NON-IONIZING AND NON-MRI METHODS FOR INTERROGATING MR CONDITIONAL STATUS OF IMPLANTED DEVICES
A method and system of obtaining information by interrogating an information mark attached to a device implanted in a body of a patient by transmitting a non-ionizing pulse through the body of the patient, receiving, from the information mark, a response to the transmitted non-ionizing pulse, the response including encoded information, and extracting the encoded information from the response.
1 . A method of obtaining information, comprising:
interrogating an information mark attached to a device implanted in a body of a patient by transmitting a non-ionizing pulse through the body of the patient;
receiving, from the information mark, a response to the transmitted non-ionizing pulse, the response including encoded information; and
extracting the encoded information from the response.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the device is a medical device.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the non-ionizing pulse is an ultrasound pulse.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the non-ionizing pulse is a photoacoustic pulse.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the response is a reflected non-ionizing pulse.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the response is a resonation at a predetermined frequency.
7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the response is a plurality of resonations at a plurality of predetermined frequencies.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the response is an independently generated acoustic pulse transmission, light pulse transmission, or RF transmission, generated by the information mark.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the information mark is included in a housing.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein varied placement of ultrasonic reflective material and ultrasonic absorbing material within the information mark is used to encode information.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein a strip of ultrasonic reflective material is positioned between strips of ultrasonic absorbing material within the information mark to further encode information.
12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein varied width of the strip of ultrasonic reflective material between the strips of ultrasonic absorbing material within the information mark is used to encode information.
13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein varied height of the strip of ultrasonic reflective material within the information mark is used to encode information.
14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein varied position of pins and plates within the information mark attached to the device is used to encode information.
15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the attached pins and plates are positioned in a column within the information mark to encode information.
16 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the inclusion of a resonating bead within the information mark is used to encode information.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the inclusion a plurality of resonating beads, which resonate at different frequencies, is used to encode information.
18 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the information mark stores information locally and transmits the encoded information in response to local power generation implemented by harnessing acoustic energy from the non-ionized pulse.
19 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining information about the implanted device from the extracted encoded information.
20 . A system for obtaining information, comprising:
a device implanted into a body of a patient;
an information mark attached to the implanted device;
an interrogating device that interrogates an information mark attached to the device implanted into a body of a by transmitting a non-ionizing pulse patient through the body of the patient;
a receiving device that receives a response to the transmitted non-ionizing pulse from the information mark, the response including encoded information; and
a processor configured to extract the encoded information from the response.
21 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein the device is a medical device.
22 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein the non-ionizing pulse is an ultrasound pulse.
23 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein the non-ionizing pulse is a photoacoustic pulse.
24 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein the response is a reflected non-ionizing pulse.
25 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein the response is a resonation at a predetermined frequency.
26 . The system according to claim 25 , wherein the response is a plurality of resonations at a plurality of predetermined frequencies.
27 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein the response is an independently generated acoustic pulse transmission, light pulse transmission, or RF transmission, generated by the information mark.
28 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein the information mark is included in a housing.
29 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein varied placement of ultrasonic reflective material and ultrasonic absorbing material within the information mark is used to encode information.
30 . The system according to claim 29 , wherein a strip of ultrasonic reflective material is positioned between strips of ultrasonic absorbing material within the information mark to further encode information.
31 . The system according to claim 30 , wherein varied width of the strip of ultrasonic reflective material between the strips of ultrasonic absorbing material within the information mark is used to encode information.
32 . The system according to claim 31 , wherein varied height of the strip of ultrasonic reflective material within the information mark is used to encode information.
33 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein varied position of pins and plates within the information mark attached to the device is used to encode information.
34 . The system according to claim 33 , wherein the attached pins and plates are positioned in a column within the information mark to encode information.
35 . The system according to claim 28 , wherein the inclusion of a resonating bead within the information mark is used to encode information.
36 . The system according to claim 35 , wherein the inclusion a plurality of resonating beads, which resonate at different frequencies, is used to encode information.
37 . The system according to claim 27 , wherein the information mark stores information locally and transmits the encoded information in response to local power generation implemented by harnessing acoustic energy from the non-ionized pulse.
38 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein
the extracting unit is further configured to determine information about the implanted device from the extracted encoded information.
39 . An information mark for encoding information, comprising:
a housing attached to an implanted device;
a plurality of beads disposed in the housing, each bead resonating at a predetermined frequency when interrogated by a non-ionizing pulse, the combination of beads disposed in the housing providing encoded information, which is discernible by capturing emitting pulses at the predetermined frequency.
40 . The information mark according to claim 39 , further comprising:
an absorbing material disposed between the housing and the implanted device.
41 . An information mark for encoding information, comprising:
a housing implanted within a body of a patient;
a plurality of beads disposed in the housing, each bead resonating at a predetermined frequency when interrogated by a non-ionizing pulse, the combination of beads disposed in the housing providing encoded information, which is discernible by capturing emitting pulses at the predetermined frequency.