Active, radiating low frequency implantable sensor and radio tag system

• US 20100004523A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vandenberg, Michael J., Waterhouse, Paul, Stevens, John K., August, Jason, Truong, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US11/402,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004523A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/365
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive

Abstract

A low frequency implantable sensor and radio tag system, includes a sensor device which in turn includes: storage storing information including information identifying the device; an apparatus, coupled to the transceiver, for measuring a body condition for transmission to a reader; a transceiver, coupled to the storage, the transceiver operating at a frequency sufficiently low to operate near or within water; and an antenna, coupled to the transceiver, communicating with an external reader.

Claims

1. A low frequency implantable sensor and radio tag system, comprising:

a sensor device comprising;

storage storing information including information identifying the device;

an apparatus, coupled to a transceiver, for measuring a body condition for transmission to a reader;

a transceiver, coupled to the storage, the transceiver using induction as a primary communication mode operating at a frequency lower than or equal to 300 kilo Hertz; and

an antenna, coupled to the transceiver, communicating with an external reader.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a reader to be worn by a user of the implantable device outside the body of the user.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver operates at a frequency sufficiently low to operate near steel.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the reader comprises a loop antenna to read low frequency signals from the sensor.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the reader loop antenna reads signals from the sensor when located in the same room as the sensor.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the reader is connected to a network, and data from the sensor can be captured and maintained at a remote site.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the network is a wide area network.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring physical parameters relating to the user.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the physical parameters include at least one of a number of flexes of a joint, the angle of flexion of the joint, and statistics associated with walking.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a glucose detector.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a radiation monitor.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises an electrocardiogram monitor.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the frequency of operation is between 30 and 300 kilo Hertz.

13. (canceled)