Patent No. 5629678 Personal tracking and recovery system

 

Patent No. 5629678

Personal tracking and recovery system (Gargano, et al., May 13, 1997) Impantable transceiver.

Abstract

Apparatus for tracking and recovering humans utilizes an implantable transceiver incorporating a power supply and actuation system allowing the unit to remain implanted and functional for years without maintenance. The implanted transmitter may be remotely actuated, or actuated by the implantee. Power for the remote-activated receiver is generated electromechanically through the movement of body muscle. The device is small enough to be implanted in a child, facilitating use as a safeguard against kidnapping, and has a transmission range which also makes it suitable for wilderness sporting activities. A novel biological monitoring feature allows the device to be used to facilitate prompt medical dispatch in the event of heart attack or similar medical emergency. A novel sensation-feedback feature allows the implantee to control and actuate the device with certainty.

Notes:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The system employs triggerable radio beacon transmitter means designed to be implanted beneath the skin of an individual. Biological monitoring in the device will provide means for rapidly dispatching help in the event of a detectable medical emergency, such as a heart attack. A unique sensation-feedback feature allows the user to control and trigger the device with certainty, resulting in a more reliable, easily maintained system. The device is hermetically sealed in a biologically inert container. The device operates normally in a dormant state, and can be externally triggered to transmit the homing beacon. There are numerous possible embodiments of the trigger mechanism. In some embodiments of the trigger mechanism, the device is designed to be remotely triggered. Such a feature is desirable if the device is implanted in a small child who cannot be relied upon to trigger the device. Remote triggering may also be desirable in instances when an individual may be unconscious.

In one remote triggering instance, a radio transmitter may broadcast a coded signal to a receiver within the device. The receiver is equipped with circuitry for recognizing the coded radio signal. In one embodiment where the device is locally triggered, the device may be equipped with an acoustic receiver designed to detect certain sounds or a predetermined sequence of sounds in time, such as a note progression. In this case the device would likely be triggered by the person in whom it is implanted, for instance by humming a given tune. Immunity to false alarms may be provided by making the sequence long or requiring it to be repeated in a certain amount of time.

In another embodiment, the device may be triggered by monitoring a body function such as heart rate. If the victim were to experience a heart attack, help would be automatically and expediently dispatched.

If the device is triggered either by an external coded radio signal or a coded acoustic signal, or by monitoring a body function such as heart rate, the device incorporates a micro-power analog electronic means such as a radio or acoustic receiver or electrocardiogram monitoring circuitry, which runs off energy collected either from body muscle by electromechanical means, or from an external charger through electromagnetic induction coupling.

Other local triggering means not requiring a micro-power receiver are also contemplated. In such a case the device may be triggered by electromechanical means with a binary output, such as a mechanical switch. Possible embodiments of such a triggering mechanism range from a simple subcutaneous switch or combination of switches that actuate the transmitter when pressed, to an actuator coupled to internal body muscle, combined with digital circuitry designed to trigger the transmitter in response to a timed sequence of actuations.

It may be desirable in some implementations to include capabilities for both local and remote triggering. The same individual may desire the capability of local triggering in the event of an emergency such as a car-jacking, mugging, or kidnapping, while desiring remote triggering capability if for some reason the situation had rendered the individual unconscious. It may also be desirable in some embodiments for the user to be able to disable the remote-trigger feature.

The device contains a power source capable of supplying power for the transmitter for ample time to afford recovery of the individual in distress. Once triggered, the device may transmit only for a predetermined interval, allowing re-triggering later if the distressed individual is not located, or if help takes some time to dispatch.

The small size of the device makes it suitable for implantation in young children as well as adults. The above and other features of the invention including various and novel details of construction and combination of parts will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular personal tracking and recovery system embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in varied and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

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The drawings referred to in the specification are presented in block diagram form. Numerous possible implementations of any given block will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Any specific details referred to are strictly by way of example. It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that various substitutions and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.