Implantatble identification marker

• US 20020083951A1
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Datamars SA (Province of Québec)
• Original Assignee: Datamars SA (Province of Québec)
• Inventors: Schlosser, Viola, Gwalter, Ruedi, Mayer, Jorg, Stegmaier, Peter, Bruinink, Arie
• Application Number:
  US10/028,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20020083951A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/899
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

An implantable identification marker comprises an electronic device (4) enclosed within a vial (1; 2) isolating the device (4) from body fluids of the animal after insertion of the marker into the body of an animal. The marker further comprises a fixation structure (8; 5) providing a significantly in-creased total surface of the marker and/or a reduced specific weight of the marker. This improves the integration of the marker into the surrounding tissue avoiding migration within the animal.

Claims

1. An implantable identification marker comprising:

an electronic device enclosed within a biocompatible material isolating the device from body fluids of the animal after insertion of the marker into the body of an animal; and

a fixation structure attached to the biocompatible material thereby providing a significantly increased total surface of the marker.

2. The implantable identification marker according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a transponder.

3. The implantable identification marker according to claim 1, wherein the fixation structure extends radially from the biocompatible material thereby permitting tissue elements of the animal to grow into said fixation structure following insertion.

4. The implantable identification marker according to claim 1, wherein said biocompatible material isolating the device has a first end and a second end.

5. The implantable identification marker according to claim 4, wherein the fixation structure extends beyond said first end of said biocompatible material.

6. The implantable identification marker according to claim 4, wherein the fixation structure extends beyond said first end and said second end of said biocompatible material.

7. The implantable identification marker according to claim 1, wherein the fixation structure further comprises a net biased against the biocompatible material and forming at least one implantable structure composed of a restricted structure to ensure that the biocompatible material is encapsulated within the net.

8. The implantable identification marker according to claim 7, wherein the fixation structure further comprises a plurality of filaments.

9. The implantable identification marker according to claim 8, wherein said filaments for a cone-shaped structure.

10. The implantable identification marker according to claim 7, wherein the fixation structure comprises a plurality of sheets.

11. The implantable identification marker according to claim 10, wherein said filaments further comprise a plurality of holes.

12. The implantable identification marker according to claim 11 wherein said holes have the same diameter.

13. The implantable identification marker according to claim 11 wherein said holes have different diameters.

14. The implantable identification marker according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible material isolating the electronic device and the fixation structure form one piece.

15. The implantable identification marker according to claim 1 wherein the fixation structure further comprises a compressible element disposed adjacent to the biocompatible material.

16. The implantable identification marker according to claim 1 wherein a biodegradable membrane is disposed adjacent to the fixation structure.

17. The implantable identification marker according to claim 16 wherein the biodegradable membrane encapsulates the fixation structure.

18. The implantable identification marker according to claim 1 further comprising an implantation set consisting of a needle portion to be inserted into the skin of an animal, wherein the needle portion is hollow.

19. The implantable identification marker according to claim 18 wherein the needle portion has an exit opening having a first inner diameter and an entrance opening having a second inner diameter, larger then the first inner diameter, thereby permitting the loading of the marker in the needle.

20. The implantable identification marker according to claim 19, wherein the fixation structure of the marker holds the marker within the hollow needle portion, so that the marker can only be displaced in the needle portion through action of a plunger pushing the marker through the exit opening of the needle portion.

21. An implantable identification marker comprising:

an electronic device enclosed within a biocompatible material isolating the device from body fluids of the animal after insertion of the marker into the body of an animal; and

a fixation structure attached to the biocompatible material thereby providing a reduced specific weight of the marker.

22. A method for implanting an identification marker subcutaneously within an animal comprising the steps of:

obtaining an electronic device encoded with identifying information for an animal;

enclosing the electronic device with biocompatible material to form a vial;

covering said vial with a fixation structure to form an identification marker;

compressing at least a part of the fixation structure;

injecting the marker into the animal; and

expanding the fixation structure within the animal to reduce migration of the marker.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the fixation structure is held in compression with a biodegradable member which dissolves after injection thereby allowing the fixation structure to expand and engage tissues in the subcutaneous layer of the animal.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

enclosing the vial with a net having filaments therein, portions of the filaments being bound by biodegradable material which expands after injection of the marker within the animal.

25. The method of claim 22 which further comprises:

placing the identification marker within an implantation device containing a hollow needle portion and a plunger; and

injecting the identification marker into the animal by slideably disposing the identification marker through the needle portion and into a subcutaneous skin layer of the animal by the use of a plunger, wherein the fixation structure secures itself within the subcutaneous layer of the animal preventing the migration of the marker.