IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,186,029
Granted Patent B2
US 12,186,029 · App. 18/138,887 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Exciter assemblies

Inventors: Eric N. Rudie (Maple Grove, MN); Kassandra Klinkhammer (Eden Prairie, MN); Jason Hiltner (Eden Prairie, MN); Dave Costello (Eden Prairie, MN); Stan Kluge (Eden Prairie, MN); Lev Koyrakh (Eden Prairie, MN); Sean Morgan (Eden Prairie, MN); Daniel W. van der Weide (Madison, WI)
Assignee: Elucent Medical, Inc.
A61B34/20A61B5/002A61B5/05A61B5/062A61B5/064A61B90/39A61B5/4312A61B2034/2051A61B2090/3908A61B2090/3954A61B2090/3958A61B2505/05A61B2562/0223A61B2562/08
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,186,029
App. No.
18/138,887
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided herein are systems, devices, assemblies, and methods for generating exciter signals, for example, to activate a remotely located tag. The systems, devices, assemblies, and methods find use in a variety of application including medical applications for the locating of a tag in a subject.

Claims (27)

1. A device comprising:

a pad;

a plurality of exciter coils positioned within the pad; and

a plurality of witness station assemblies positioned within the pad, wherein a position of each of the plurality of witness station assemblies is adjustable relative to the pad; wherein each of the plurality of witness station assemblies further comprises: a core having an end, a bracket, and an elastomeric part, and wherein the end is positioned between the bracket and the elastomeric part.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of witness station assemblies comprises a witness coil defining a sensing axis, and wherein the witness coil is wound around the core.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein a magnetic flux generated by the plurality of exciter coils is orthogonal to the sensing axis of the witness coil for each of the plurality of witness station assemblies.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes an adjustment part.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein said the adjustment part allows a sensing axis of each of the plurality of witness station assemblies to be adjusted.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of witness station assemblies is oriented on a base substrate such that a sensing axis of each of the plurality of witness station assemblies is orthogonal to a magnetic flux generated by the plurality of exciter coils.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of exciter coils includes a first exciter coil, a second exciter coil, a third exciter coil, and a fourth exciter coil.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the second exciter coil is electrically coupled to a first capacitance when current through the second exciter coil is a first polarity, and wherein the second exciter coil is electrically coupled to a second capacitance, different than the first capacitance, when current through the second exciter coils is a second, opposite, polarity.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of exciter coils comprises a central plane, and wherein a sensing axis of each of said plurality of witness station assemblies is co-planar with the central plane of each of the plurality of exciter coils.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of exciter coils is operated in three configurations to selectively generate a magnetic flux in three orthogonal directions.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein a sensing axis of each of the plurality of witness station assemblies is isolated from the magnetic flux in three orthogonal directions by 50 dB.

12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a balun circuit electrically coupled to the plurality of exciter coils.

13. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of switches that control a direction of current through each of the plurality of exciter coils individually.

14. The device of claim 13 , further comprising a capacitor coupled to at least one of the plurality of switches.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of exciter coils includes a ratio of inductive reactance to resistance of at least 350.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the pad is configured to be positioned beneath a patient.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of witness station assemblies further comprises a faraday shield.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the end of the core is a coil-free proximal end, the bracket is a first bracket, and the elastomeric part is a first elastomeric part; and wherein each of the plurality of witness station assemblies further includes:

the core having a coil-free distal end,

a second bracket, and

a second elastomeric part, and

wherein said coil-free distal end of said core is positioned between said second bracket and said second elastomeric part.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein each of said witness station assemblies is oriented on such that a sensing axis of each of said witness coils is orthogonal to a magnetic flux generated by the plurality of exciter coils.

20. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of witness station assemblies is positioned at a first side of the plurality of exciter coils or a second side, opposite the first side, of the plurality of exciter coils.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2024
From: ELUCENT MEDICAL, INC.
To: TRINITY CAPITAL INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069116/0736 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2023
From: RUDIE, ERIC N.; KLINKHAMMER, KASSANDRA; HILTNER, JASON; COSTELLO, DAVE; KLUGE, STAN; KOYRAKH, LEV; MORGAN, SEAN; VAN DER WEIDE, DANIEL W.
To: ELUCENT MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 063548/0907 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17514081 · Oct 29, 2021
Continuation 16356185 · Mar 18, 2019
Continuation 16001552 · Jun 6, 2018
Provisional Application 62680750 · Jun 5, 2018
Related Publication 20230263576A1 · Aug 24, 2023
References Cited (218)
US 3689885A · Kaplan et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3706094A · Cole et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 4494545A · Slocum et al. · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4561443A · Hogrefe et al. · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4804054A · Howson et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 5012236A · Troyk et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5057095A · Fabian · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5095309A · Troyk et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5142292A · Chang · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5198807A · Troyk et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5221831A · Geiszler et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5241961A · Henry · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5558091A · Acker · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5752513A · Acker et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5867101A · Copeland et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6020856A · Alicot · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6026818A · Blair et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6047214A · Mueller et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6053873A · Govari et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6069564A · Hatano et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6073043A · Schneider · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6198963B1 · Haim et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6249212B1 · Beigel et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6263247B1 · Mueller et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6361532B1 · Burek · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6363940B1 · Krag · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6499488B1 · Hunter et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6675810B2 · Krag · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6698433B2 · Krag · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6765476B2 · Steele et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6784788B2 · Beigel et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6812842B2 · Dimmer · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6822570B2 · Dimmer et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6838990B2 · Dimmer · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6889833B2 · Seiler et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6977504B2 · Wright et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7007699B2 · Martinelli et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7023391B2 · Wuidart et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7026927B2 · Wright et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7135978B2 · Gisselberg et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7174201B2 · Govari et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7176798B2 · Dimmer et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7289839B2 · Dimmer et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7307530B2 · Fabian et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7319396B2 · Homanfar et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7347379B2 · Ward et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7366562B2 · Dukesherer et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7407054B2 · Seiler et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7411505B2 · Smith et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7414404B2 · Keene · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7420468B2 · Fabian et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7474223B2 · Nycz et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7518518B2 · Homanfar et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7549960B2 · Govari · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7558616B2 · Govari et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7575550B1 · Govari · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7590441B2 · Govari et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7632270B2 · Livneh · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7657301B2 · Mate et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7657302B2 · Mate et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7657303B2 · Mate et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7684849B2 · Wright et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7696876B2 · Dimmer et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7715898B2 · Anderson · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7747307B2 · Wright et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7751865B2 · Jascob et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7778687B2 · Dimmer et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7814916B2 · Revie et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7817040B2 · Homanfar et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7818044B2 · Dukesherer et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7840253B2 · Tremblay et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7848553B2 · Hertel et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7871423B2 · Livneh · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7899513B2 · Phillips et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7912529B2 · Herron et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7926491B2 · Wright et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7971341B2 · Dukesherer et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7993335B2 · Rioux et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8011508B2 · Seiler et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8012154B2 · Livneh · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8057407B2 · Martinelli et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8057468B2 · Konesky · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8100897B2 · Zoran · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8113210B2 · Petcavich et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8114181B2 · Gogolin · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8196589B2 · Gisselberg et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8226640B2 · Zoran · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8239001B2 · Verard et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8271069B2 · Jascob et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8354837B2 · Anderson · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8359730B2 · Burg et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8377388B2 · Konesky · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8399837B2 · Robbins et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8409190B2 · Konesky et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8467852B2 · Csavoy et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8549732B2 · Burg et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8628524B2 · Shilev · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8644907B2 · Hartmann et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8647342B2 · Livneh · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8696663B2 · Pardoll et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8728076B2 · Livneh · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8795265B2 · Konesky et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8795272B2 · Rioux et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8802022B2 · Konesky · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8830037B2 · Burke et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8857043B2 · Dimmer et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8892185B2 · Chi Sing et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8939153B1 · Reicher et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8948845B2 · Glossop et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8968171B2 · McKenna et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8973584B2 · Brander et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8979834B2 · Zoran et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8998899B2 · Shilev et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9002434B2 · Uchiyama et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9060765B2 · Rencher et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9095333B2 · Konesky et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9144453B2 · Rencher et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9234877B2 · Hattersley et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9239314B2 · Hattersley et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9730764B2 · Van Der Weide et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9987097B2 · Van Der Weide et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10154799B2 · Van Der Weide et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10245118B2 · Van Der Weide et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10245119B2 · Van Der Weide et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10278779B1 · Rudie et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20020040185A1 · Atalar · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 20030018246A1 · Govari et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030117269A1 · Dimmer · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030153850A1 · Davis et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040093187A1 · Dames et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040123871A1 · Wright et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040169505A1 · Alun et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040199067A1 · Bock et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20060093089A1 · Vertatschitsch et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070135803A1 · Belson · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070232882A1 · Glossop et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080119919A1 · Atalar · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080125630A1 · Caylor · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080132860A1 · Smith et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080194912A1 · Trovato et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080213382A1 · Ivkov et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080281190A1 · Petcavich et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090009335A1 · Stewart et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090216113A1 · Meier · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20090281419A1 · Troesken et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100004523A1 · August et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100274145A1 · Tupin et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100275934A1 · Keren · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100305430A1 · Troesken et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110152673A1 · Doerr et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110152677A1 · Faul · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110201923A1 · Shen · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110278948A1 · Forsell · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120082342A1 · Kim et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130052953A1 · Rofougaran · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130237982A1 · Rencher et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130345561A1 · Quigley · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140018663A1 · Harmer et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140062717A1 · Mudumbai et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140066754A1 · Chi Sing et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140148692A1 · Hartmann et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140309522A1 · Fullerton et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150100109A1 · Feldman et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150129664A1 · Brar · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150141811A1 · Ritchey et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150196369A1 · Glossop et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150264891A1 · Brander et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160022216A1 · Goldshtein et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160051164A1 · Derichs et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160192960A1 · Bueno et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170007352A1 · Weide et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170095313A1 · Van Der Weide et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170095315A1 · van der Weide · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20170098149A1 · Kesler · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170238996A1 · Frame et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170312046A1 · Van Der Weide et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180353259A1 · Van Der Weide et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190090779A1 · Van Der Weide et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190209263A1 · Van Der Weide et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190239980A1 · Van Der Weide et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190365478A1 · Rudie et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 101069640 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
CN 102264292 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
DE 10112303 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
DE 102011006537 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
EP 1232730 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012524627 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO WO1993005707 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2007064013 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010058150 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010124117 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2015039039 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2015063280 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2015112863 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2017059228 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2018031826 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2019236600 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
Li et al., Radio frequency identification technology: applications, technical challenges and strategies, Management Department Journal Article, 2006, paper 34, 28 pages. [cited by applicant]
Luini et al., Comparison of Radioguided excision with wire localization of occult breast lesions, Br. J. Surg, 1999, 86:522-525. [cited by applicant]
Mickle et al., Intellectual Property and Ubiquitos RFID, Recent Patents on Electrical Engineering, 2008, 1:59-67. [cited by applicant]
Radio Frequency Identification: Opportunites and Challenges in Immpementation, Department of Commerce, 2005, Washington D.C., 38 pages. [cited by applicant]
Shah et al, Expanding the use of real-time electromagnetic tracking in radiation oncology, J Appl Clin Med Phys. Nov. 15, 2011; 12(4):3590. [cited by applicant]
Shantz, A Near Field Propagation Law & A Novel Fundamental Limit to Antenna Gain Versus Size. Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium, 2005 IEEE, Jul. 3-8, 2005, Washington D.C. 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Soon, Radio Frequency Identification History and Development, Chapt. 1, Ubiquitous and Pervasive Computing: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications, 2010, ed. Symonds, 17 pages. [cited by applicant]
Stockman, Communication by Means of Reflected Power, Proceedings of the I.R.E., 1948, 36(10):1196-1204. [cited by applicant]
Takahata et al., Thoracoscopic surgery support system using passive RFID marker, 34th Annual International Conference of the IEEE EMBS, San Diego, CA, Aug. 28-Sep. 1, 2012, pp. 183-186. [cited by applicant]
Van Lieshout et al., RFID Technologies: Emerging Issues, Challenges and Policy Options, JRC Scientific and Technical Reports, 2007, 278 pages. [cited by applicant]
Want, RFID: A Key to Automating Everything, Scientific American, Inc., Jan. 2004, pp. 56-63. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion, mailed May 5, 2016, for PCT/US2015/012687, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2016/054738, mailed Jan. 31, 2017, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
European Supplemental Search Report for EP15740262.9, mailed Sep. 18, 2017, 14 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2017/046379, mailed Dec. 5, 2017, 15 pages. [cited by applicant]
European Supplemental Search Report for EP16852699.4, mailed May 10, 2019, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2019/035424, mailed Oct. 24, 2019, 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
European Search Report for EP17840310.1, mailed Mar. 30, 2020, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Liehr, Sascha (2006) Optical Measurement of Currents in Power Converters. [cited by applicant]
Alain, Tran & Bolic, Miodrag & Yagoub, Mustapha. 2010 Magnetic-Filed Coupling Characteristics of Ferrite-Coil Antennas for Low-Frequency RFID Applications. International Journal of Computer Science Issues. 7. [cited by applicant]
Applications of ferrite core inductors. Semiconductor for You. Jul. 25, 2007, Retrieved Feb. 28, 2022, from https://www.semiconductorforu.com/applications-ferrite-core-inductors/. [cited by applicant]