Patents by Inventor Donald Weihrich

Donald Weihrich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7780590
    Abstract: An implanted fluid access port locator system for adjustable gastric bands. The system may include an access port having an RFID tag with its antenna adjacent to the receiving portion of the port. An external locator with radio frequency transmitter/receiver circuitry sends read or interrogation signals to the RFID tag and may send write signals to the tag to write treatment data to memory of the RFID tag. The locator may include an antenna array with four patch antenna arranged in pairs to model two monopulse radar antenna systems. The locator also includes processor(s) and logic modules/circuitry for processing the tag response signals received by the antenna array to determine location information for the RFID tag and associated port, i.e., to identify the center of the port relative to the antennae array or array face such as with strength and direction information relative to the array face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Janel A. Birk, Donald Weihrich
  • Patent number: 7727143
    Abstract: An access port locator system for adjustable gastric bands. The system includes an access port with an RFID tag with its antenna adjacent to the receiving portion of the port. The system includes a locator with radio frequency transmitter/receiver circuitry for sending read or interrogation signals to the RFID tag and for sending write signals to the tag to write treatment data to memory of the RFID tag. The locator also includes an antenna array with four patch antenna arranged in pairs to model two monopulse radar antenna systems. The locator also includes processor(s) and logic modules/circuitry for processing the tag response signals received by the antenna array to determine location information for the RFID tag and associated port, i.e., to identify the center of the port relative to the antennae array or array face such as with strength and direction information relative to the array face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Janel Birk, Donald Weihrich
  • Publication number: 20080004642
    Abstract: An implanted fluid access port locator system for adjustable gastric bands. The system may include an access port having an RFID tag with its antenna adjacent to the receiving portion of the port. An external locator with radio frequency transmitter/receiver circuitry sends read or interrogation signals to the RFID tag and may send write signals to the tag to write treatment data to memory of the RFID tag. The locator may include an antenna array with four patch antenna arranged in pairs to model two monopulse radar antenna systems. The locator also includes processor(s) and logic modules/circuitry for processing the tag response signals received by the antenna array to determine location information for the RFID tag and associated port, i.e., to identify the center of the port relative to the antennae array or array face such as with strength and direction information relative to the array face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: ALLERGAN, INC.
    Inventors: Janel Birk, Donald Weihrich
  • Publication number: 20070282196
    Abstract: An access port locator system for adjustable gastric bands. The system includes an access port with an RFID tag with its antenna adjacent to the receiving portion of the port. The system includes a locator with radio frequency transmitter/receiver circuitry for sending read or interrogation signals to the RFID tag and for sending write signals to the tag to write treatment data to memory of the RFID tag. The locator also includes an antenna array with four patch antenna arranged in pairs to model two monopulse radar antenna systems. The locator also includes processor(s) and logic modules/circuitry for processing the tag response signals received by the antenna array to determine location information for the RFID tag and associated port, i.e., to identify the center of the port relative to the antennae array or array face such as with strength and direction information relative to the array face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Janel Birk, Donald Weihrich