# US 10,499,832 B2 · Reflector markers and systems and methods for identifying and locating them

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- Number: US 10,499,832 B2
- Document ID: US10499832B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/481,431
- Filed: 2017-04-06
- Published: 2017-11-09
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-05
- Assignees: Cianna Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Cianna Medical, Inc.
- Inventors: John E. Greene; Nikolai Rulkov; Jonathan White
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499832B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/064: {using markers (A61B5/062 takes precedence)}
- A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
- A61B 90/04: {Protection of tissue around surgical sites against effects of non-mechanical surgery, e.g. laser surgery (protection of eyes against laser radiation A61F9/022)}
- A61B 90/39: {Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers}
- A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
- H10W 42/60: protecting against electrostatic charges or discharges, e.g. Faraday shields (integrated devices comprising arrangements for electrical protection H10D89/60)
- H10W 90/00: Package configurations
- A61B 5/062: {using magnetic field}
- A61B 2017/00212: {using remote controls}
- A61B 2017/00411: {actuated by application of energy from an energy source outside the body}
- A61B 2017/008: {Removal of tumors}
- A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect}
- A61B 2017/0088: {ceramic}
- A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems}
- A61B 2034/306: {Wrists with multiple vertebrae}
- A61B 2090/306: {using optical fibres}
- A61B 2090/3908: {Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue}
- A61B 2090/397: {electromagnetic other than visible, e.g. microwave}
- A61B 2090/3975: {active}
- A61B 2090/3979: {infrared}
- A61B 2090/3987: {Applicators for implanting markers}
- H10W 72/536: {the connected ends being ball-shaped}
- H10W 72/5363: {the connected ends being wedge-shaped}
- H10W 90/754: {between a chip and a stacked insulating package substrate, interposer or RDL}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10

## Abstract

Markers and related systems and methods are provided for localizing lesions within a patient's body, e.g., within a breast. The marker includes one or more photosensitive diodes for transforming light pulses striking the marker into electrical energy, one or more antennas, and a switch coupled to the photodiodes and antennas such that the light pulses cause the switch to open and close and modulate radar signals reflected by the marker back to a source of the signals. The antenna(s) may include one or more wire elements extending from a housing, one or more antenna elements printed on a substrate, or one or more chip antennas. Optionally, the marker may include a processor coupled to the photodiodes for identifying signals in the light pulses or one or more coatings or filters to allow selective activation of the marker.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for localization of a marker within a target tissue region within a patient's body, comprising:
a probe comprising one or more antennas for transmitting a radar signal into a patient's body towards a marker and receiving a reflected signal from the marker, and a light source for delivering infrared light pulses into the patient's body to cause the marker to change its reflective properties;
a signal generator for generating a substantially continuous wave;
a divider coupled to the signal generator for dividing the wave into first and second signals, the first signal delivered to the one or more antennas to transmit a substantially continuous transmit signal;
a mixer coupled to the divider for receiving the second signal and coupled to the one or more antennas for receiving the reflected signal, the mixer mixing the second signal and the reflected signal to produce an IF (intermediate frequency) signal comprising components associated with modulation of amplitude and phase of the reflected signal caused by the infrared light pulses changing reflective properties of the marker; and
a processor coupled to the mixer comprising a synchronous modulation detector that processes the IF signal to provide an output indicative of range from the one or more antennas to the marker based at least in part on the modulation of amplitude and phase synchronous with the infrared light pulses delivered by the light source.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising an output device coupled to the processor for providing an output to a user corresponding to the range.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a first amplifier for amplifying the first signal from the power divider to generate the transmit signal transmitted by the one or more antennas.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, further comprising a second amplifier coupled between the one or more antennas and the mixer for amplifying the reflected signal being delivered to the mixer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more antennas comprise a transmit antenna coupled to the power divider for receiving the first signal and transmitting the transmit signal, and a receive antenna coupled to the mixer for receiving the reflected signal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more antennas comprise a transmit/receive antenna and a circulator circuit coupled to the signal generator for delivering the first signal to the transmit/receive antenna and coupled to the mixer for delivering the return signal from the transmit/receive antenna to the mixer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more filters and amplifiers coupled to the mixer and the processor for filtering and amplifying the IF signal delivered to the processor from the mixer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the IF signal from the mixer before processing by the synchronous modulation detector.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the mixer is configured to remove high frequency components from the return signal corresponding to the wave to produce the IF signal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the marker comprises an energy converter configured to transform the infrared light pulses from the light source into electrical energy, and a switch coupled to the energy converter such that the energy pulses cause the switch to open and close to modulate the electromagnetic signals from the probe reflected by the marker.

### Claim 11

A system for localization of a marker within a target tissue region within a patient's body, comprising:
a probe comprising one or more antennas for transmitting a radar signal into a patient's body towards a marker and receiving a reflected signal from the marker, and a light source for delivering infrared light pulses into the patient's body to cause the marker to change its reflective properties;
a signal generator for generating a substantially continuous wave;
a divider coupled to the signal generator for dividing the wave into first and second signals, the first signal delivered to the one or more antennas to transmit a substantially continuous transmit signal;
a phase splitter coupled to the divider for receiving the second signal creating a replica signal out of phase with the second signal;
first and second mixers coupled to the phase splitter for receiving the second signal and the replica signal, respectively, and coupled to the one or more antennas for receiving the reflected signal such that the first mixer mixes the second signal and the reflected signal and the second mixer mixes the replica signal and reflected signal to produce IF (intermediate frequency) signals comprising components associated with modulation of amplitude and phase of the reflected signal caused by the infrared light pulses changing reflective properties of the marker; and
a processor coupled to the mixers comprising a synchronous modulation detector that processes the IF signals to provide an output indicative of range from the one or more antennas to the marker based at least in part on the modulation of amplitude and phase synchronous with the infrared light pulses delivered by the light source.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second mixers are configured to remove high frequency components from the return signal corresponding to the wave to produce the IF signals.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, further comprising one or more filters and amplifiers coupled to the mixers and the processor for filtering and amplifying the IF signals delivered to the processor from the mixers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for simultaneously digitizing the IF signals from the mixers before processing by the synchronous modulation detector.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, further comprising an output device coupled to the processor for providing an output to a user corresponding to the range.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, further comprising a first amplifier for amplifying the first signal from the power divider to generate the transmit signal transmitted by the one or more antennas.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, further comprising a second amplifier coupled between the one or more antennas and the mixer for amplifying the reflected signal being delivered to the mixer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more antennas comprise a transmit antenna coupled to the power divider for receiving the first signal and transmitting the transmit signal, and a receive antenna coupled to the mixers for receiving the reflected signal.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more antennas comprise a transmit/receive antenna and a circulator circuit coupled to the signal generator for delivering the first signal to the transmit/receive antenna and coupled to the mixers for delivering the return signal from the transmit/receive antenna to the mixers.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to process the IF signals to a) initially, identify the marker based on the modulation of amplitude in the return signal; and b) after identifying the marker, estimate a distance from the probe to the marker based on the modulation of amplitude and phase in the return signal.

### Claim 21 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the marker comprises an energy converter configured to transform the infrared light pulses from the light source into electrical energy, and a switch coupled to the energy converter such that the energy pulses cause the switch to open and close to modulate the electromagnetic signals from the probe reflected by the marker.