1. A system for monitoring wear of a vehicle part, the system comprising:
a piezoelectric disk electrically connected to a radio frequency circuit for receiving electrical current from the piezoelectric disk; and
an antenna for actively transmitting a signal from the radio frequency circuit to a microprocessor such that, when the piezoelectric disk contacts a surface through wear, the radio frequency circuit actively generates a signal received by the microprocessor.
2. The system as set forth in claim 1 further including a user interface; at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with unique identification embedded in the part at a depth indicative of a worn part; an RF tag reader that can periodically monitor signals from the at least one RFID tag; a controller coupled to the RF tag reader and user interface, wherein if the RF tag reader fails to obtain any signals from the at least one RFID tag, indicating a destroyed RFID tag, the controller can direct the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that the part containing that RFID tag is worn; and a clock coupled to the controller, and wherein the at least one RFID tag includes a plurality of RFID tags in each tire of the vehicle embedded at different tread depths, wherein the controller can monitor the progress of tire wear for each tire by determining when individual RFID tags are destroyed, wherein if the RFID tags at corresponding tread depths of each tire are not all destroyed within a predetermined time period the controller can direct the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that the vehicle is experiencing uneven tire wear.
3. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the part is a tire and the at least one RFID tag includes one RFID tag for each tire of the vehicle.
4. The system as set forth in claim 2 further including an inventory system such that the unique identification of the at least one RFID tag can be used by the inventory system for inventory tracking.
5. A system as set forth in claim 1 further including a user interface; at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with unique identification embedded in the part at a depth indicative of a worn part; an RF tag reader that can periodically monitor signals from the at least one RFID tag; a controller coupled to the RF tag reader and user interface, wherein if the RF tag reader fails to obtain any signals from the at least one RFID tag, indicating a destroyed RFID tag, the controller can direct the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that the part containing that RFID tag is worn; and a mileage indicator of the vehicle coupled to the controller, and wherein the at least one RFID tag includes a plurality of RFID tags in each tire of the vehicle embedded at different tread depths, wherein the controller can monitor the progress of tire wear for each tire by determining when individual RFID tags are destroyed, wherein if the RFID tags at corresponding tread depths of each tire are not all destroyed within a predetermined mileage range the controller can direct the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that the vehicle is experiencing uneven tire wear.
6. The system as set forth in claim 5 further including a clock coupled to the controller, and wherein the at least one RFID tag includes a plurality of RFID tags in each tire of the vehicle embedded at the same depth across the tread of the tire, wherein the controller can monitor the progress of tire wear for each tire by determining when individual RFID tags are destroyed, wherein if the RFID tags at the same tread depth of a tire are not all destroyed within a predetermined time period the controller can direct the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that said tire is experiencing uneven tire wear.
7. The system as set forth in claim 5 further including a mileage indicator coupled to the controller, and wherein the at least one RFID tag includes a plurality of RFID tags in each tire of the vehicle embedded at the same depth across the tread of the tire, wherein the controller can monitor the progress of tire wear for each tire by determining when individual RFID tags are destroyed, wherein if the RFID tags at the same tread depth of a tire are not all destroyed within a predetermined mileage range the controller can direct the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that said tire is experiencing uneven tire wear.
8. The system as set forth in claim 1 further including: a user interface; at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with unique identification embedded in the part at a depth indicative of a worn part; an RF tag reader that can periodically monitor signals from the at least one RFID tag; a controller coupled to the RF tag reader and user interface, wherein if the RF tag reader fails to obtain any signals from the at least one RFID tag, indicating a destroyed RFID tag, the controller can direct the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that the part containing that RFID tag is worn; and a radio communication device coupled to the controller, the radio communication device able to download weather and location information, and wherein the unique identification of the at least one RFID tag includes a weather rating of the tire, wherein if the controller determines that the weather rating of the tire is not suitable for the current weather conditions the controller can direct the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that the weather rating of the tire is not suitable for the current weather conditions.
9. The system as set forth in claim 2 further including a radio communication device coupled to the controller, the radio communication device able to obtain external assistance for a user of the vehicle relating to tire replacement, wherein the controller can direct the user interface to provide information to the user about the external assistance.
10. The system as set forth in claim 1 further including: a user interface in the vehicle; a clock in the vehicle; a mileage indicator in the vehicle; a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags with unique identification embedded in the tread of each tire; an RF tag reader located in a vehicle carrying the tire, the RF tag reader can periodically monitor signals from the plurality of RFID tags; and a controller coupled to the clock, mileage indicator, RF tag reader and user interface, wherein if the RF tag reader fails to obtain any signals from the at least one RFID tag, indicating a destroyed RFID tag, the controller determines if there is a problem and then directs the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that the tire containing that RFID tag is experiencing a problem, wherein the plurality of RFID tags include RFID tags embedded at different tread depths, wherein the controller can monitor the progress of tire wear for each tire by determining when individual RFID tags are destroyed, wherein if the RFID tags at corresponding tread depths of each tire are not all destroyed within at least one of the group of a predetermined time period and predetermined mileage range the controller can direct the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that the vehicle is experiencing uneven tire wear.
11. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein an inventory system with the unique identification of the RFID tags can be used by the inventory system for inventory tracking.
12. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the plurality of RFID tags include RFID tags embedded at the same depth across the tread of each tire, wherein the controller can monitor the progress of tire wear for each tire by determining when individual RFID tags are destroyed, wherein if the RFID tags at the same tread depth of a tire are not all destroyed within at least one of the group of a predetermined time period and predetermined mileage range the controller can direct the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that said tire is experiencing uneven tire wear.
13. The system as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a radio communication device coupled to the controller, the radio communication device able to download weather and location information, and wherein the unique identification of the at least one RFID includes a weather rating of each tire, wherein the if the controller determines that the weather rating of the tire is not suitable for the current weather conditions the controller can direct the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that the weather rating of the tire is not suitable for the current weather conditions.
14. The system as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a vehicle speed indication coupled to the controller, wherein the if the controller determines that the vehicle is traveling above a predetermined speed, given the weather rating of the tire and current weather conditions, the controller can direct the user interface to warn a user of the vehicle that the vehicle is going too fast for the current weather conditions.
15. The system as set forth in claim 1 further including a user interface, clock, and mileage indicator such that a method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags with unique identification embedded in the tread of each tire; periodically monitoring signals from the plurality of RFID tags; detecting when an RFID tag fails to send any more signals, indicating a destroyed RFID tag; determining if the failed RFID tag indicates a problem; and warning a user of the vehicle of the problem,
wherein the providing step includes providing RFID tags embedded at different tread depths in each tire,
wherein the monitoring step monitors the progress of tire wear for each tire by determining when individual RFID tags are destroyed,
wherein if the detecting step detects that RFID tags at corresponding tread depths of each tire are not all destroyed within at least one of the group of a predetermined time period and predetermined mileage range the warning step can warn a user of the vehicle that the vehicle is experiencing uneven tire wear.
16. The system as set forth in claim 15 further comprising the step of tracking an inventory of tires using the unique identification of the RFID tags.
17. The system as set forth in claim 16 wherein the providing step includes providing RFID tags embedded at the same tread depth across the tread of each tire, wherein the monitoring step monitors the progress of tire wear for each tire by determining when individual RFID tags are destroyed, wherein if the detecting step detects that RFID tags at the same tread depth of a tire are not all destroyed within at least one of the group of a predetermined time period and predetermined mileage range the warning step can warn a user of the vehicle that said tire is experiencing uneven tire wear.
18. The system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the unique identification of the plurality of RFID tags in the providing step includes a weather rating of each tire, and further comprising the steps of: obtaining weather and location information; determining that the weather rating of the tire is not suitable for the current weather conditions; and warning a user of the vehicle that the weather rating of the tire is not suitable for the current weather conditions.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A stylet, comprising:
a first stylet portion having proximal and distal end regions, the first stylet portion being configured and dimensioned to be slidably positioned within a first lumen of a catheter; and
a second stylet portion having proximal and distal end regions, the second stylet portion being configured and dimensioned to be slidably positioned within a second lumen of the catheter which is separated from the first lumen by a septum wall, wherein the first and second stylet portions extend from a proximal end of the catheter to beyond a distal end of the catheter, the first and second stylet portions including corresponding mating structure for releasably joining the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions, the first and second stylet portions being independently movable in relation to each other to facilitate selective removal of the first stylet portion andor the second stylet portion from the catheter, the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions together defining a tapered penetrating portion.
2. The stylet of claim 1, wherein the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions are substantially coterminous.
3. The stylet of claim 1, wherein the stylet is formed from a material that is more rigid than the catheter such that positioning of the stylet within the catheter increases rigidity of the catheter.
4. The stylet of claim 1, wherein the corresponding mating structure is positioned at the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions.
5. The stylet of claim 1, wherein the corresponding mating structure included on the first and second stylet portions is configured to facilitate relative slidable movement between the first and second stylet portions.
6. The stylet of claim 1, wherein the corresponding mating structure includes a frangible weld common to the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions, the weld being configured and dimensioned for engagement with the septum wall upon withdrawal of the first and second stylet portions from the catheter, whereby the distal end region of the first stylet portion is separated from the distal end region of the second stylet portion.
7. The stylet of claim 1, wherein the mating structure included on the first stylet portion includes a rib and the mating structure included on the second stylet portion includes a channel configured and dimensioned to slidably receive the rib.
8. The stylet of claim 7, wherein the rib and the channel are configured and dimensioned to allow relative transverse movement between the first and second stylet portions.
9. The stylet of claim 7, wherein the rib and the channel are configured and dimensioned to prevent relative transverse movement between the first and second stylet portions.
10. The stylet of claim 9, wherein the rib and the channel each include a dovetail configuration.
11. The stylet of claim 1, wherein the first stylet portion defines a channel configured and dimensioned to receive a guidewire.
12. The stylet of claim 1, wherein the first stylet portion corresponds in configuration to the first lumen of the catheter and the second stylet portion corresponds in configuration to the second lumen of the catheter.
13. A catheterization system, comprising:
a catheter including a body having proximal and distal ends and defining first and second lumens extending therethrough, wherein the first and second lumens are separated by a septum wall; and
a stylet including a first stylet portion having proximal and distal end regions, and a second stylet portion having proximal and distal end regions, the first stylet portion being configured and dimensioned to be slidably positioned within the first lumen of the catheter and the second stylet portion being configured and dimensioned to be slidably positioned within the second lumen of the catheter, wherein the first and second stylet portions extend from the proximal end of the catheter to beyond the distal end of the catheter, the first and second stylet portions including corresponding mating structure for releasably joining the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions, the first and second stylet portions being independently movable in relation to each other to facilitate selective removal of the first stylet portion andor the second stylet portion from the catheter, the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions together defining a tapered penetrating portion.
14. The catheterization system of claim 13 further comprising a sheath having proximal and distal ends and defining a sheath lumen configured and dimensioned to receive the catheter, wherein the stylet is dimensioned to extend beyond the distal end of the sheath when the stylet is positioned within the catheter such that the sheath forces the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions into engagement with each other to define the penetrating portion of the stylet.
15. The catheterization system of claim 14, wherein the sheath further includes a perforated section to facilitate tearing of the sheath.
16. A method of positioning a catheter within a tissue site comprising the steps of:
positioning a first stylet portion of a stylet within a first lumen of the catheter and positioning a second stylet portion of the stylet within a second lumen of the catheter, the first and second stylet portions extending from a proximal end of the catheter and beyond a distal end of the catheter, wherein at least the first stylet portion defines a channel therethrough configured to receive a guidewire;
attaching corresponding mating structure provided at distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions to thereby connect a distal end region of the first stylet portion to a distal end region of the second stylet portion such that the first and second stylet portions are independently movable.
advancing the stylet and the catheter distally over a guidewire positioned within the tissue site until a distal end of the catheter is positioned within the tissue site; and
withdrawing the stylet from the catheter by detaching the corresponding mating structure at the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions.
17. A catheterization system, comprising:
a catheter including a body having proximal and distal ends and defining first and second lumens extending therethrough, wherein the first and second lumens are separated by a septum wall; and
a stylet including a first stylet portion with proximal and distal end regions configured and dimensioned for insertion into the first lumen of the catheter, and a second stylet portion with proximal and distal end regions configured and dimensioned for insertion into the second lumen of the catheter, wherein the proximal end regions of the first and second stylet portions are separated from one another, and the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions are conjoined to thereby inhibit relative longitudinal movement between the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions until a predetermined force is applied to the stylet.
18. The catheterization system of claim 17, wherein the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions are connected by conjoining structure.
19. The catheterization system of claim 18, wherein the conjoining structure is a weld.
20. The catheterization system of claim 18, wherein the conjoining structure is configured and dimensioned such that the predetermined force is applied to the conjoining structure by the septum wall of the catheter upon withdrawal of at least one of the first and second stylet portions from the catheter, whereby the first stylet portion is separated from the second stylet portion to permit relative longitudinal movement therebetween.