Apparatus and methods for monitoring objects in a surgical field

• US 20080237341A1
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Clearcount Medical Solutions Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Szakelyhidi, David, Fleck, Steven, Gandhi, Gautam
• Granted Patent: US 8,181,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0056 about a lateral axis in the lid plane
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0065 Peelable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0805 automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/00 Surgical drapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/10 Furniture specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/37 for absorbent articles, e.g. bandages, garments, swabs or towels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/08 Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/36 Surgical swabs, e.g. for absorbency or packing body cavities during surgery A61F13/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/44 with radio-opaque material or signalling means for residual material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/10 Parts, details or accessories surgical drape sheets A61B46/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/12 Rests specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of patient-supporting surfaces rests for the surgeon A61B90/60; restraining devices A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2205/10 : Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0502 : Dispensers of disposable sheets
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/01 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 : using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 : the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 : the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10425 : the interrogation device being arranged for interrogation of record carriers passing by the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10475 : arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 : Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 : Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 : used in interrogator/reader equipment

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for identifying and counting objects having identifiers entering and exiting a surgical field are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus has an entry scanner, a hand held scanner and an exit scanner for generating a detection field and for receiving data which identifies said objects. In another embodiment, the apparatus has a plurality of lower antennas and an upper antenna for generating a detection field and for receiving data which identifies said objects. Various surgical devices with identifiers and methods for preventing electromagnetic coupling between and protecting objects and identifiers are also provided. The invention further provides apparatus and methods comprising a handheld scanner and a mat adapted to underlie a patient during a surgical procedure.

Claims

1. Scanning apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an object entry detection zone adapted to receive new objects dispensed from said housing prior to introduction into a surgical field; and

at least one entry scanner operatively associated with said entry detection zone and adapted to inspect said new objects using identifiers of said new objects regardless of the orientation of said new objects.

2. The scanning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an object exit detection zone adapted to receive used objects discarded into said housing after exit from said surgical field; and

at least one exit scanner operatively associated with said exit detection zone and adapted to inspect said used objects using identifiers of said used objects regardless of the orientation of said used objects.

3. The scanning apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a handheld scanner adapted to be moved over said surgical site to inspect said new and used objects using identifiers of said new and used objects respectively regardless of the orientation of said new and used objects.

4. The scanning apparatus of claim 3 further comprising control circuitry operatively associated with said scanners and adapted to control the operation of said scanners.

5. The scanning apparatus of claim 4, wherein said control circuitry is further adapted to:

store data regarding the number and identity of said new objects prior to their introduction into said surgical field and the number and identity of said used objects after their exit from said surgical field; and

visually display said data.

6. The scanning apparatus of claim 5, wherein said control circuitry is further adapted to:

compare said data regarding said number and identity of new objects inspected by said entry scanner with said data regarding said number and identity of used objects inspected by said exit scanner to determine if all new objects entering said surgical field have been removed from said surgical field; and

initiate an alarm if, at the end of a surgical procedure, it is determined that not all new objects entering the surgical field have exited the surgical field.

7. The scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said entry scanner is operatively associated with an object supply device.

8. The scanning apparatus of claim 2, wherein either or both of said entry detection zone and said exit detection zone have a recess for receiving said new and used objects respectively.

9. The scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said entry scanner has at least one entry antenna adapted to:

emit a detection field into said surgical field; and

facilitate counting and identifying of said new objects regardless of the orientation of said new objects.

10. The scanning apparatus of claim 9, wherein one of said at least one entry antenna is adapted to move with respect to another of said at least one entry antenna.

11. The scanning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is adapted to control the relative power, tuning or the phasing of signals of at least one entry antenna with respect to at least one other of said entry antennas.

12. Scanning apparatus comprising:

a plurality of lower antennas adapted to generate a detection field for detecting and counting objects in a surgical field; and

a housing adapted to be positioned under a patient for receiving said lower antennas.

13. The scanning apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a handheld antenna adapted to be movable with respect to said housing.

14. The scanning apparatus of claim 13 further comprising control circuitry operatively associated with said lower and handheld antennas and adapted to control the operation of said lower and handheld antennas.

15. The scanning apparatus of claim 14, wherein said control circuitry is further adapted to perform one or more of the following:

power said lower antennas;

power said handheld antenna at substantially the same frequency and the same phase with said lower antennas;

vary said phase of said handheld antenna to control a directionality of said detection field;

store data regarding the number and identity of said objects in said surgical field; and

visually display said stored data.

16. Scanning apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a receptacle in said housing sized to hold a plurality of objects adapted for use in a surgical field, each object comprising an identifier adapted to store information;

first and second antennas for communicating with the identifiers of said objects; and

control circuitry adapted to simultaneously read information of said objects by controlling the operation of said first and second antennas.

17. The scanning apparatus of claim 16, wherein a display is operatively associated with said control circuitry for displaying at least a part of the information read by said control circuitry.

18. The scanning apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

said first antenna emits a signal having a first phase;

said second antenna emits a signal having a second phase; and

said first phase and said second phase are different.

19. The scanning apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of said plurality of objects includes:

an identifier tag storing information; and

a casing encapsulating said identifier tag.

20. A method comprising:

dispensing new objects from a housing into a surgical field through an entry detection zone at least one of said new objects comprising an identifier adapted to store information; and

inspecting an identifier of at least one of said new objects using at least one entry scanner operatively associated with said entry detection zone.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

receiving used objects discarded into said housing through an exit detection zone; and

inspecting an identifier of at least one of said used objects using at least one exit scanner operatively associated with said exit detection zone.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising inspecting the identifiers of said new and used objects using a handheld scanner adapted to be moved over said surgical field.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising controlling the operation of said scanners using control circuitry operatively associated with said scanners.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

storing data regarding the number and identity of said new objects prior to their introduction into said surgical field and the number and identity of said used objects after their exit from said surgical field; and

visually displaying said data.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

comparing said data regarding said number and identity of said new objects inspected by said entry scanner with said data regarding said number and identity of said used objects inspected by said exit scanner to determine if all new objects entering said surgical field have been removed from said surgical field; and

initiating an alarm if, at the end of a surgical procedure, it is determined that not all new objects entering said surgical field have exited said surgical field.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

emitting from at least one antenna of said entry scanner a detection field into said surgical field; and

facilitating the counting and identifying of said new objects using said at least one antenna regardless of the orientation of said new objects.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising moving one of said at least one entry antenna with respect to another of said at least one entry antenna.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising controlling the relative power, tuning or the phasing of signals of at least one entry antenna with respect to at least one other of said entry antennas.

29. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

generating a detection field using a plurality of lower antennas adapted to be positioned under a patient;

powering a handheld antenna at substantially the same frequency and the same phase with said lower antennas; and

varying said phase of the handheld antenna to control a directionality of said detection field.

30. A method comprising:

communicating with identifiers of objects using first and second antennas adapted for use in a surgical field;

simultaneously reading information of said objects by controlling the operation of said first and second antennas using control circuitry; and

displaying at least a part of the information read by said control circuitry on a display operatively associated with said control circuitry.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

emitting a signal having a first phase using said first antenna; and

emitting a signal having a second phase using said second antenna, wherein said first phase and said second phase are different.

32. Apparatus comprising:

a plurality of objects belonging to a package and adapted for use in a surgical field; and

a plurality of identifiers respectively operatively associated with said plurality of objects, each identifier adapted to store data that is readable by a scanner and is indicative of a number of said objects belonging to said package.

33. Apparatus comprising:

a plurality of objects adapted for use in a surgical field; and

a plurality of identifiers respectively operatively associated with said plurality of objects, each identifier adapted to store data that is readable by a scanner and is indicative of a particular type of process used to sterilize said object operatively associated with said identifier.

34. Apparatus comprising:

a plurality of objects belonging to a group and adapted for use in a surgical field; and

a plurality of identifiers respectively operatively associated with said plurality of objects, wherein;

each identifier is adapted to store data that is readable by a scanner and is indicative of a property of said object operatively associated with said identifier; and

said plurality of identifiers is positioned on said plurality of objects so that said identifiers are not substantially adjacent to each other when said objects are aligned substantially adjacent to each other in a row.

35. Apparatus comprising:

a plurality of objects belonging to a group and adapted for use in a surgical field;

a plurality of identifiers respectively operatively associated with said plurality of objects, wherein each identifier is adapted to store information that is readable by a scanner and is indicative of a property of said object operatively associated with said identifier; and

a plurality of coverings respectively surrounding said plurality of identifiers, said coverings being adapted to substantially separate said identifiers from each other when said objects are aligned substantially adjacent to each other in a row.

36. Apparatus comprising:

a plurality of objects belonging to a group and adapted for use in a surgical field; and

a plurality of identifiers respectively operatively associated with said plurality of objects, wherein each identifier is adapted to store data that is readable by a scanner, is indicative of a property of said object operatively associated with said identifier, and has a bump operatively associated with a surface of said identifier adapted to ensure that said identifiers are not substantially aligned with each other when said objects are positioned substantially adjacent to each other in a row.

37. Apparatus comprising:

a plurality of objects adapted for use in a surgical field, each of said plurality of objects having an identifier coupled to said object, adapted to store data that is readable by a scanner; and

a protective encapsulation surrounding said plurality of objects and said plurality of identifiers, said protective encapsulation adapted to provide electromagnetic shielding of said plurality of identifiers.

38. Apparatus comprising:

a handheld scanner adapted to communicate non-optically with a plurality of identifiers; and

a mat adapted to underlie a patient during a surgical procedure, each of said plurality of identifiers coupled to said mat and adapted to determine whether said handheld scanner is in range with respect to at least one of said identifiers;

whereby a user is alerted if said handheld scanner is not in range with at least one of said identifiers.