Miniature resonating marker assembly
First Claim
1. A miniature resonating marker assembly, comprisinga signal element comprising a core, a wire coil disposed around the core, and a capacitor connected to the wire coil, the signal element generating a magnetic field with a selected resonant frequency for the marker assembly in response to a specific stimulus, and the magnetic field having a magnetic center along a first axis of the core;
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Accused Products
Abstract
A miniature resonating marker assembly that includes, in one embodiment, a ferromagnetic core, a wire coil disposed around the core, and a capacitor connected to the wire coil adjacent to the magnetic core. The core, coil, and capacitor form a signal element that, when energized, generates a magnetic field at a selected resonant frequency. The magnetic field has a magnetic center point positioned along at least one axis of the signal element. An inert encapsulation member encapsulates the signal element therein and defines a geometric shape of the resonating marker assembly. The geometric shape has a geometric center point substantially coincident with the magnetic center point along at least a first axis of the signal element. The shape and configuration of the assembly also provides for a miniature signal element specifically tuned to resonate at a selected frequency with a high quality factor.
306 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A miniature resonating marker assembly, comprising
a signal element comprising a core, a wire coil disposed around the core, and a capacitor connected to the wire coil, the signal element generating a magnetic field with a selected resonant frequency for the marker assembly in response to a specific stimulus, and the magnetic field having a magnetic center along a first axis of the core; - and
an inert encapsulation member encapsulating the signal element, the encapsulation member and the signal element therein defining a unit having a selected geometric shape having a geometric center, the geometric center being coincident with the magnetic center along at least the first axis of the core. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A miniature resonating marker assembly having a geometric center, comprising:
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a core having an elongated central portion, a first cap having a first thickness, and a second cap having a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is different than the second thickness; a wire coil disposed around the central portion of the core between the first and second caps; and a capacitor connected to the wire coil operative to form a signal element that generates a magnetic field with a selected resonant frequency in response to a specific stimulus, the first cap being movable relative to the coil and capacitor for tuning the marker assembly to a selected resonant frequency;
the magnetic field having a magnetic center along a first axis coincident with the geometric center of the resonating marker assembly.
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20. A resonating marker assembly having a geometric center, comprising:
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a ferromagnetic core having an elongated central portion and first and second ferromagnetic endcaps attached to the central portion, the core being substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the core, and being asymmetrical about a lateral axis of the core; a wire coil disposed around the central portion of the ferromagnetic core intermediate the first and second endcaps; and a capacitor connected to the wire coil forming a signal element that generates a magnetic field with a selected resonant frequency in response to a specific stimulus, the magnetic field having a magnetic center along a first axis coincident with the geometric center of the resonating marker assembly.
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21. A resonating marker assembly having a geometric center, comprising:
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a core having an elongated central portion and first and second endcaps connected to the central portion; a wire coil disposed around the central portion of core intermediate the first and second endcaps; and a capacitor connected to the wire coil to form a tuned signal element that generates a magnetic field with a selected resonant frequency in response to a specific stimulus, the first endcap being movable relative to the coil and capacitor for tuning the marker assembly to a selected resonant frequency, the magnetic field having a magnetic center along a first axis coincident with the geometric center of the resonating marker assembly.
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22. A resonating marker assembly having a geometric center, comprising:
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a sleeve; a core having a central portion extending through the sleeve and a pair of endcaps connected to the central portion, the sleeve being between the endcaps, and the core being axially movable relative to the sleeve; a wire coil disposed around the sleeve; and a capacitor connected to the wire coil proximate to the core to form a signal element that generates a magnetic field with a selected resonant frequency in response to a specific stimulus, the core being axially movable relative to the sleeve and the coil for tuning the marker assembly to a selected resonant frequency, the magnetic field having a magnetic center along a first axis coincident with the geometric center of the resonating marker assembly.
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23. A resonating marker assembly having a geometric center, comprising:
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a ferromagnetic core having a first end and a second end; a wire coil disposed around the ferromagnetic core; a capacitor positioned at the first end of the core and operatively connected to the wire coil to form a signal element that generates a magnetic field with a selected resonant frequency in response to a specific stimulus, the magnetic field having a magnetic center along a first axis coincident with the geometric center of the resonating marker assembly; and an axially adjustable segment at the second end of the core that projects outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the core.
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24. A resonating marker assembly having a geometric center, comprising:
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a core having a central portion intermediate to a pair of enlarged endcaps, the central portion having a first magnetic permeability and the enlarged endcaps having a second magnetic permeability different than the first magnetic permeability; a wire coil disposed around the core intermediate to the endcaps; a capacitor operatively connected to the wire coil to form a signal element that generates a magnetic field with a selected resonant frequency in response to a specific stimulus, the magnetic field having a magnetic center along a first axis coincident with the geometric center of the resonating marker assembly; and an inert encapsulation member encapsulating the core, the wire coil, and the capacitor forming an activatable unit implantable in a patient through an introducer needle.
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25. A resonating marker assembly, comprising;
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a capacitor having an aperture therethrough; an elongated ferromagnetic core extending through the aperture in the capacitor; a wire coil connected to the capacitor, the wire coil having a first portion disposed around the core adjacent to one side of the capacitor, and a second portion disposed around the core adjacent to another side of the capacitor; and an inert encapsulation member encapsulating the capacitor, the core, and the coil.
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Specification