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Publication Number
US-12535577-B2
Publication Date
2026-01-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
According to one aspect of the invention, a system for medical object tracking is provided. The system includes a plurality of radio frequency transceivers where each of the plurality of radio frequency transceivers are configured to emit a radio frequency signal at a respective frequency. The system includes a radio frequency beacon removably attachable to a medical object where the radio frequency beacon configured to: reflect the radio frequency signals from the plurality of radio frequency transceivers, and emit vibration-based signals. The system includes a control device in communication with the plurality of radio frequency transceivers where the control device includes processing circuitry configured to determine a location of the medical object in three-dimensional space based at least in part on the reflected radio frequency signals and vibration-based signals.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an RF-based medical object tracking system in which a plurality of radio frequency transceivers emits radio frequency signals and receives shifted responses from removable radio frequency beacons attached to medical objects. Each beacon radiates a plurality of return radio frequency signals at respective predetermined shifted frequencies in response to receiving each emitted signal, with the shifted frequency differing from the emitted frequency by a non-zero value when the beacon is stationary with respect to the transceiver.
A control device in communication with the plurality of radio frequency transceivers determines a location and an orientation of the medical objects in three-dimensional space based at least in part on the plurality of return radio frequency signals and the accelerometer data. The control device is configured to track and store location information and orientation information corresponding to the locations and orientations of the medical objects in three-dimensional space, and applies doppler filtering to discriminate return radio frequency signals from other sources.
The system also derives three-dimensional orientation using the accelerometer data and supports multiple medical objects concurrently, each with a removable radio frequency beacon that has an accelerometer and a radio interface. In this way, the system combines doppler-filtered return signals with accelerometer data to determine and update 3D location and orientation information.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover an RF-based medical object tracking system and a corresponding method centered on Doppler-shifted return radio frequency signals from removable RF beacons combined with accelerometer data to determine and store 3D location and orientation, including doppler filtering to discriminate beacon signals from other RF sources. The inventive features include concurrent interrogation by multiple transceivers, removable beacons carrying accelerometers and radio interfaces, non-zero predetermined shifted frequencies when beacons are stationary, and doppler filtering as part of the determination.
Concurrent RF transceiver interrogation and shifted responses
A plurality of radio frequency transceivers emits radio frequency signals at respective frequencies and receives the shifted response frequencies from radio frequency beacons concurrently.
Removably attachable RF beacons with accelerometer and radio interface
A radio frequency beacon removably attachable to a medical object comprises an accelerometer and a radio interface, radiating return radio frequency signals and transmitting accelerometer data.
Non-zero predetermined shifted frequency when stationary
The radio frequency beacon radiates return radio frequency signals at respective predetermined shifted frequencies in response to receiving each emitted radio frequency signal such that the predetermined shifted frequency differs from the respective frequency by a non-zero value when the radio frequency beacon is stationary with respect to the radio frequency transceiver.
3D location and orientation determination from doppler-filtered RF and accelerometer data
A control device determines a location and an orientation of the medical object in three-dimensional space based at least in part on the plurality of return radio frequency signals and the accelerometer data, wherein doppler filtering is applied to discriminate return radio frequency signals from other sources of radio frequency signals.
Tracking and storing 3D location and orientation information for multiple objects
The control device tracks and stores location information and orientation information corresponding to the location and orientation of each medical object in three-dimensional space based on the return radio frequency signals.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is the combination of concurrent RF interrogation of removably attachable beacons that emit non-zero Doppler-shifted return signals when stationary, together with accelerometer data from the beacons, to determine and store 3D location and orientation using doppler filtering to reject other RF sources.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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