Positive identification method and structure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method to assist in the identification of a living body which comprises selecting a carrier, transcribing information as to the identity of the body on the carrier, and fixing the carrier to a hard mineralized portion of the body. The structure includes a miniaturized carrier of relatively inert material and having identifying intelligence thereon, wherein the carrier is adapted to be fixed or otherwise embedded on hard mineralized tissue of the body.

I claim: 
     
       1. An identification means adapted for use in living bodies and more particularly to be embedded in a cavity in a highly mineralized portion of the body comprising a carrier made up of a substrate of relatively hard inert material having a high melting point at least as high as the highly mineralized portion of the body into which it is to be embedded; an etchable layer of an inert material on said substrate and including identifying intelligence etched thereon, said identification means including locating means. 
     
     
       2. An identification means as defined in claim 1 wherein the locating means includes providing the carrier with a distinctive shape enabling radiographical detection of the carrier. 
     
     
       3. An identification means as defined in claim 1 wherein the carrier has a flat surface on which the identifying information is inscribed, said surface being 1.1 mm 2  and 2.5 mm 2 , and having a thickness in the range of 0.250 mm and 1.270 mm. 
     
     
       4. An identification means as defined in claim 3, wherein the carrier is prismatic, being 1.5 mm square and 0.6 mm thick. 
     
     
       5. An identification means as defined in claim 1, wherein the inert material is chosen from the group of materials containing ceramic, porcelain, non-oxidizing metals having a melting point higher than 1250° F. 
     
     
       6. An identification means as defined in claim 1, wherein the inert material is a ceramic made from the group including BeO and Al 2  O 3 . 
     
     
       7. An identification means as defined in claim 6, wherein the carrier has a layer of ni-chrome steel deposited on the ceramic substrate. 
     
     
       8. An identification means as defined in claim 7, wherein a gold layer superimposes the ni-chrome steel layer and the identifying information is etched on the gold layer. 
     
     
       9. An identification means as defined in claim 6, wherein a gold layer is deposited on the ceramic substrate and the identifying intelligence is etched on the gold layer. 
     
     
       10. A method for providing positive identification of a living body comprising: a. providing a hard, highly mineralized portion of the body with a cavity,   b. placing identifying intelligence on a radiographically detectable carrier,   c. embedding the carrier in the cavity whereby the carrier is completely within the mineralized portion of the body such as to lend a high degree of heat and impact protection to the carrier.   
     
     
       11. An identification means as defined in claim 1 wherein the carrier includes a substrate of relatively inert material and includes at least one layer of metallic material on the substrate on which identifying intelligence is etched. .[. 
     
     
       12.  An identification means as defined in claim 11 including locating means for enabling the radiographical detection of the carrier, the locating means comprising a cylindrical pin of inert material having an end of the cylindrical pin being formed in a predetermined detectable shape..]. 
     
     
       13. An identification means as defined in claim .[.12.]. .Iadd.28 .Iaddend.wherein the pin is of stainless steel material and is approximately 3 mm in length and 0.685 mm in diameter. 
     
     
       14. A method for positive identification of a living person, including the steps of selecting a carrier of relatively inert material and of miniaturized dimensions, applying identification intelligence corresponding to the person on said carrier, selecting a tooth of the person and excavating a suitable cavity in said tooth, locating said miniaturized carrier in the cavity formed in said tooth, closing said cavity, ensuring that the carrier is detectable radigraphically; in subsequent necessity of identification taking an X-ray of the person's teeth, detecting the carrier by X-ray and locating the tooth in which the carrier is embedded, retrieving the carrier from said tooth and reading the identifying information from the carrier. 
     
     
       15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein an additional cavity is provided in the tooth suitable to receive a locating pin, selecting a relatively inert, radiographically opaque locating pin and inserting it into the additional cavity in order to enhance the detection of the tooth bearing the carrier. 
     
     
       16. A method as defined in claim 15, including the further step of shaping an end of said pin in a predetermined manner in order to enhance the detection thereof. 
     
     
       17. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the living body is that of a human being, and a miniaturized carrier is selected. 
     
     
       18. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein the highly mineralized tissue portion of the body is a tooth and the carrier is miniaturized and embedded in the tooth. 
     
     
       19. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein the highly mineralized portion of the body is a bone and the carrier is embedded in the bone and the bone is allowed to heal over the carrier. 
     
     
       20. A method as defined in claim 19 wherein the bone is the mandible bone. 
     
     
       21. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein the living body is that of a human being and a miniaturized carrier is is selected, the carrier being of relatively inert material and the highly mineralized portion is the mandible bone of the human body. 
     
     
       22. A method as defined in claim 21 wherein a radiographically opaque locating means is provided near the carrier to enable radiographic detection of the carrier. 
     
     
       23. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein the locating means includes a pin in the form of an elongated member and shaping the end of said pin in a predetermined manner in order to enhance the detection thereof. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 10 wherein said carrier is formed by a. forming a substrate of relatively inert material,   b. depositing at least one layer of metallic material on said substrate,   c. etching the identifying intelligence in said metallic material.   
     
     
       25. A method for providing positive identification of a living body comprising: a. forming a cavity in a tooth of the living body,   b. placing identifying intelligence on a radiographically detectable carrier,   c. inserting the carrier in the cavity of the tooth,   d. covering the carrier within the cavity.   
     
     
       26. The method of claim 24 including inserting a radiographically opaque locating means in the tooth adjacent said carrier. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26 wherein said locating means in inserted by forming an elongated cavity adjacent the cavity containing said carrier and placing said locating means in the form of an elongated member in said elongated cavity. .Iadd. 
     
     
       28.  An identification means adapted for use in living bodies and more particularly to be embedded in a cavity in a highly mineralized portion of the body comprising a carrier made up of a substrate of relatively hard inert material having a high melting point at least as high as the highly mineralized portion of the body into which it is to be embedded; and inscribable layer of an inert material on said substrate and including identifying intelligence inscribed thereon, said identification means including locating means for enabling the radiographical detection of the carrier, the locating means comprising a cylindrical pin of inert material having an end of the cylindrical pin being formed in a predetermined detectable shape. .Iaddend.