Self anchoring implantable identification microchip for use in animals

• US 8,922,373 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Found Animals Foundation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Foundation Animals Foundation Incorporated
• Inventors: Michelson, Gary Karlin
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US13/440,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 128/898, 128/899, 128/903, 600/325, 600/332, 600/485, 600/486, 600/488, 600/561, 600/564, 606/45, 606/46, 606/47, 606/116, 606/117, 606/155, 606/213
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00

Abstract

A device and method for subcutaneously implanting an identification chip into a domestic animal, the identification chip becoming relatively immobile once implanted.

Claims

1. A self-anchoring, implantable identification device for use in identifying an animal, comprising:

a capsule having a leading end with a forward facing surface, a trailing end, a mid-longitudinal axis through said leading and trailing ends, a length from said leading end to said trailing end along the mid-longitudinal axis, and a maximum width perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis;

a microchip sized and configured for placement in said capsule of said device, said microchip being configured to store identification information unique to the microchip for identification of the animal into which said device is implanted, the identification information including at least one of text, symbols, and numbers;

a transmitter for transmitting the identification information stored on said microchip;

an antenna operatively connected to said transmitter; and

at least one retention member extending from said forward facing surface of said leading end of said capsule, said retention member having a proximal portion and a distal portion with a free end, said retention member when extended from said forward facing surface being biased to move from an undeployed position where said free end is located at a first distance from the mid-longitudinal axis of no more than one-half the maximum width of said capsule to a deployed position where said free end is located at a second distance from the mid-longitudinal axis of more than one-half the maximum width of said capsule so that said free end of said distal portion penetrably engages tissue after said device is implanted into the animal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said microchip is a RFID microchip.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said capsule is generally cylindrical.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said free end of said retention member is formed as a barb.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said retention member includes a bend that has an arc of approximately 180 degrees.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said proximal portion of said retention member includes a linear portion, said linear portion being parallel to the mid-longitudinal axis of said capsule when said retention member is in the deployed position.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said retention member comprises at least in part Nitinol.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is configured to provide location-based information allowing determination of the animal'"'"'s current location.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said capsule includes a tissue-ingrowth surface.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said tissue-ingrowth surface includes a plurality of recesses.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said tissue-ingrowth surface includes at least one through-hole.

12. The device of claim 1, in combination with an insertion device configured to deploy said device into the animal.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein both of said leading and trailing ends of said capsule include said at least one retention member.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said free end of said retention member at said leading end and said free end of said retention member at said trailing end directly face each other in the deployed position.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein said free end of said retention member at said leading end is in a first plane co-planar with the mid-longitudinal axis, and said free end of said retention member at said trailing end is in a second plane co-planar with the mid-longitudinal axis, said first and second planes being generally perpendicular to one another in the deployed position.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein said free end of said retention member at said leading end and said free end of said retention member at said trailing end are co-planar relative to each other and the mid-longitudinal axis in the deployed position.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said forward facing surface lies in a plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis of said capsule.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the identification information is a code corresponding to information stored on a database.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the identification information is a code created by an owner of the animal.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein said antenna forms at least a portion of said retention member.

21. A self-anchoring, implantable identification device for use in identifying an animal, comprising:

a capsule having a leading end, a trailing end, a mid-longitudinal axis through said leading and trailing ends, a length from said leading end to said trailing end along the mid-longitudinal axis, and a maximum width perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis;

a microchip sized and configured for placement in said capsule of said device, said microchip being configured to store identification information unique to the microchip for identification of the animal into which said device is implanted, the identification information including at least one of text, symbols, and numbers;

a transmitter for transmitting the identification information stored on said microchip;

an antenna operatively connected to said transmitter; and

at least one retention member extending from a forward facing surface of said leading end of said capsule of said device, said retention member having a proximal portion and a distal portion with a free end, said retention member having a maximum length that is less than the length of said capsule, said retention member when extended from said forward facing surface being biased to move from an undeployed position where said free end is located at a first distance from the mid-longitudinal axis of no more than one-half the maximum width of said capsule to a deployed position where said free end is located at a second distance from the mid-longitudinal axis of more than one-half the maximum width of said capsule so that said free end of said distal portion penetrably engages tissue after said device is implanted into the animal.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said microchip is a RFID microchip.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein said capsule is generally cylindrical.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein both of said leading and trailing ends of said capsule include said at least one retention member.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein said free end of said retention member is formed as a barb.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein said retention member includes a bend that has an arc of approximately 180 degrees.

27. The device of claim 21, wherein said proximal portion of said retention member includes a linear portion, said linear portion being parallel to the mid-longitudinal axis of said capsule when said retention member is in the deployed position.

28. The device of claim 21, wherein said retention member comprises at least in part Nitinol.

29. The device of claim 21, wherein said transmitter is configured to provide location-based information allowing determination of the animal'"'"'s current location.

30. The device of claim 21, wherein said capsule includes a tissue-ingrowth surface.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein said tissue-ingrowth surface includes a plurality of recesses.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein said tissue-ingrowth surface includes at least one through-hole.

33. The device of claim 21, in combination with an insertion device configured to deploy said device into the animal.

34. The device of claim 21, wherein the identification information is a code corresponding to information stored on a database.

35. The device of claim 21, wherein the identification information is a code created by an owner of the animal.

36. The device of claim 21, wherein said antenna forms at least a portion of said retention member.

37. A method for subcutaneously implanting a device containing a microchip into a domestic animal, the device having a leading end, a trailing end, a mid-longitudinal axis through the leading and trailing ends, and a maximum width perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

penetrating subcutaneous tissue of the domestic animal with a cannula having a passage and a distal end;

moving the device through the passage until the leading end of the device exits the passage at the distal end of the cannula;

permitting at least one retention member extending from a forward facing surface of the leading end of the device to move into engagement with subcutaneous tissue of the domestic animal, the retention member having a proximal portion and a distal portion with a free end, the retention member when extended from the forward facing surface being biased to move from an undeployed position where the free end is located at a first distance from the mid-longitudinal axis of no more than one-half the maximum width of the device to a deployed position where the free end is located at a second distance from the mid-longitudinal axis of more than one-half the maximum width of the device so that the free end of the distal portion penetrably engages the tissue of the domestic animal;

withdrawing the cannula so that the trailing end of the device exits the passage at the distal end of the cannula; and

permitting at least a second retention member extending from a rearward facing surface of the trailing end of the device to move into engagement with the tissue of the domestic animal during the withdrawal of the cannula.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising recording in a database identification information particular to the domestic animal into which the device is implanted.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising modifying the identification information recorded in the database based on a change of address of an owner of the domestic animal.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the identification information includes ownership information of the domestic animal.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the microchip is a RFID chip.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the device has a length, the at least one retention member having a maximum length that is less than the length of the device.