14760 results about "Identification device" patented technology

A qualifying connection for an instrument attaches to a source of electrosurgery energy to and the instrument and has first and second parts coupled to the instrument and the source, respectively. Optical couplings on the connection transmit invisible energy to identify the instrument and are proximate on the first and second parts. A light modifier on the first part is proximal to the second part for modification of radiation in the infrared wavelengths so infrared transmitters encode signals and non contact coded proximity detectors on the second part are the coupled detectors. Non contact coded proximity detectors respond to modified infrared light establishing an Nth bit identification code. An infrared light supply in the source pass from the transmitters across the communicating couplings for encoding signals by modification of the infrared light with a light modifier. Mechanical attachments include conjugating male and female portions physically extending between the parts for mating engagement. The attachments juxtaposition the parts when the attachments geometrically conjugate to geographically positioning the couplings proximate for communicating. The attachments have one or more conductors for delivery of high frequency energy from the source to the instrument. A cable fits between the first part of the connection and the instrument and has electrical conductors for carrying energy passing through the first part of the connection from the source to the instrument. An identifying circuit couples to the second part and responds to invisible light optically communicated across the couplings for verifying the type of instrument connected by the cable to the source.

A surgical tool system comprising a control console, a powered surgical device, an intermediate attachment removably connected to the surgical device and a cutting accessory removably connected to the intermediate attachment. Internal to the cutting accessory is an identification device that contains data specific to the operation of the accessory. The control console, through the transfer of signals through the powered surgical device and the intermediate attachment reads the data in the cutting accessory. Based on these data, the control console selectively actuates the powered surgical device. In some versions of the invention, the identification device may be an RFID chip. Signals are exchanged between the surgical device and the intermediate attachment and between the intermediate attachment and cutting accessory by inductive coupling. An identification device internal to the intermediate attachment provides the control console with data describing the intermediate attachment.

A wrapped surgical pack (400) includes a plurality of adhesive bindings (301,302) that retain an identification device (305) against an outer wrap (201) of the wrapped surgical pack (400). The identification device (305) is capable of being read by a remote reader (801). When the wrapped surgical pack (400) is opened, the physical structure of the identification device (305) is altered, thereby allowing one or more processors operable with the remote reader (801) to detect the opening event. A system (800) using the identification device (305) can be used for order fulfillment, inventory management, location tracking, and other systems.

Apparatus and a method for enhancing the interference resistance of so-called RFID systems, wherein identification messages delivered from an identification device are longer than the time for which an anticipated interference or disturbance is calculated to continue, and wherein the messages contain redundancy, such as a checksum. The messages are delivered from the identification device repetitively, and are redundancy checked. In the event of any discrepancy in the redundancy check, such as when the checksum is checked against the data content of the message and is found in disagreement, successive messages are checked bit for bit against each other. Any deviations between otherwise previously rejected messages are assumed to be due to external interference and are thus successively substituted until the redundancy check gives an accepted result, such as through the medium of a checksum check according to the so-called CRC method.

A time / location information delivery system that provides focused advertising and / or other information to individuals based on the time and their location. A wireless identification device is carried by an individual and can be read from or written to when the individual passes by interrogators in a specific geographic location. The detectors read ID information embedded in the wireless identification device. A computer uses the ID and location information to select, from a list of information providers, those information providers which provide information content identifiable or correlated to a location and / or time, and is of interest to the individual. The information content can be forwarded to the individual by a variety of information channels. One channel uses conventional Internet email to deliver advertisements and other information to the individual's Internet mailbox. The email can be delivered to a conventional PC, a portable computer, a PDA, an intelligent telephone, pager or other suitable device. For ease of discussion, a pager and a PDA will be referred to collectively as a PDA. The wireless identification device can be an RFID tag embedded in a card, or even a wireless telephone. The RFID tag is read or written to by fixed interrogators and the location of the wireless telephone is detected by triangulating information from cell towers or by embedding the GPS receiver in the wireless telephone thereby providing the location information directly from the telephone. Of course, other nearly identical location determination means, such as quadrangulation could also be used. The location determination can be performed through similar means with other devices such as PDAs, laptops, pagers, etc.

A qualifying connection for an instrument attaches to a source of electrosurgery energy and to the instrument and has first and second parts coupled to the instrument and the source, respectively. Optical couplings on the connection transmit invisible energy to identify the instrument and are proximate on the first and second parts. A light modifier on the first part is proximal to the second part for modification of radiation in the infrared wavelengths so infrared transmitters encode signals and non-contact coded proximity detectors on the second part are the coupled detectors. Mechanical attachments include conjugating male and female portions which physically extend between the parts and matingly engage. An identifying circuit couples to the second part and responds to invisible light optically communicated across the couplings for verifying the type of instrument connected by the cable to the source. A method of using the connection has steps including juxtaposing and conjugating the parts with attachments and couplings for transmitting invisible optical energy to identify the instrument. The method includes modifying the invisible optical energy with geographically disposed proximate couplings of the parts when the attachments engage and the couplings are proximate. Passing and assessing signals of the modified energy are transmitted through the connection and to an identifying circuit in the source.

A system for use during a medical or surgical procedure on a body. The system generates an image representing the position of one or more body elements during the procedure using scans generated by a scanner prior or during the procedure. The image data set has reference points for each of the body elements, the reference points of a particular body element having a fixed spatial relation to the particular body element. The system includes an apparatus for identifying, during the procedure, the relative position of each of the reference points of each of the body elements to be displayed. The system also includes a processor for modifying the image data set according to the identified relative position of each of the reference points during the procedure, as identified by the identifying apparatus, said processor generating a displaced image data set representing the position of the body elements during the procedure. The system also includes a display utilizing the displaced image data set generated by the processor, illustrating the relative position of the body elements during the procedure. Methods relating to the system are also disclosed. Also disclosed are devices for use with a surgical navigation system having a sensor array which is in communication with the device to identify its position. The device may be a reference frame for attachment of a body part of the patient, such as a cranial reference arc frame for attachment to the head or a spine reference arc frame for attachment to the spine. The device may also be a localization frame for positioning an instrument relative to a body part, such as a localization biopsy guide frame for positioning a biopsy needle, a localization drill guide assembly for positioning a drill bit, a localization drill yoke assembly for positioning a drill, or a ventriculostomy probe for positioning a catheter.

An integrated circuit identification device (ICID) to be incorporated into an integrated circuit (IC) includes an array of electronic cells in which the magnitude of an output signal of each cell is a function of randomly occurring parametric variations which vary from cell-to-cell. The ICID also includes a circuit for measuring the output of each cell and for producing output data having a value reflecting the particular combination of measured characteristics of all of the elements of the array. When we make the number of elements in the array large enough, we insure that to a high degree of probability, the pattern of measured array cell characteristics for an ICID embedded in any one IC will be unique and distinguishable from such patterns measured by ICIDs embedded in millions of other ICs. Thus the value of the output data produced by an ICID circuit acts as a unique "fingerprint" for the IC in which it is installed, and can be used as a unique identification (ID) for that IC.

A system having a host having information regarding at least one transaction card account. The host functions to transfer card data to a drone card carried within the host. The host includes a biometric sensor or other suitable identification means for authentication of the user prior to use of the drone card. Once the user is authenticated, the drone card provides a readable identifier that corresponds to a transaction card account selected by the user. The functions of host could alternatively be integrated into the drone card.

The gateway apparatus has an IP address table that relates a plurality of apparatuses, each of which is one of components constructing a home network, to IP addresses respectively assigned to the apparatuses to store, a reception section that receives data with a destination indicative of one of the apparatuses constructing the home network, a recognition section that recognizes the apparatus with an IP address matching the IP address indicative of the destination contained in received data using the IP address table, and a distribution section that transmits the received data to the recognized apparatus.

An automatic recharging docking station for electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles in which standardized uniform charging stations are positioned in public parking facilities, private parking facilities, rest stops, or the like, and by means of a retractable vehicle probe, allow the owner / user of the vehicle to attach to the charging station and recharge the batteries or storage cells of the vehicle while the owner / user is at work, shopping, or otherwise not requiring the use of the vehicle. The particular vehicle and vehicle probe would have an encrypted identification means so that its identity would be recorded when it connected to a particular recharging station, regardless of which electrical jurisdiction that charging station was located, such that the respective electric utility companies or other entity would be able to identify and bill the owner / user for the quantity of electricity drawn during a specified time period.

A gaming system for playing a restricted-access progressive game comprises a database containing data, including a list of players having access to the restricted-access progressive game. The system includes a gaming terminal with a connection port for coupling the gaming terminal to the data-base. The gaming terminal has a player-identification device providing player information. The information is compared with data in the database to determine whether the restricted-access progressive game can be activated and game information displayed at the gaming terminal. A method of operating the progressive game comprises receiving a player-identification input at the gaming terminal and transmitting a player-identifier signal from the gaming terminal to a remotely located controller that determines accessibility to the progressive game. The method further includes receiving, at the gaming terminal, a progressive game accessibility signal from the remotely located controller and, if the signal is positive, allowing a player to conduct the progressive game.

A voice command recognition apparatus and method thereof are described. The voice command recognition apparatus includes audio sensors placed at different locations; a context determiner configured to determine user context based on a voice received at the audio sensors, wherein the context comprises a vocalization from a user. A command recognizer in the voice command recognition apparatus is configured to activate to recognize a voice command or remain inactive according to the recognized context.

A tracking system for identifying contents of a container includes an electromagnetic identification apparatus that provides an electromagnetic signal indicative of a container content data set; a writer for use in encoding the container signal onto the apparatus; a controller for receiving the encoded signal and for storing the signal in a master database storage apparatus; and a reader configured outside the container for communicating with the electromagnetic identification apparatus and for receiving the encoded signal therefrom and corresponding to the container content data signal set. A system for tracking items in an assembly includes an apparatus for receiving electromagnetic identification tag signals; an apparatus for creating a first tier aggregate signature; an apparatus for storing the signature in a master database; and an apparatus for receiving modifying command signals for creating a second tier aggregate signature corresponding to a modified set of electromagnetic identification tags in an augmented assembly.

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for identifying teleconference participants. More particularly, the invention relates to a conference system that includes an initialization means for initializing a call between participants located in at least two remote stations and an identification means for identifying one of the participants in one remote station responsive to a request from another of the participants in another remote station. The initialization means comprises table means for creating a table associating each of the participants to a position in a particular remote station and including a recorded voice segment of each of the participants. The identification means uses the table to identify the participant last to speak by looking up the position of the last speaker on the table and playing back the recorded voice segment of the participant associated with that position.

A system and method for notifying an offline global computer network user of an online interaction in which the offline user could participate. The system and method specify notification criteria of the offline user, monitor activities occurring on the global computer network, compare the activities to the notification criteria, and, if the activities satisfy the notification criteria, forward an offline communication to the offline user, which notifies the offline user of the online interaction. Examples of the online interactions include chat rooms, game sites, instant messaging services, auctions, and calls made over the global computer network. Examples of the offline communication include calls to a wireline telephone, calls to a wireless telephone, messages to a caller identification device, messages to a wireless access protocol device, messages to a one-way pager, and messages to an interactive pager.

The present invention relates to a control unit for an item of medical equipment, particularly a surgical microscope, for controlling equipment functions, comprising a sensor-screen having a sensor-screen surface for displaying image material, the sensor-screen being configured to be operated in contactless manner via a recognition device and to accommodate a sterile transparent control surface in front of the sensor-screen surface.

The invention provides a server used for recognizing browser voice commands and a browser voice command recognition system, which realize that a user can control web pages browsed by a user terminal through voice, and directly open the web pages to browse and obtain search results through voice. The server comprises a communication device used for receiving the browser voice commands sent by the user terminal, a voice recognition system used for phonetically recognizing the browser voice commands as texts, and a semantic recognition device used for semantically recognizing the phonetically recognized texts, so as to convert the browser commands. The invention further provides a browser voice command recognition method.

A microwave ablation system is disclosed. The system includes a microwave antenna assembly that includes an identification device configured to store an optimal frequency of the microwave antenna assembly. The system also includes a generator configured to couple to the microwave antenna assembly and to output microwave energy at an operational frequency. The generator is further configured to read the optimal frequency from the identification device and to configure the operational frequency to substantially match the optimal frequency.

Biometrics identification module and personal wearable electronics network based authentication and transaction processing are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for biometric authentication may include (1) a biometric identification device connecting to a plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of sensing devices receiving a user characteristic from a user; (2) the biometric identification device receiving the user characteristics from the sensing devices; (3) the biometric identification device communicating the received user characteristics to a server; (4) the biometric identification device receiving a biometric profile for the user; and (5) the biometric identification device storing the biometric profile.

A method for storing medical data on a secure ID card and retrieving the medical data from the card using an authentication device. The method comprises the steps of verifying the card and the authentication device, unlocking in the card a user password template stored in the card in response to verification of the card and authentication device, inputting a password, transmitting the password to the card, comparing the inputted password to the unlocked password template, unlocking a biometric template stored in the card in response to a positive comparison, capturing biometric data a person with the biometric sensor, generating in the authentication device a biometric template through processing of the captured biometric data, transmitting the template to the card, comparing the biometric template to the unlocked template, generating a decryption key, and using the decryption key to unlock a medical application on the authentication device.

The present invention is directed to a method and system for managing patient care. The system may include a central information system containing patient records, caregiver data, and task-related information. The system may additionally include a patient identification device including a patient identifier linking a patient to a patient record in the central information system and a caregiver identifier associated with the caregiver data in the central information system. The system may further include a portable information device for collecting data from the patient identification device and communicating with the central information system to retrieve the patient record and verify the caregiver identifier. The system may further include a device link server and a patient link micro-server for locally caching data. Other identification devices such as a medication identification device and a medical device identifier may also be provided in the system.

An identification system and method for medication management comprises a controller, a drug library accessible by the controller, the drug library containing drug library profiles including a data set of drug information, and an identification module configured to read patient identification information from machine-readable identification devices worn by patients and to read drug information from machine-readable identification devices affixed to drugs or containers of drugs. The controller compares the read information to each other and to the drug library profile and provides alerts or error signals in the event of an inconsistency. In one case, identification devices are read by an optical reader fixedly mounted to the identification module. In another case, identification devices are read by an optical reader that is hand-held and mobile and can be moved to the location of the identification device. The hand-held reader communicates with the identification module by wired or wireless means. In another case, a third reader that is non-optical and wireless is fixedly mounted to the identification module. The controller is also configured to provide alerts or error messages in the event that there is an inconsistency between the drug information on the drug or drug container when compared to the drug library profile associated with the controller.

A vehicle includes vehicle systems each having driver-selectable vehicle system settings (VSS), and a control system for statistically modeling the VSS to determine an identity of a driver. The control system automatically controls a setting of at least one of the vehicle systems using or based on the identity. The control system statistically models the VSS for the driver over time to produce a historical driver profile (HDP) for the driver, and can automatically update the HDP when said driver manually changes any one of the VSS. An optional driver identification device can verify the identity. A method for controlling a predetermined onboard system of a vehicle includes collecting a set of VSS for a plurality of onboard systems, processing the VSS through a statistical modeling algorithm to determine an identity of a driver of the vehicle, and automatically controlling a predetermined onboard system using the identity of the driver.

System for allowing a user, by use of a remote controller, to control the operation of appliances located in different sub-environments of an environment, that comprises a plurality of sub-environments' recognition means, each one is allocated to a respective sub-environment and equipped with a code unique to the respective sub-environment; and a remote controller, configured to obtain from the recognition means location signal that contains the unique code to recognize the sub-environment the controller is currently in. The controller introduces to the user, in response to the recognition of a sub-environment, control options relevant only to appliances that are located in the recognized sub-environment. The controller includes user interaction means to allow the user to activate the control options, as desired by him.

Disclosed is a uniquely identifiable identification system incorporated into an X-ray testing apparatus or into this system, so that each operator (6) can log onto the operating system only with his or her own individual identification (4, 4.1). The identification (4, 4.1) is read and optionally rewritten by a counterpart device (3, 3.1) of the identification system. Upon leaving the operating system, the operator (6) is automatically logged off by way of removing the identification device (4, 4.1), or by way of exiting from a defined local area (N) around the X-ray testing apparatus, and the operating system is then ready for access by another operator (6).

Exemplary automated presence detection systems comprise set top box components equipped with a Bluetooth receiver, or another receiver configured to receive data from a personal identification device via a wireless and automatic radio frequency standard. In various embodiments, the Bluetooth receiver may be integrated into the set top box or may operate as an adjunct to an existing set top box. The wireless radio frequency receiver in the set top box will poll to determine the presence of previously paired personal identification devices. If any such device is present, then the set top box will track and record the presence of a viewer that is associated with the device and correlate the viewer's presence with content displayed on the television or other local content display component. Alternatively, based on detected viewer presence, some embodiments of an automated presence detection system may be configured to push and / or restrict specific content. Further, some embodiments are configured to gather statistical data concerning viewer behavior and / or exposure to displayed content.

A tracking system for identifying contents of a container includes an electromagnetic identification apparatus that provides an electromagnetic signal indicative of a container content data set; a writer for use in encoding the container signal onto the apparatus; a controller for receiving the encoded signal and for storing the signal in a master database storage apparatus; and a reader configured outside the container for communicating with the electromagnetic identification apparatus and for receiving the encoded signal therefrom and corresponding to the container content data signal set. A system for tracking items in an assembly includes an apparatus for receiving electromagnetic identification tag signals; an apparatus for creating a first tier aggregate signature; an apparatus for storing the signature in a master database; and an apparatus for receiving modifying command signals for creating a second tier aggregate signature corresponding to a modified set of electromagnetic identification tags in an augmented assembly.

A speech recognition apparatus includes a speech recognition dictionary and a speech recognition unit. The speech recognition dictionary includes comparison data used to recognize a voice input. The speech recognition unit is adapted to calculate the score for each comparison data by comparing voice input data generated based on the voice input with each comparison data, recognize the voice input based on the score, and produce the recognition result of the voice input. The speech recognition apparatus further includes data indicating score weights associated with particular comparison data, used to weight the scores calculated for the particular comparison data. After the score is calculated for each comparison data, the score weights are added to the scores of the particular comparison data, and the voice input is recognized based on total scores including the added score weights.