Implantable and insertable passive tags
First Claim
1. Apparatus for determining the position of an object within a body of a subject, comprising:
- at least one acoustic wave generator, adapted to direct a first acoustic wave toward the body at a first frequency;
an acoustic tag adapted to be fixed to the object, the tag comprising a shell defining a cavity therein and a medium contained within the shell, such that responsive to incidence thereon of the first acoustic wave, the tag emits a second acoustic wave at a second frequency, different from the first frequency;
one or more detectors, adapted to detect the second acoustic wave and to generate signals responsive thereto; and
a signal processor, coupled to process the signals so as to determine coordinates of the object in the body.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for determining the position of an object within a body of a subject includes at least one acoustic wave generator, adapted to direct a first acoustic wave toward the body at a first frequency. An acoustic tag is adapted to be fixed to the object, the tag including a shell defining a cavity therein and a medium contained within the shell, such that responsive to incidence thereon of the first acoustic wave, the tag emits a second acoustic wave at a second frequency, different from the first frequency. One or more detectors are adapted to detect the second acoustic wave and to generate signals responsive thereto. A signal processor is coupled to process the signals so as to determine coordinates of the object in the body.
161 Citations
48 Claims
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1. Apparatus for determining the position of an object within a body of a subject, comprising:
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at least one acoustic wave generator, adapted to direct a first acoustic wave toward the body at a first frequency;
an acoustic tag adapted to be fixed to the object, the tag comprising a shell defining a cavity therein and a medium contained within the shell, such that responsive to incidence thereon of the first acoustic wave, the tag emits a second acoustic wave at a second frequency, different from the first frequency;
one or more detectors, adapted to detect the second acoustic wave and to generate signals responsive thereto; and
a signal processor, coupled to process the signals so as to determine coordinates of the object in the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. Apparatus for determining the position of an object within a body of a subject, comprising:
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at least one acoustic wave generator, adapted to direct acoustic waves toward the body over a range of frequencies, including at least first and second frequencies;
an acoustic tag adapted to be fixed to the object, the tag being constructed so as to reflect the acoustic waves at the first frequency with a first spatial pattern of intensity variation, and to reflect the acoustic waves at the second frequency with a second spatial pattern of intensity variation, one or more detectors, adapted to detect the reflected acoustic waves and to generate signals responsive thereto; and
a signal processor, coupled to process the signals so as to determine an angular orientation coordinate of the object in the body responsive to a difference between the first and second spatial patterns. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for determining the position of an object within a body of a subject, comprising:
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at least one acoustic wave generator, adapted to direct acoustic waves toward the body;
a transducer adapted to be fixed to the object and constructed to emit electromagnetic radiation responsive to the acoustic waves with a response that varies depending on an orientation angle of the transducer relative to the at least one acoustic wave generator;
one or more detectors, adapted to detect the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transducer and to generate signals responsive thereto; and
a signal processor, coupled to process the signals so as to determine an angular orientation coordinate of the object in the body. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31)
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16. Apparatus for determining the position of an object within a body of a subject, comprising:
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at least one field generator, adapted to generate an electromagnetic field within the body;
a transducer adapted to be fixed to the object and constructed to emit acoustic waves responsive to the electromagnetic field;
one or more acoustic detectors, adapted to detect the acoustic waves emitted by the transducer and to generate signals responsive thereto; and
a signal processor, coupled to process the signals so as to determine coordinates of the object in the body.
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25. A method for determining the position of an object within a body of a subject, comprising:
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fixing an acoustic tag to the object, the tag comprising a shell defining a cavity therein and a medium contained within the shell, such that responsive to incidence thereon of a first acoustic wave at a first frequency, the tag emits a second acoustic wave at a second frequency, different from the first frequency;
inserting the object into the body of the subject;
directing the first acoustic wave toward the body at the first frequency, causing the tag to emit the second acoustic wave at the second frequency;
detecting the second acoustic wave and generating signals responsive thereto; and
processing the signals so as to determine coordinates of the object in the body.
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28. A method for determining the position of an object within a body of a subject, comprising:
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fixing an acoustic tag to the object, the tag being constructed so as to reflect acoustic waves at a first frequency with a first spatial pattern of intensity variation, and to reflect acoustic waves at a second frequency with a second spatial pattern of intensity variation;
inserting the object into the body of the subject;
directing the acoustic waves toward the body over a range of frequencies, including at least the first and second frequencies;
detecting the reflected acoustic waves and generating signals responsive thereto; and
processing the signals so as to determine an angular orientation coordinate of the object in the body responsive to a difference between the first and second spatial patterns.
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32. A method for determining the position of an object within a body of a subject, comprising:
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fixing a transducer to the object, the transducer being configured to emit electromagnetic radiation responsive to acoustic waves incident thereon with a response that varies depending on an orientation angle of the transducer relative to a source of the acoustic waves;
inserting the object into the body of the subject;
directing the acoustic waves toward the body;
detecting the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transducer responsive to the acoustic waves, and generating signals responsive thereto; and
processing the signals so as to determine an angular orientation coordinate of the object in the body. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for determining the position of an object within a body of a subject, comprising:
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fixing a transducer to the object, the transducer being configured to emit acoustic waves responsive to an electromagnetic field that is incident thereon;
inserting the object into the body of the subject;
generating the electromagnetic field within the body;
detecting the acoustic waves emitted by the transducer and generating signals responsive thereto; and
processing the signals so as to determine coordinates of the object in the body. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification