Patent ID: 8922373

Claim:
A self-anchoring, implantable identification device for use in identifying an animal, comprising: a capsule having a leading end with a forward facing surface, a trailing end, a mid-longitudinal axis through said leading and trailing ends, a length from said leading end to said trailing end along the mid-longitudinal axis, and a maximum width perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis; a microchip sized and configured for placement in said capsule of said device, said microchip being configured to store identification information unique to the microchip for identification of the animal into which said device is implanted, the identification information including at least one of text, symbols, and numbers; a transmitter for transmitting the identification information stored on said microchip; an antenna operatively connected to said transmitter; and at least one retention member extending from said forward facing surface of said leading end of said capsule, said retention member having a proximal portion and a distal portion with a free end, said retention member when extended from said forward facing surface being biased to move from an undeployed position where said free end is located at a first distance from the mid-longitudinal axis of no more than one-half the maximum width of said capsule to a deployed position where said free end is located at a second distance from the mid-longitudinal axis of more than one-half the maximum width of said capsule so that said free end of said distal portion penetrably engages tissue after said device is implanted into the animal.