Signal tag detection components, devices, and systems

• US 9,987,097 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2016
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elucent Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Elucent Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: van der Weide, Daniel W., van der Weide, Noah, Rudie, Eric N., Miel, David
• Primary Examiner(s): MATTHEWS, CHRISTINE HOPKINS
• Application Number:
  US15/281,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20170095315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3945 Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3975 active
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence

Abstract

Provided herein are systems, devices, assemblies, and methods for localization of a tag in a tissue of a patient. For example, provided herein are systems, devices, and methods employing an implantable tag that emits sidebands at defined frequencies upon activation by a magnetic field generated by a remote activating device, and a plurality of witness stations configured to detect such sidebands. Also provided herein are herein are systems, devices, and methods employing a detection component that is attached to or integrated with a surgical device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a) a tag, said tag comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip and an antenna, wherein said tag emits a sideband at a defined frequency, upon activation by a magnetic field;

b) a remote activation device that generates a magnetic field within a region of the tag;

c) a plurality of witness stations, each said witness station comprising an antenna configured to detect said sideband,

d) a lock-in amplifier tuned to said defined frequency of said sideband; and

e) a component that is attachable to a medical device, wherein said component comprises;

i) at least two medical device location emitters, and

ii) an indicator comprising a visual display that presents distance to tag information, and spatial orientation, for said medical device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said tag emits said sideband at a frequency defined by a number programmed into a counter in said RFID chip.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said antenna of said tag comprises a coil antenna.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote activation device comprises an excitation coil.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote activation device comprises a pad configured to be placed in proximity to a patient having said tag embedded in said patient.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said pad further comprises said plurality of witness stations.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each witness station comprises a plurality of antennas.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said witness station antennas feed a receiver channel that is time-division multiplexed.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of antennas within at least one of said plurality of witness stations are arranged in an orthogonal manner to each other.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a computer system that receives information from said plurality of witness stations and generates information about a position of said tag.

11. A method of identifying a position of a tag, comprising:

a) providing the system of claim 1;

b) placing the tag in a human subject;

c) generating a magnetic field with the activation device; and

d) identifying a position of said tag in said subject by detecting said sideband emitted from said tag with said witness stations, and employing said lock-in amplifier.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said position comprises relative location of said tag to said medical device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said position comprises distance of said tag to said medical device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said component comprises a sleeve that slips over a portion of said medical device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said medical device comprises an electrocautery device.

16. A system comprising:

a) a tag, said tag comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip, wherein said tag emits a sideband at a defined frequency upon activation by a magnetic field;

b) a component that is attachable to a medical device, wherein said component comprises;

i) at least two medical device location emitters, and

ii) an indicator comprising a visual display that presents distance to tag information, and spatial orientation, for said medical device;

c) a remote activation device that generates a magnetic field within a region of the tag and the at least two medical device location emitters;

d) a plurality of witness stations, each said witness station comprising an antenna configured to detect said sideband;

i) emitted from said tag or changes in the magnetic field generated by said remote activation device in response to said tag; and

ii) emitted from said at least two medical device location emitters or changes in the magnetic field generated by said remote activation device in response to said at least two medical location device emitters, and

e) a lock-in amplifier tuned to said defined frequency of said sideband.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said tag emits a sideband at a frequency defined by a number programmed into a counter in said RFID chip.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said remote activation device comprises a pad configured to be placed under a patient having said tag embedded in said patient.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said pad further comprises said plurality of witness stations.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein each of said at least two medical device location emitters comprises an antenna and emits a sideband at a defined frequency upon activation by the magnetic field.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein said at least two medical device location emitters are positioned to permit said plurality of witness stations to detect orientation of said medical device relative to said tag.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein said component comprises a sleeve that slips over a portion of said medical device.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein said medical device comprises an electrocautery device.