The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 06, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 18, 2005
Jeffrey H. Nycz, Collierville, TN (US);
Steven M. Tethrake, Collierville, TN (US);
Mark Pelo, Macy, IN (US);
Robert Varner, Germantown, TN (US);
Paul Elliott, Collierville, TN (US);
Jeffrey H. Nycz, Collierville, TN (US);
Steven M. Tethrake, Collierville, TN (US);
Mark Pelo, Macy, IN (US);
Robert Varner, Germantown, TN (US);
Paul Elliott, Collierville, TN (US);
Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., Warsaw, IN (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically identifying surgical implants by use of a radio-frequency tag (RFID) is disclosed. The method, apparatus, and system enable a radio-frequency tagged implant to receive an interrogation signal from a reader and to respond to the interrogation signal with identifying information about the tagged implants. The interrogation signal interrogates the implant to ascertain its information, and the RFID tag affixed on the implant in turn transmits a signal back to the reader. The method, apparatus, and system can track, inspect, and verify surgical implants, to assess, for example, any wear and tear on implants, and/or positional displacement of components of the implant.