645,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20170312046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00904 Automatic detection of target tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3908 Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3945 Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3962 palpable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

Provided herein are systems, devices, assemblies, and methods for localization of a tag in a tissue of a patient. For example, provided herein are systems, devices, and methods employing a detection component that is attached to or integrated with a surgical device, where the detection component detects a signal from a tag in a patient, where the tag is activated by remote introduction of a magnetic field.

Claims

1. A method for localizing a tissue region of a patient, comprising:

a) placing a remote activating device and a patient in proximity to each other,

wherein said remote activating device generates a magnetic field, and

wherein said patient comprises a tag at a location in, on, or proximal to a tissue of said patient; and

b) localizing said tag in said patient by generating a magnetic field with said remote activating device and detecting a signal from said tag using a detector component,

wherein said detector component comprises an electronics component and at least one sense coil and is attached to, or integrated with, a surgical device, wherein said electronics component comprises a signal processor, and

wherein said detector component and said remote activating device are separate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one sense coil comprises at least three sense coils that are separated from each other by at least 20 mm.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one sense coil comprises three sense coils arranged in a triangle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said remote activating device comprises an excitation coil.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronics component comprises:

i) a spatial orientation indicator, and/or ii) a distance-to-tag indicator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal comprises:

i) a signal detectable by sensory perception;

ii) an interruption or perturbation in said magnetic field;

or iii) light.

7. A system comprising:

i) a surgical instrument comprising a cutting and/or cautery tip,

ii) a remote activating device that generates a magnetic field, wherein said remote activating device comprises a flat pad configured to be positioned under a patient, wherein said flat pad comprises multiple activating coils, wherein each of said activating coils comprises magnet wire wound around a mandrel,

iii) an RFID tag that is insertable at a location in or on a tissue of said patient wherein said RFID tag is activated by said magnetic field,

iv) a control unit comprising a processor and a control software, wherein said control unit is linked to said remote activating device, and,

v) a visual display component configured to display a distance of said cutting or cautery tip to said RFID tag.