Apparatus and method for detecting objects using tags and wideband detection device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for the detection of an object contained in a work area, comprising:
- a tag element affixed to a larger-sized said object, said tag element comprising an electronic signal emitter contained within a protective means; and
an electronically operable interrogation and detection member, enabled to locate the tag element within a predetermined distance therefrom, comprising (i) first means for the emission of pulsed wideband signals in each coordinate direction of a multi-directional coordinate system, each wideband signal including a signal which prompts the tag element to provide a return signal, and (ii) second means for the reception and analysis of the return signal, wherein multiple pulsed signals emitted from the first means cause the return signals of the tag element to increase in intensity at a detectable frequency sufficiently over ambient noise levels to facilitate detection of the tag element and object attached thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for the detection of objects in the work area such as surgical sites, including a detection tag affixed to objects such as used during surgery. The apparatus and method feature an interrogation and detection device with a transmitter for emitting pulsed wideband signals each including a signal prompting the tag element to provide a return signal, and a receiver for reception and analysis of the return signal from the tag element. Multiple pulse signals (of constant or varied height) emitted from the transmitter causes the return signals to build up in intensity at a detectable frequency above the ambient noise levels to facilitate detection of the tag element and object attached thereto. The device features an antenna portion containing a single or a plural ring-shaped antenna. Also, the pulsed wideband interrogation signal may be pulsed-width modulated or voltage-modulated, as two examples thereof.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the detection of an object contained in a work area, comprising:
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a tag element affixed to a larger-sized said object, said tag element comprising an electronic signal emitter contained within a protective means; and
an electronically operable interrogation and detection member, enabled to locate the tag element within a predetermined distance therefrom, comprising (i) first means for the emission of pulsed wideband signals in each coordinate direction of a multi-directional coordinate system, each wideband signal including a signal which prompts the tag element to provide a return signal, and (ii) second means for the reception and analysis of the return signal, wherein multiple pulsed signals emitted from the first means cause the return signals of the tag element to increase in intensity at a detectable frequency sufficiently over ambient noise levels to facilitate detection of the tag element and object attached thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for electronic detection of an object contained in a work area comprising:
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a first electronic circuit, coupled to a transmit/receive antenna, configured to emit either one of pulse-width modulated wideband interrogation signals or voltage-modulated interrogation signals, a tag element affixed to a larger-sized said object, the tag element being adapted to respond to each pulse of an interrogation signal with a relatively small narrow return signal centered about a specific, but not predetermined frequency;
a second electronic circuit, coupled to said transmit/receive antenna, having wideband receiver compatibility comprising means for optimal reception within a predetermined distance range from the object, and a signal processor to transform the return signals into a resulting narrowband return signal having sufficient intensity to be distinguishable from ambient noise. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for the detection of one or more foreign objects used in a surgical site, comprising:
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attachably providing each foreign object used in surgery with a much smaller tag element which does not interfere with utilization of the foreign object, wherein the tag element includes means for responding to a wideband signal, with a response signal centered about a specific but not a predetermined frequency; and
after completion of a surgical procedure, scanning the surgical site with a scanning detection device which includes a transmitter and receiver, the transmitter emitting either one of a pulse-width modulated wideband interrogation signal or a voltage-modulated wideband interrogation signal, the wideband interrogation signal containing a frequency at which the tag element responds with a single response signal for each emitted pulse reaching the tag element, each pulse of the wideband interrogation signal being of such duration as to cause the return signals from the tag element to become cumulatively increased in intensity, resulting in a narrowband return signal having sufficient intensity to be distinguishable from background noise, to facilitate detection of the tag element and object attached thereto. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification