Systems and methods for determining the location and orientation of implanted devices

1. A system for determining a location or orientation of an implanted device, the system comprising:

a memory device that stores a set of processor-executable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:

cause an ex-vivo antenna array to transmit first near-field signals, the ex-vivo antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas;

determine power levels of second near-field signals backscattered from an antenna of the implanted device based on the first near-field signals, the second near-field signals backscattered by the antenna of the implanted device being detected by the ex-vivo antenna array;

identify candidate locations or orientations corresponding to the implanted device based on the determined power levels based on a data set; and

select a candidate location or orientation among the identified candidate locations or orientations as the location or orientation of the implanted device.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the data set is included in at least one of a look-up table, an XML tree, and a spreadsheet.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to select the candidate location or orientation, including instructions to:

determine, among the identified candidate locations or orientations, a location or orientation that corresponds to a plurality of the determined power levels; and

select the determined location or orientation as the location or orientation of the implanted device.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

determine power levels of the second near-field signals backscattered from the implanted device and detected at each antenna coil in the ex-vivo antenna array; and

identify candidate locations or orientations included in a plurality of data sets that correspond to the determined power levels, each of the plurality of data sets associated with specific ones of the antennas in the ex-vivo antenna array.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

determine, among the identified candidate locations or orientations, a location or orientation identified in each of the plurality of data sets; and

select the determined location or orientation as the location or orientation of the implanted device.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first near-field signals transmitted to the implanted device by the ex-vivo antenna array are configured to power the implanted device wirelessly.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to select the candidate location or orientation, including instructions to:

generate a model of power levels included in the data set;

iterate through the identified candidate locations or orientations using the model based on an optimization algorithm; and

select a candidate location or orientation among the identified candidate locations or orientations as the location or orientation of the implanted device based on the iteration through the identified candidate locations or orientations.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to select the candidate location or orientation, including instructions to:

select a candidate location or orientation among the identified candidate locations or orientations that produces the lowest error of the optimization algorithm as the location or orientation of the implanted device.

9. A method for determining a location or orientation of an implanted device, the method performed by at least one processor and comprising:

causing an ex-vivo antenna array to transmit first near-field signals, the ex-vivo antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas;

determining power levels of second near-field signals backscattered by an antenna of the implanted device based on the first near-field signals, the second near-field signals being detected by the ex-vivo antenna array;

identifying candidate locations or orientations corresponding to the implanted device based on the determined power levels based on a data set; and

selecting a candidate location or orientation among the identified candidate locations or orientations as the location or orientation of the implanted device.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the data set is included in at least one of a look-up table, an XML tree, and a spreadsheet.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein selecting a candidate location or orientation among the identified candidate locations or orientations includes:

determining, among the identified candidate locations or orientations, a location or orientation that corresponds to a plurality of the determined power levels; and

selecting the determined location or orientation as the location or orientation of the implanted device.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein:

determining power levels of the second near-field signals backscattered from the implanted device includes determining power levels of the second near-field signals backscattered from the implanted device detected at each element in the ex-vivo antenna array; and

identifying candidate locations or orientations includes identifying candidate locations or orientations included in a plurality of data sets that correspond to the determined power levels, each of the plurality of data sets associated with specific ones of the elements in the ex-vivo antenna array.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

determining, among the identified candidate locations or orientations, a location or orientation identified in each of the plurality of data sets; and

selecting the determined location or orientation as the location or orientation of the implanted device.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first near-field signals transmitted to the implanted device by the ex-vivo antenna array power the implanted device wirelessly.

15. The method according to claim 9 , wherein selecting the candidate locations or orientations among the identified candidate locations or orientations includes:

generating a model of power levels included in the data set;

iterating through the identified candidate locations or orientations using the model based on an optimization algorithm; and

selecting a candidate location or orientation among the identified candidate locations or orientations as the location or orientation of the implanted device based on the iteration through the identified candidate locations or orientations.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein selecting the candidate location or orientation among the identified candidate locations or orientations includes:

selecting a candidate location or orientation among the identified candidate locations or orientations that produces the lowest error of the optimization algorithm as the location or orientation of the implanted device.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

cause an ex-vivo antenna array to transmit first near-field signals, the ex-vivo antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas;

determine power levels of second near-field signals backscattered by an antenna of an implanted device based on the first near-field signals, the second near-field signals backscattered from the implanted device being detected by the ex-vivo antenna array;

identify candidate locations or orientations corresponding to the implanted device based on the determined power levels based on a data set; and

select a candidate location or orientation among the identified candidate locations or orientations as the location or orientation of the implanted device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 17 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

determine, among the identified candidate locations or orientations, a location or orientation that corresponds to a plurality of the determined power levels; and

select the determined candidate location or orientation as the location or orientation of the implanted device.