Multi-modal transponder and method and apparatus to detect same

• US 8,358,212 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: RF Surgical Systems, Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Blair, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US12/472,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20090315681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/10, 455/1, 342/44
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• 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: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device

Abstract

An integral detection and identification system for detecting and identifying an object includes an identification transponder and a presence/absence transponder. The identification transponder includes a first inductive winding wound about a core and electrically coupled to an integrated circuit to transmit an identification signal in response to receipt of an interrogation signal in a first frequency range. The identification signal encodes an identifier stored by the integrated circuit. The presence/absence transponder includes a resonant inductive/capacitive tank circuit having at least a second inductive winding wound about a core and electrically coupled to a capacitor to transmit a presence/absence signal in response to an interrogation signal in a second frequency range. The presence/absence response signal lacks unique identifying information and is physically coupled to the identification transponder to form an integral detection and identification transponder that can selectively be attached to the object.

Claims

1. A system for detecting and identifying an object, the system comprising:

an identification transponder including at least a first inductive winding and an integrated circuit that stores an identifier, the first inductive winding electrically coupled to the integrated circuit and operable to transmit an identification signal from the identification transponder in response to receipt of an interrogation signal in a first frequency range, the identification signal encoding an identifier stored by the integrated circuit;

a presence/absence transponder including a resonant inductive/capacitive tank circuit having at least a second inductive winding and a capacitor, the second inductive winding electrically coupled to the capacitor and operable to transmit a presence/absence signal from the presence/absence transponder in response to an interrogation signal in a second frequency range, the presence/absence response signal omitting any unique identifying information, the presence/absence transponder physically coupled to the identification transponder to form an integral detection and identification transponder that can selectively be attached to the object;

wherein the first inductive winding includes a first core portion and a first conductive wire wound about the first core portion and the second inductive winding includes a second core portion and a second conductive wire wound about the second core portion; and

a coupling member configured to attach the integral detection and identification transponder to the object without impeding performance of the object wherein at least one of the first core portion or the second core portion includes a hollow space, the coupling member extending from the hollow space.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the coupling member further physically couples the presence/absence transponder to the identification transponder.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first core portion is coupled to the second core portion, and the first core portion and the second core portion are made from a ferrite material.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first core portion and the second core portion are formed from a unitary body of ferrite material.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first core portion includes a first end portion having a first recess sized and dimensioned to receive a first electrical or electronic component.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the first core portion includes a first perimeter having a first pair of slots that communicate with the first recess, the slots of the first pair of slots sized and dimensioned to receive a portion of a respective wire therein.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the second core portion includes a second end portion having a pair of through-holes sized and dimensioned to receive a portion of a respective wire therethrough.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the second core portion includes a second end portion having a second recess sized and dimensioned to receive a second electrical or electronic component.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the second core portion includes a second perimeter having a second pair of slots that communicate with the second recess, the slots of the second pair of slots sized and dimensioned to receive a portion of a respective wire therein.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein a wall portion is located between the first and the second end portions, the wall portion electrically insulating the first and the second inductive windings from each other.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the first core portion and the second core portion form a common core and at least a portion of the first conductive wire is interlaced with at least a portion of the second conductive wire around the common core.

12. A system for detecting and identifying an object, the system comprising:

an identification transponding means for transmitting an identification signal in response to a first interrogation signal, the identification signal including identification information that uniquely identifies the identification transponding means;

a presence/absence transponding means for transmitting a presence/absence signal in response to a second interrogation signal, the presence/absence signal excluding identification information that uniquely identifies the presence/absence transponder, the second interrogation signal different from the first interrogation signal, wherein the identification transponding means and the presence/absence transponding means are physically coupled to one another to form an integral detection and identification transponder configured to be selectively attached to the object;

wherein the identification transponding means includes an integrated circuit and a first antenna coupled to the integrated circuit and the presence/absence transponding means includes a capacitor and a second antenna coupled to the capacitor; and

a conductive core having a first portion and a second portion wherein the first antenna includes a conductive wire wound about the first portion of the conductive core, and the second antenna includes a conductive wire wound about the second portion of the conductive core.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the conductive core is made from a ferrite rod and includes a first end and a second end, the integrated circuit coupled to the conductive core toward the first end, and the capacitor coupled to the conductive core toward the second end.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the first antenna includes a first core and a first inductive winding wound about the first core, and the second antenna includes a second core and a second inductive winding wound about the second core.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the first core includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and an elongated portion extending between the outer wall and the inner wall, the first inductive winding wound about the intermediate portion of the first core, and the second core includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and an elongated portion extending between the outer wall and the inner wall, the second inductive winding wound about the intermediate portion of the second core, the inner wall of the first core coupled to the inner wall of the second core.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a physical coupling member coupling the respective inner walls of the first core and the second core, the physical coupling member configured to couple the integral detection and identification transponder to the object.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the second core includes a hollow space configured to insertably secure at least a portion of the identification transponding means.