Auxiliary antenna array for system for detecting foreign objects in a surgical patient

• US 20080174409A1
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NextPhase Medical Devices LLC
• Original Assignee: MED-Track Partners, LLC
• Inventors: Frank, Milton
• Granted Patent: US 7,589,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

The apparatus includes a hand-held RF transducer having a transmit section for providing an energizing signal to cause a RFID tag associated with an object retained in the body of the patient to transmit an RF signal and a receiver section for receiving the RF signal transmitted by the RFID tag, as the patient'"'"'s body is scanned. An auxiliary antenna array for receiving the transmitted RF signal transmitted by the RFID tag is situated in the mattress on the operating table under the patient. Signal processing electronics are connected to the receiver section of the transducer and to the auxiliary antenna array for determining and indicating when a RF signal from a tag has been received, representing that a tagged object remains in the body of the patient, and for decoding the RF signal to identify the object.

Claims

1. Apparatus for detecting an RFID tagged object in the body of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

RF transducer means comprising means for energizing a RFID tag to transmit an RF signal;

means located remotely from said RF transducer means for receiving said transmitted RF signal; and

signal processing means operably connected to said RF signal receiving means for processing the output of said RF signal receiving means to determine when an RF signal from a RFID tag has been received.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising RF signal receiving means associated with said RF transducer means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said RF transducer means comprises a hand-held scanner.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body of the patient is situated between said RF transducer means and said remotely located RF signal receiving means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means operably connected to said signal processing means for indicating the receipt of a RF signal from a RFID tag.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said indicating means generates an audible signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said indicating means generates a visible signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag is a small, low frequency RFID tag.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag comprises means for transmitting a coded signal and wherein said signal processing means comprising means for decoding the signal transmitted from the RFID tag to identify a detected object.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a mattress pad within which said remote RF signal receiving means is located.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote RF signal receiving means comprises a pair of RF signal receiving antennae.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote RF signal receiving means comprises first and second pairs of RF signal receiving antennae.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said RF signal receiving means comprises a decoder operably connected to said RF signal receiving antennae pair.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said RF signal receiving means comprises first and second decoders, each of said first and second decoders being respectively operably connected to a different pair of RF signal receiving antennae.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote RF signal receiving means comprises an antenna array.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said array comprises a plurality of toroidal antennae.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said antennae are situated in rows.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said antennae rows are substantially parallel.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said antenna array is located in the upper portion of a mattress pad.

20. Apparatus for detecting an RFID tagged object in the body of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

RF transducer means comprising means for energizing a RFID tag to transmit an RF signal and first means for receiving said transmitted RF signal;

second means for receiving said transmitted RF signal; and

signal processing means operably connected to said first RF signal receiving means and said second RF signal receiving means for determining when an RF signal from a RFID tag has been received.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said transmitted RF signal comprises an identification code and wherein said signal processing means comprises means for decoding said identification code.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said RF transducer means comprises a hand-held scanner.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the body of the patient is situated between said first RF signal receiving means and said second RF signal receiving means.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising means operably connected to said signal processing means for indicating receipt of a RF signal from a RFID tag.

25. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the RFID tag is a small, low frequency RFID tag.

26. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a mattress pad within which said second RF signal receiving means is located.

27. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said second RF signal receiving means comprises a pair of RF signal receiving antennae.

28. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said second RF signal receiving means comprises first and second pairs of RF signal receiving antennae.

29. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said second RF signal receiving means comprises a decoder operably connected to said RF signal receiving antennae pair.

30. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said second RF signal receiving means comprises first and second decoders, each of said first and second decoders being respectively operably connected to a different pair of RF signal receiving antennae.

31. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said second RF signal receiving means comprises an antenna array.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said array comprises a plurality of toroidal antennae.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said antennae are situated in rows.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said antennae rows are substantially parallel.

35. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said antenna array is located in the upper portion of a mattress pad.

36. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first RF signal receiving means comprises first and second oppositely oriented substantially identical antennae connected in series.