Surgery – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-25
2001-02-13
Lacyk, John P. (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Miscellaneous
C128S899000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186144
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to human and animal location, identification, and retrieval systems, and particularly to systems of transponder insertion.
2. Background
Transponders implanted within a human or animal recipient have many uses. For instance, transponders are useful for tracking and monitoring animals and for managing recipient information. For instance, the position and identity of animals may be tracked with an implanted transponder. Convenient, inexpensive, sterile, and efficient implantation techniques, however, are needed. Such techniques, for instance, can include surgical procedures or syringe-based injection.
The present invention sets forth a system for simple and effective introduction of a transponder into a recipient. In some embodiments the system requires use of an insertion tool. The tool has a recessed opening with a shape configured for use with the transponder unit described herein, and is used in combination with a rotational step.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A system for implanting a transponder is described. The system allows the transponder to be manually pushed through the skin into an animal recipient. The system includes an insertion tool that is helpful for recipients that have resilient skin. The transponder is preferably a chip-type transponder.
In the first embodiment, a coated transponder is made by substantially covering a transponder with a degradable coating. The coated transponder unit is made with a sharp end and a blunt end. The sharp end of the unit is placed against the skin and the user pushes on the blunt end to force the unit through. The unit's sharpness may be derived from the coating or from the transponder. The stiffness of the unit may be provided by either the transponder or the coating. The unit preferably has a bullet-shape but may have a variety of shapes; for instance, a beveled sharp end and a rounded blunt end.
The coating is made of a degradable material. The material is preferably a water-soluble starch but may also be a simple sugar or protein coating. Natural or synthetic, biodegradable, and hydrolytically degradable materials may be used. The coating may be soft or could be stiff. A stiff coating may be made rigid so that it deforms slightly upon impact so that the transponder is shielded from blows or forces applied to the unit during implantation. The coating may include therapeutic agents, for instance, antibiotics.
The unit is sterilely packaged. The packaging should be easily opened by the user and the sterile inside surface of the package may be configured to provide a surface useful for gripping the unit. Thus a user may open the package and, without directly touching the unit, push it into the recipient.
The system allows for quick, sterile, and simple insertion of the transponder. The procedure can be performed after little or no training. In most cases the transponder unit is pushed directly into the recipient; the optimal place is usually the loose skin located between the shoulder blades in the direct midline of the back. The skin may be grasped between thumb and forefinger and pulled up into a “tent.” The transponder unit is pushed directly through the skin until it disappears. In animals with resilient skin, such as dogs and cats, the insertion tool may be needed.
In another embodiment, the system includes an insertion tool. This tool comprises a handle attached to a rod-shaped cylinder that has a receptacle for receiving the transponder unit. A sleeve fits over the cylinder and reversibly slides over the cylinder and over the transponder in the receptacle. The transponder unit is placed in the receptacle of the tool with its sharp end forward, the sleeve is pushed over it, and the cylinder is pushed through the skin. The sleeve is pulled down so that the transponder is exposed. The cylinder is then rotated so that the transponder separates from the receptacle. The insertion tool is removed and the transponder is left behind under the skin. Prior to its use, the insertion tool should be sterilized by autoclave, sterilizing solution, or other suitable means. Care should be taken not to blunt the sharp end of the tool.
The shape of the cylinder and receptacle are designed to minimize trauma to tissue upon insertion and removal. Further, the receptacle may be coated with a low-tack material that gently holds the transponder unit in place until the rotation step. The tool may be weighted for optimal comfort by, for instance, adjusting the size of the handle. The tool may be rotated by twisting the handle or by incorporating an optional rotatable joint. Other joints may be introduced to the device to enhance deposition of the transponder; for instance, a flex-joint could be introduced below the receptacle so that the cylinder could be bent after pulling back the sleeve.
These embodiments are for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This invention encompasses many other embodiments that will be obvious to one skilled in these arts after reading this disclosure.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3313301 (1967-04-01), Jefferts
patent: 3820545 (1974-06-01), Jefferts
patent: 4909250 (1990-03-01), Smith
patent: 5193540 (1993-03-01), Schulman et al.
patent: 5211129 (1993-05-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 5482008 (1996-01-01), Stafford et al.
Buffum R. Michael
Cameron Doyle L.
Davis Langdon
Harms Garyld
Lacyk John P.
Patterson Thuente Skaar & Christensen P.A.
TraceNet Technologies, Inc.
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