Hand-held spherical antenna system to detect transponder tagged objects, for example during surgery
First Claim
1. A transponder detection device to detect surgical objects in a work area, the surgical objects marked by respective resonant tag elements that produce return signals in response to energization, the transponder detection device comprising:
- a hand-held probe comprising;
a substantially spherically shaped coil form that includes three coil support channels, each of the three coil support channels defines an outer coil support surface;
a first antenna element comprising a first electrical wire wound around the outer coil support surface of a first one of the three coil support channels, the first antenna element arranged to transmit and receive signals generally in a first coordinate direction;
a second antenna element comprising a second electrical wire wound around the outer coil support surface of a second one of the three coil support channels over the first electrical wire, the second antenna element arranged to transmit and receive signals generally in a second coordinate direction orthogonal to the first coordinate direction;
a third antenna element comprising a third electrical wire wound around the outer coil support surface of a third one of the three coil support channels over the first electrical wire and the second electrical wire, the third antenna element arranged to transmit and receive signals generally in a third coordinate direction orthogonal to the first coordinate direction and the second coordinate direction;
a processor operatively coupled to the first antenna element, the second antenna element, and the third antenna element; and
a nontransitory processor-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor and that stores at least one of instructions or data executable by the processor, which cause the processor to;
independently control each of the first antenna element, the second antenna element and the third antenna element to emit wideband interrogation signals;
receive any of the return signals from any of the resonant tag elements; and
determine from a receipt of any of the return signals whether any of the resonant tag elements are present in the work area.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hand-held antenna system allows medical personnel to ascertain the presence or absence of objects (e.g., medical supplies) tagged with transponders in an environment in which medical procedures are performed. In use, the hand-held antenna system may be positioned proximate a patient at a time after a medical procedure, such as after child birth, so the system can scan the patient'"'"'s body to determine the presence of objects tagged with transponders. The antenna system includes three antenna elements arranged mutually orthogonal to each other to transmit and receive signals in three coordinate directions. A controller is coupled to the antenna elements to transmit signals to the transponders and to receive response signals. The antenna system may operate in a static scan mode wherein the antenna system is held in a fixed position by a user and a dynamic scan mode wherein the antenna system is moved by a user.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A transponder detection device to detect surgical objects in a work area, the surgical objects marked by respective resonant tag elements that produce return signals in response to energization, the transponder detection device comprising:
a hand-held probe comprising; a substantially spherically shaped coil form that includes three coil support channels, each of the three coil support channels defines an outer coil support surface; a first antenna element comprising a first electrical wire wound around the outer coil support surface of a first one of the three coil support channels, the first antenna element arranged to transmit and receive signals generally in a first coordinate direction; a second antenna element comprising a second electrical wire wound around the outer coil support surface of a second one of the three coil support channels over the first electrical wire, the second antenna element arranged to transmit and receive signals generally in a second coordinate direction orthogonal to the first coordinate direction; a third antenna element comprising a third electrical wire wound around the outer coil support surface of a third one of the three coil support channels over the first electrical wire and the second electrical wire, the third antenna element arranged to transmit and receive signals generally in a third coordinate direction orthogonal to the first coordinate direction and the second coordinate direction; a processor operatively coupled to the first antenna element, the second antenna element, and the third antenna element; and a nontransitory processor-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor and that stores at least one of instructions or data executable by the processor, which cause the processor to; independently control each of the first antenna element, the second antenna element and the third antenna element to emit wideband interrogation signals; receive any of the return signals from any of the resonant tag elements; and determine from a receipt of any of the return signals whether any of the resonant tag elements are present in the work area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A transponder detection device, comprising:
a coil form that includes three coil support channels, each of the coil support channels curved about a respective primary axis and curved about a respective secondary axis orthogonal to the respective primary axis, the primary axes orthogonal to one another, the coil form having a hollow interior center. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A transponder detection device, comprising:
a coil form comprising; a first coil support channel curved about a primary axis defined by a first axis and curved about a secondary axis defined by a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the first coil support channel having a first inner surface curved about the primary axis; a second coil support channel curved about a second primary axis defined by a third axis and curved about a second secondary axis defined by the first axis, the third axis orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis, the second coil support channel having a second inner surface curved about the second primary axis; and a third coil support channel curved about a third primary axis defined by the second axis and curved about a third secondary axis defined by the first axis, the third coil support channel having a third inner surface curved about the third primary axis. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
Specification