Locator system with an implanted transponder having an organically-rechargeable battery

• US 6,828,908 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2002
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald Scott Clark
• Original Assignee: Ronald Scott Clark
• Inventors: Clark, Ronald Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PREVIL, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/072,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20030151524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.14, 340/539.15, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/545.4, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.34, 340/10.4, 340/10.42, 340/10.52
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/06 Children, e.g. for attention deficit diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/20 Workers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/006 for emergency situations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 the arrangement including a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions

Abstract

A locator device having a transponder subcutaneously implanted in a person or animal that is to be periodically monitored in the event of emergency, abduction and other such situations. The transponder has a battery that is rechargeable by using the potential electrical energy generated by the body of the host organism. The preferred embodiment of the rechargeable transponder uses a piezoelectric battery that is to be implanted in an appropriate manner that would permit a large muscle to act upon a piezoelectric element thereby converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy to provide a recharge to the battery.

Claims

1. A locator system with an organically-rechargeable transponder that is implanted within the body of a monitored subject, which comprises:

a) a subcutaneously implantable transponder device comprising;

i) means for transmitting a specific frequency;

ii) means for receiving a specific frequency; and

iii) a bioelectric rechargeable battery having contacts that act as neurotransmitter receptors to scavenge electricity from areas with high concentration of action potential where synaptic or neuromuscular transmission occur;

b) a remote locator unit including;

i) means for entering a personal identification number, hereinafter referred to as PIN, unique to said subject;

ii) microprocessor for translating said PIN to a preselected personal encoded frequency unique to said subject and for interpreting location data received by said transponder;

iii) means for transmitting said personal encoded frequency to said transponder;

iv) means for receiving said location data from said transponder; and

v) means for displaying said location data.

2. A locator system with an organically-rechargeable transponder implanted within the body of the monitored subject as recited in claim 1, in which said bioelectric battery has an external secondary means of recharging by passing an electrical current through the body of said monitored subject.

3. A locator system with an organically-rechargeable transponder implanted within the body of the monitored subject as recited in claim 2, in which said secondary recharging means comprises:

a) a power source;

b) means for transferring electricity from said power source to said monitored subject; and

c) means for regulating the voltage and current transferred from said power source to said monitored subject.

4. A locator system with an organically-rechargeable transponder implanted within the body of the monitored subject as recited in claim 2, in which said secondary recharging means uses high frequency current that passes through all body tissue thereby enabling the battery to accept a more efficient charge.

5. A locator system with an organically-rechargeable transponder implanted within the body of the monitored subject as recited in claim 1, in which said transponder further includes a means for receiving and interpreting voice commands to enable the user to enable the transponder by speaking a predetermined password.

6. A locator system with an organically-rechargeable transponder implanted within the body of the monitored subject as recited in claim 5, in which said transponder further includes a speaker and microphone means to provide for two-way communication between the monitored subject and the remote locator unit.

7. A locator system with an organically-rechargeable transponder that is implanted within the body of a monitored subject, which comprises:

a) a subcutaneously implantable transponder device comprising;

i) means for transmitting a specific frequency;

ii) means for receiving a specific frequency;

iii) a rechargeable battery; and

iv) means for recharging said battery comprising a piezoelectric transponder having a flexible piezoelectric element, said piezoelectric element having a first face and a second face composed of a crystalline substance that develops an electrostatic potential when mechanically strained by an external source, said electrostatic potential providing an electric charge to said battery, and said transponder being implanted between two large muscles in such a manner that the contraction and extension of said muscles will exert an external force against said piezoelectric element placing a mechanical strain on said piezoelectric element thereby generating the electrostatic potential;

b) a remote locator unit including;

i) means for entering a personal identification number, hereinafter referred to as PIN, unique to said subject;

ii) microprocessor for translating said PIN to a preselected personal encoded frequency unique to said subject and for interpreting location data received by said transponder;

iii) means for transmitting said personal encoded frequency to said transponder;

iv) means for receiving said location data from said transponder; and

v) means for displaying said location data.

8. The method of locating a subject comprising the steps of:

a) implanting subcutaneously a transponder device in said subject, said transponder device;

i) transmitting a specific frequency;

ii) receiving a specific frequency; and

iii) activating said transponder device using a bioelectric rechargeable battery having contacts that act as neurotransmitter receptors to scavenge electricity from areas with high concentration of action potential where synaptic or neuromuscular transmission occur; and

b) using a remote locator unit to locate said subject;

i) entering a personal identification number (PIN) into said remote locater unit, said PIN unique to said subject;

ii) using a microprocessor to translate said PIN to a preselected personal encoded frequency unique to said subject and for interpreting location data received by said transponder;

iii) transmitting said personal encoded frequency to said transponder;

iv) receiving said location data from said transponder; and

v) displaying said location data.

9. The method of locating a subject comprising the steps of:

a) implanting subcutaneously a transponder device in the body of the subject, said transponder device;

i) transmitting a specific frequency;

ii) receiving a specific frequency;

iii) using a rechargeable battery to energize said transponder device; and

iv) recharging said battery by using a piezoelectric transponder having a flexible piezoelectric element, said piezoelectric element having a first face and a second face composed of a crystalline substance that develops an electrostatic potential when mechanically strained by an external source, said electrostatic potential providing an electric charge to said battery, and said transponder being implanted between two large muscles in such a manner that the contraction and extension of said muscles will exert an external force against said piezoelectric element placing a mechanical strain on said piezoelectric element thereby generating the electrostatic potential;

b) using a remote locator unit to locate said subject by;

i) entering a personal identification number (PIN) unique to said subject;

ii) translating said PIN to a preselected personal encoded frequency unique to said subject and interpreting location data received by said transponder;

iii) transmitting said personal encoded frequency to said transponder;

iv) receiving said location data from said transponder; and

v) displaying said location data.