Systems configured to locate a photonic device disposed in a living subject, and related apparatuses and methods

• US 8,280,520 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Rivet, Dennis J., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US12/316,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 607/33, 607/60, 607/61
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

In an embodiment, a system includes a biocompatible photonic device configured for disposal within a living subject and a location-indicating aid associated with the photonic device. The location-indicating aid is configured to facilitate locating the biocompatible photonic device within the living subject. Related apparatuses and methods of use are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving one or more optical signals reflected from a retroreflector positioned at least proximate to an optical-electrical converter disposed within a living subject and transmitted from the living subject, wherein the one or more optical signals are indicative of a location of the optical-electrical converter;

targeting the optical-electrical converter disposed within the living subject based at least partially on information associated with the one or more optical signals; and

transmitting one or more optical power signals transdermally into the living subject and to the targeted optical-electrical converter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein targeting an optical-electrical converter disposed within the living subject based at least partially on information associated with the one or more optical signals includes aiming an optical power source configured to output the one or more optical power signals at the optical-electrical converter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting one or more optical power signals transdermally into the living subject and to the targeted optical-electrical converter includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals at a target positioned at least proximate to the living subject.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals at a target positioned at least proximate to the living subject includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals at one or more indicia positioned on or below skin of the living subject.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals at a target positioned at least proximate to the living subject includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals at a target positioned on clothing worn by the living subject.

6. A method, comprising:

transmitting one or more first signals to a living subject includes transmitting one or more optical signals to the living subject; and

responsive to the transmitting, receiving one or more second signals transmitted from the living subject indicative of a location of a photonic device disposed within the living subject, the one or more second signals including at least one of the one or more optical signals reflected from a retroreflector positioned at least proximate to the photonic device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein transmitting one or more first signals to a living subject includes transmitting the one or more first signals transdermally into the living subject.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving one or more second signals transmitted from the living subject indicative of a location of a photonic device disposed within the living subject includes receiving the one or more second signals transmitted transdermally out of the living subject.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving one or more second signals transmitted from the living subject indicative of a location of a photonic device disposed within the living subject includes receiving one or more optical signals transmitted from a transmitter encoding the location of the photonic device.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein transmitting one or more first signals to a living subject includes transmitting the one or more first signals at a target positioned at least proximate to the living subject.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the one or more first signals at a target positioned at least proximate to the living subject includes transmitting the one or more first signals at the retroreflector positioned on or below skin of the living subject.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the one or more first signals at a target positioned at least proximate to the living subject includes transmitting the one or more first signals at a target positioned on clothing worn by the living subject.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the photonic device includes an optical-electrical converter.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

responsive to the receiving the one or more second signals, transmitting one or more optical power signals to the optical-electrical converter.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein the photonic device includes an electrical-optical converter.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

responsive to the receiving the one or more second signals, receiving one or more optical power signals with the electrical-optical converter.

17. The method of claim 6, wherein the photonic device is biocompatible.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving one or more first signals transmitted from a living subject, including receiving one or more optical signals reflected from a retroreflector positioned at least proximate to an optical-electrical converter disposed within the living subject and transmitted from the living subject;

targeting the optical-electrical converter disposed within the living subject based at least partially on information associated with the one or more first signals; and

transmitting one or more optical power signals transdermally into the living subject and to the targeted optical-electrical converter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving one or more first signals transmitted from a living subject includes receiving one or more first optical signals encoding a location of the optical-electrical converter.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving one or more first signals from a living subject includes receiving one or more first radio-frequency signals encoding a location of the optical-electrical converter.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein targeting the optical-electrical converter disposed within the living subject based at least partially on information associated with the one or more first signals includes aiming an optical power source configured to output the one or more optical power signals at the optical-electrical converter.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting one or more optical power signals transdermally into the living subject and to the targeted photonic device includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals at a target positioned at least proximate to the living subject.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals at a target positioned at least proximate to the living subject includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals at one or more indicia positioned on or below skin of the living subject.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals at a target positioned at least proximate to the living subject includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals at a target positioned on clothing worn by the living subject.