Locator system for implanted access port with RFID tag
First Claim
1. A gastric band system adapted for locating an access port, comprising:
- a gastric band with a fill line having an access port for receiving a needle, wherein the access port comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; and
a locator comprising;
a radio frequency transmitter generating an interrogation signal, wherein the RFID tag operates in response to the transmitted interrogation signal to generate a tag response signal;
an antenna array with an array face having a minimum of two pairs of antennae positioned an equal distance apart from each other, each of the antennae being spaced an equal distance from a central axis of the antenna array, the array operable by the radio frequency transmitter for transmitting the interrogation signal and receiving the tag response signal; and
a location processing module processing the tag response signal to determine location information for the access port, wherein the location processing module processes a difference signal for each pair of antennae to determine the location information for the access port, the difference signals being generated based on the tag response signal received by each of the antennae.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An access port locator system for adjustable gastric bands. The system includes an access port with an RFID tag with its antenna adjacent to the receiving portion of the port. The system includes a locator with radio frequency transmitter/receiver circuitry for sending read or interrogation signals to the RFID tag and for sending write signals to the tag to write treatment data to memory of the RFID tag. The locator also includes an antenna array with four patch antenna arranged in pairs to model two monopulse radar antenna systems. The locator also includes processor(s) and logic modules/circuitry for processing the tag response signals received by the antenna array to determine location information for the RFID tag and associated port, i.e., to identify the center of the port relative to the antennae array or array face such as with strength and direction information relative to the array face.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A gastric band system adapted for locating an access port, comprising:
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a gastric band with a fill line having an access port for receiving a needle, wherein the access port comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; and a locator comprising; a radio frequency transmitter generating an interrogation signal, wherein the RFID tag operates in response to the transmitted interrogation signal to generate a tag response signal; an antenna array with an array face having a minimum of two pairs of antennae positioned an equal distance apart from each other, each of the antennae being spaced an equal distance from a central axis of the antenna array, the array operable by the radio frequency transmitter for transmitting the interrogation signal and receiving the tag response signal; and a location processing module processing the tag response signal to determine location information for the access port, wherein the location processing module processes a difference signal for each pair of antennae to determine the location information for the access port, the difference signals being generated based on the tag response signal received by each of the antennae. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A locator apparatus for locating an implantable medical devices such as access ports of gastric bands, comprising:
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a transmitter generating a read signal; an antenna array receiving a response signal from an identification tag mounted on an implantable medical device in response to the read signal, wherein the antenna array comprises four antennae mounted on a planar mounting element in a diamond pattern with each of the antennae being a predetermined distance from the center of the diamond pattern and wherein the antenna array generates a difference signal for each opposing pair of the antennae based on the received response signal; and a location processing module processing the difference signals to determine location information for the implantable medical device relative to the antenna array. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system adapted for locating a port, comprising:
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an implantable medical device with a fill line having a port for receiving a needle, wherein the port comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; and a locator comprising; a radio frequency transmitter generating an interrogation signal, wherein the RFID tag operates in response to the transmitted interrogation signal to generate a tag response signal; an antenna array operable by the radio frequency transmitter for transmitting the interrogation signal and receiving the tag response signal, wherein the antenna array comprises a minimum of two pairs of antennae positioned an equal distance apart from each other, each of the antennae being spaced an equal distance from a central axis of the antenna array; and a location processing module processing the tag response signal to determine location information for the access port, wherein the location processing module processes a difference signal for each pair of antennae to determine the location information for the access port, the difference signals being generated based on the tag response signal received by each of the antennae. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An access port for positioning beneath the skin of a patient to provide access to a medical device, comprising:
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an antenna for receiving an interrogation signal from a locator; memory storing port information; and circuitry for responding to the received interrogation signal to generate a response signal comprising at least a portion of the stored port information, whereby the locator functions to determine location information for the access port, wherein the locator comprises an antenna array with an array face having a minimum of two pairs of antennae used to transmit the interrogation signal and receive the response signal, the antennae positioned an equal distance apart from each other, each of the antennae being spaced an equal distance from a central axis of the antenna array, and further wherein the locator comprises a location processing module, wherein the location processing module processes a difference signal for each pair of antennae to determine the location information for the access port, the difference signals being generated based on the response signal received by each of the antennae. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification