# US 9,750,428 B2 · System for deteriming relative distance(s) and/or angel(s) between at least two points > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,428 B2 - Document ID: US9750428B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/197,797 - Filed: 2014-03-05 - Published: 2014-07-31 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 1997-02-26 - Assignees: Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research - Applicants: Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research - Inventors: Eusebiu Matei; Lawrence J. Karr; Joseph H. Schulman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750428B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/062: {using magnetic field} - A61B 5/0031: {Implanted circuitry} - A61B 5/07: Endoradiosondes - A61B 5/1071: {measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers (A61B5/1123 takes precedence)} - A61N 1/37288: {Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient} - A61N 1/3787: {from an external energy source} - G01S 5/04: Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders - A61B 5/053: Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body - A61B 5/076: {Permanent implantation} - A61B 5/145: Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration or pH-value {; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid or cerebral tissue} (non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06) - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - A61B 5/686: {Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips (A61B5/6861 takes precedence)} - A61B 2560/0219: of externally powered implanted units - A61B 2562/08: Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips - A61F 2/72: Bioelectric control, e.g. myoelectric - A61F 2002/5058: {having means for restoring the perception of senses} - A61F 2002/704: {computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control} - A61F 2002/705: {Electromagnetic data transfer} - A61N 1/37205: {Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract Systems and method utilizing microelectronic devices for determining relative positions such as distances and/or angles between at least two points is described. The points may be locations of parts of the body such as the fingers on a person's hand. A first microelectronic device is adapted to emit magnetic signals and at least one second microelectronic device is adapted to receive the magnetic signals, wherein a controller is adapted to communicate with the first and second microelectronic devices. The second microelectronic device and/or the controller are adapted to determine a distance and angle between the first and the second microelectronic devices based on the strength of the magnetic signals received by the second microelectronic device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for determining relative positions of two points, the system comprising: a first implantable microelectronic device adapted to emit magnetic signals; a second implantable microelectronic device adapted to receive the magnetic signals; and a controller in communication with the first and second implantable microelectronic devices, wherein the second implantable microelectronic device measures a strength of the received magnetic signals and is capable of determining the distance between the first and second implantable microelectronic devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second implantable microelectronic device transmits the measurement of the strength of the received magnetic signals to the controller and wherein the controller determines the distance between the first and second implantable microelectronic devices based on the strength of the received magnetic signals. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising an external electronic device, wherein the external electronic device is adapted to transmit power to the first and second implantable microelectronic devices. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the external electronic device is adapted to transmit command signals to the controller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first and second implantable microelectronic devices are implantable in a living body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second implantable microelectronic devices comprise a rechargeable power source therein. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the controller determines the angle between the first and second implantable microelectronic devices based on the distance between the first and second implantable microelectronic devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is adapted to command the second implantable microelectronic device to emit the magnetic signals and the first implantable microelectronic device to receive the magnetic signals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second implantable microelectronic devices are less than 6 mm in lateral dimension and less than 60 mm in axial dimension. ### Claim 10 A method for determining relative positions of two points, comprising: providing a first implantable microelectronic device adapted to emit magnetic signals; providing a second implantable microelectronic device adapted to receive the magnetic signals; communicating with the first and second implantable microelectronic devices; measuring a strength of the magnetic signals received by the second implantable microelectronic device; and determining the distance between the first implantable microelectronic device and the second implantable microelectronic device based on the strength of the magnetic signals received. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: physically measuring the distance between the first microelectronic device and the second microelectronic device; and correlating the physically measured distance between the first microelectronic device and the second microelectronic device to a strength of a magnetic field at that distance, wherein determining the distance between the first implantable microelectronic device and the second implantable microelectronic device based on the strength of the magnetic signals received comprises comparing the strength of the magnetic field received to correlated physically measured values.