Temporary implant with transponder and methods for locating and indentifying

• US 5,725,578 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allergan Incorporated (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lipomatrix, Inc.
• Inventors: Belsey, Elizabeth Mary, Knapp, Terry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRITTINGHAM, DEBRA
• Application Number:
  US08/461,117
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 623/11, 623/12, 623/18, 623/22, 623/23, 623/66, 623/7, 623/8
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/746 the longitudinal elements coupled to a plate opposite the femoral head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8085 with pliable or malleable elements or having a mesh-like structure, e.g. small strips A61B17/8071, A61B17/8076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• 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 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/02 Prostheses implantable into the body closure means for urethra or rectum or for artificial body openings therefor A61F2/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/26 Penis implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4241 for hands, e.g. fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2807 Chin implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30672 temporary
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3071 : Identification means; Administration of patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 : for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0059 : temporary
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0085 : Identification means; Administration of patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/04 : using magnetically coupled devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/914 : Bone

Abstract

A passive transponder may be encoded with a binary number or code of 64 bits or more and then associated with or mounted to virtually any implant intended for implantation in a human including temporary implants such as drug release implants and organ displacement devices. After implantation, the transponder'"'"'s code may be conveniently read with a hand held electromagnetic reader which may merely be brought within proximity of the transponder. The encoded transponder may thus be read in a non-invasive procedure and without the use of any sophisticated or potentially harmful medical equipment or technology such as X-rays. Where the position of the implant in the human changes over time, or is otherwise unknown to attending medical personnel, the transponder and implant can be located by using a strength of signal indicator on the electromagnetic reader. The information encoded in the transponder may simply be a tag for locating the implant, or may correspond to patient demographics and implant data to aid in tracking the implant and patient for medical as well as legal reasons.

Claims

1. A method for identifying an implant adapted for temporary implantation in a human, said method comprising the steps of:

associating a transponder with said implant;

encoding said transponder with a unique tag corresponding to an information entry in a registry; and

contemporaneously implanting said implant and said transponder in a human.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of associating includes the step of physically securing said transponder to said implant so that said implant and transponder are implanted in physical proximity with each other.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of associating includes the step of affixing said transponder to said implant.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

externally scanning at least a portion of said human with a remote reader to generate read signals; and

determining a location of said human that corresponds to a strongest read signal generated by said remote reader.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of externally scanning at least a portion of the human is performed non-invasively to the human.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of externally scanning at least a portion of the human is performed electromagnetically.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of externally scanning at least a portion of the human further comprises the step of energizing said transponder with a remote reader, thereby to obviate a need for a battery to be contained in said transponder.