Diagnostic Radio Frequency Identification Sensors And Applications Thereof

• US 20160374570A1
• Filed: 09/13/2016
• Published: 12/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Altivera, LLC
• Original Assignee: Altivera, LLC
• Inventors: Peeters, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,271,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0285 Apparatus for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14514 using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1491 Heated applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150793 Electrical or magnetic identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150854 long distance, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15087 short range, e.g. between console and disposable using implanted devices A61B5/150877
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150969 Low-profile devices which resemble patches or plasters, e.g. also allowing collection of blood samples for testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150984 : Microneedles or microblades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 : Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 : Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 : combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 : Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/08 : Geometry, shape and general structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 : Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 : Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 : Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 : Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 : Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 : network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/12 : Meat; fish
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/146 : containing alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 : involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5438 : Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/58 : involving labelled substances G01N33/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 : Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 : the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 : the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 : Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 : including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/00 : Adapting or protecting infrastructure or their operation

Abstract

An integrated passive wireless chip diagnostic sensor system is described that can be interrogated remotely with a wireless device such as a modified cell phone incorporating multi-protocol RFID reader capabilities (such as the emerging Gen-2 standard) or Bluetooth, providing universal easy to use, low cost and immediate quantitative analyses, geolocation and sensor networking capabilities to users of the technology. The present invention can be integrated into various diagnostic platforms and is applicable for use with low power sensors such as thin films, MEMS, electrochemical, thermal, resistive, nano or microfluidic sensor technologies. Applications of the present invention include on-the-spot medical and self-diagnostics on smart skin patches, Point-of-Care (POC) analyses, food diagnostics, pathogen detection, disease-specific wireless biomarker detection, remote structural stresses detection and sensor networks for industrial or Homeland Security using low cost wireless devices such as modified cell phones.

Claims

1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid comprising:

a RFID tag in combination with at least one sensor;

said RFID tag comprising an antenna, a unique identification number, an RFID electronic chip and a plurality of conductive leads connecting said at least one sensor to said RFID electronic chip;

said RFID tag and at least one sensor combination providing a plurality of information about a consumable food item or a consumable liquid;

said RFID tag and said at least one sensor combination configured to communicate wirelessly with a wireless reader;

said wireless reader configured to receive said plurality of information and said unique identification number from said RFID tag and further configured to communicate wirelessly over a network through one or more communication protocols to optionally download software wirelessly from a remote location to enable analysis of said plurality of information based on said unique identification number of said RFID tag.

2. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of information comprises at least one of:

identification and authentication information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

date information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

freshness information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

storage temperature profile information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

bacterial exposure information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

smell information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

chemistry information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

or combinations thereof.

3. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor measures a moisture level of said consumable food item.

4. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor measures a smell of said consumable food item or said consumable liquid.

5. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor measures a presence of one or more bacteria in said consumable food item or said consumable liquid.

6. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 1 wherein said RFID tag in combination with said at least one sensor is configured to be mounted into a packaging for said consumable food item or said consumable liquid.

7. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 1 wherein said RFID tag and said at least one sensor are mounted onto a substrate.

8. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 7 wherein said RFID tag and all of said substrate are covered by a laminate except for the portion of said substrate covered by said at least one sensor which is not covered by said laminate.

9. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 8 wherein said sensor is covered by a sensor cap.

10. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 9 wherein said sensor cap is waterproof.

11. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 9 wherein said sensor cap is configured to detect one or more bacteria.

12. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 11 wherein said sensor cap includes a substance that can be degraded by said one or more bacteria.

13. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 11 wherein said sensor cap has a thickness and said thickness of said cap is configured to allow assessment of a quantity of said one or more bacteria present in said consumable food item or consumable liquid.

14. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 1 wherein one or more of said plurality of information is stored on a remote database by said RFID tag and wherein said wireless reader can access said remote database and retrieve said one or more of said plurality of information.

15. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid comprising:

a RFID tag comprising an antenna, a unique identification number, an RFID electronic chip and a plurality of conductive leads;

said RFID tag providing a plurality of information about a consumable food item or a consumable liquid;

said RFID tag configured to communicate wirelessly with a wireless reader;

said wireless reader configured to receive said plurality of information and said unique identification number from said RFID tag and further configured to communicate wirelessly over a network through one or more communication protocols to optionally download software wirelessly from a remote location to enable analysis of said plurality of information based on said unique identification number of said RFID tag.

16. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 15 wherein said antenna is found as a part of a packaging of said consumable food item or said consumable liquid.

17. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 15 wherein said plurality of information comprises at least one of:

identification and authentication information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

date information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

freshness information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

storage temperature profile information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

bacterial exposure information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

chemistry information about said consumable food or said consumable liquid;

or combinations thereof.

18. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 15 wherein said RFID tag is incorporated into a closure portion of a container for a consumable liquid.

19. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 18 wherein said RFID tag is incorporated into a cork for a wine bottle.

20. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 19 wherein said RFID tag records an entire temperature storage profile of a wine.

21. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 17 wherein one or more of said plurality of information is stored on a remote database by said RFID tag and wherein said wireless reader can access said remote database and retrieve said one or more of said plurality of information.

22. The RFID tag for a consumable food item or a consumable liquid as recited in claim 15 wherein said RFID tag provides information on an acidity of said consumable food item or said consumable liquid.