An implant containing a structurally encoded region, the implant comprising an implant body defining adjacent first and second encoded regions, the first encoded region comprising a first series of shaped inclusions in a first pattern of relatively differing opacity figures, and the second encoded region comprising a second series of shaped inclusions in a second pattern of relatively differing opacity figures, the first and second encoded regions being disposed such that, when the first encoded region and second encoded regions are viewed by reading illumination from a position wherein the first pattern and second pattern overlap, a third pattern is revealed by the reading illumination, the third pattern being different than the first and second patterns, and comprising shape or surface characteristics representing structurally encoded data. The invention further comprises systems and methods of manufacturing, using and reading the same.

A medical implant includes a body and an identification assembly. The body includes a first material that is biocompatible, an inner portion, and an external surface made form the first material. The external surface completely contains the interior portion of the body such that the external surface is the only portion of the body exposed to an external environment. The identification assembly is fixed relative to the body. The identification assembly includes a radiopaque material forming a datamatrix. The identification assembly stores a readable data associated with the medical implant. The identification assembly may transfer the readable data to a scanning system.

Methods and systems for verifying compatibility of components of an electronic system are disclosed. The method includes irradiating a first and second components presumably associated with the electronic system, with XRF exciting radiation, and in response thereto, detecting one or more XRF response signals indicative of first and second XRF signatures, emitted from the first and second components. Then the first and second XRF signatures are processed to determine whether they are associated with respectively a first and second XRF marking compositions on the first and second components, and the compatibility of the first and second components to the electronic system is determined/verified based on the correspondence between the first and a second XRF signatures. Electronic systems are also disclosed including at least a first and a second electronic components respectively having the first and second XRF marking compositions that enable verification of compatibility of the components.

An electrosurgical return electrode configured for operable association with a transponder detection unit. The return electrode includes a conductive element having an aperture array configured to allow passage of a magnetic, electric, or electromagnetic interrogation signal from the transponder detection unit through the conductive element and through the return electrode. The return electrode is positionable over a transponder detection unit such that the return electrode may be placed upon the transponder detection unit and a patient may be positioned upon the return electrode. The return electrode enables the detection of a transponder located on, within, and/or near the patient without the need for repositioning the patient relative to the return electrode and without the need for positioning an ancillary transponder reader or transmitter above the patient.

The disclosure features dendritic tags, and methods and systems for fabricating and using such tags. The methods can include obtaining at least one image of a dendritic tag attached to an article, analyzing the at least one image to identify a set of features associated with the dendritic tag, and comparing the set of features to stored information to identify the article.

An electrosurgical return electrode configured for operable association with a transponder detection unit. The return electrode includes a conductive element having an aperture array configured to allow passage of a magnetic, electric, or electromagnetic interrogation signal from the transponder detection unit through the conductive element and through the return electrode. The return electrode is positionable over a transponder detection unit such that the return electrode may be placed upon the transponder detection unit and a patient may be positioned upon the return electrode. The return electrode enables the detection of a transponder located on, within, and/or near the patient without the need for repositioning the patient relative to the return electrode and without the need for positioning an ancillary transponder reader or transmitter above the patient.

The disclosure features dendritic tags, and methods and systems for fabricating and using such tags. The methods can include obtaining at least one image of a dendritic tag attached to an article, analyzing the at least one image to identify a set of features associated with the dendritic tag, and comparing the set of features to stored information to identify the article.

A workpiece having an identification code is arranged on a workpiece carrier having coded therein, by a pattern made from a plurality of mutually separate regions of different density, at least one character of the identification code. The workpiece and carrier are scanned together by computed tomography, the regions or part of the regions and the densities thereof in the computed tomography scan are ascertained, the scan is oriented in response to at least the location of a straight line through two of these regions, the character that is coded by way of the density pattern of the plurality of regions is determined in the scan, and the oriented scan is processed in response to the coded character.

The disclosure features dendritic tags, and methods and systems for fabricating and using such tags. The methods can include obtaining at least one image of a dendritic tag attached to an article, analyzing the at least one image to identify a set of features associated with the dendritic tag, and comparing the set of features to stored information to identify the article.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for identifying an object using radiopaque ink. In some embodiments, a system for identifying an object comprises an object having an identifying marking formed of a radiopaque ink comprising a solvent and a plurality of nanoparticles having an average diameter from about 5 nm to about 300 nm suspended in the solvent, each nanoparticle comprising at least 50,000 atoms having an atomic number of 53 or greater. A control circuit causes a radiographic imaging device to irradiate the object, receives from the radiographic imaging device image data associated with the object, processes the image data to generate an x-ray image showing the identifying marking of the object, causes a display device to display the x-ray image showing the identifying marking of the object, and identifies the object based on the identifying marking of the object shown in the x-ray image.