Encapsulated implantable transponder

• US 5,963,132 A
• Filed: 10/11/1996
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avid Marketing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avid Identification Systems (Avid Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yoakum, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US08/729,566
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/573, 455/100, 343/873, 257/701, 257/784, 235/449, 128/631, 128/899, 128/903, 606/117, 606/116
• 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: A01K 11/007 Boluses
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier

Abstract

An EID or RFID transponder having an encapsulant with an open end to allow insertion of the transponder circuitry and a phase changing material such as an epoxy used to both secure the circuitry of the transponder within the encapsulant and seal the open end of the encapsulant.

Claims

1. A transponder for an electronic identification system comprising:

an antenna;

a transponder circuit including a radio frequency identification signal processing circuit selected from the group consisting of active, half-duplex and full-duplex transponder circuits electrically interconnected to said antenna;

an encapsulant formed so as to have an open end to allow insertion of said transponder circuit and said antenna; and

an epoxy bonding and sealing material to secure said transponder circuit and said antenna in said encapsulant and form a cap to seal said open end of said encapsulant.

2. The transponder of claim 1 further comprising a ridge of hardened epoxy formed on said encapsulant.

3. The transponder of claim 1 wherein said encapsulant is shaped in the form of a cylinder having a closed end.

4. The transponder of claim 1 wherein said encapsulant is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of glass, ceramic and plastic.

5. The transponder of claim 1 wherein said epoxy is a medical grade epoxy suitable for use on biological implants.

6. The transponder of claim 1 wherein said epoxy is a class six medical grade epoxy.

7. The transponder of claim 1 further comprising a weight element having a weight selected so that the total weight of the assembled transponder is at least forty five grams and the transponder has a specific gravity of at least 1.7.

8. The transponder of claim 1 further comprising a weight element having a weight selected so that the total weight of the assembled transponder is at least sixty grams.

9. The transponder of claim 1 wherein said transponder circuit is a half duplex circuit.

10. The transponder of claim 1 wherein said transponder circuit is a full duplex circuit.

11. The transponder of claim 1 wherein said transponder circuit includes a power source.

12. The transponder of claim 1 wherein said antenna is a coil.

13. A transponder for an electronic identification system comprising:

a transponder circuit selected from the group consisting of active, half duplex and full duplex electronic identification circuits;

an encapsulant having an open end to allow insertion of said transponder circuit; and

a phase change material substantially filling said encapsulant when in a liquid phase and forming a cap which seals said open end of said encapsulant when in a solid phase.

14. The transponder of claim 13 wherein said phase change material is an epoxy.

15. The transponder of claim 14 wherein said epoxy is a medical grade epoxy suitable for use on biological implants.

16. The transponder of claim 14 wherein said epoxy is a class six medical grade epoxy.

17. A transponder for an electronic identification system comprising:

an antenna;

a transponder circuit including signal processing circuitry electrically interconnected to said antenna;

an encapsulant formed so as to have an open end to allow insertion of said transponder circuit and said antenna;

an epoxy bonding and sealing material to secure said transponder circuit and said antenna in said encapsulant and seal said open end of said encapsulant; and

a ridge of hardened epoxy formed on an outer surface of said encapsulant so as to extend radially outward from said encapsulant.