Instrument tracking

• US 20090272806A1
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Romeena Pty., Limited
• Original Assignee: Romeena Pty Limited As Trustee For KEMP Family Trust
• Inventors: Kemp, Jennifer Frances, Kemp, Todd Mitchell
• Application Number:
  US11/920,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20090272806A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/03 Observing, e.g. monitoring, the workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0876 in at least two axial directions
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/355 Texturing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/24 Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/262 recording or marking of inorganic surfaces or materials, e.g. glass, metal, or ceramics marking of plastic artifacts with inorganic additives B41M5/267
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A method of tracking a medical instrument. The method includes using a processing system to receive indicating data from a scanning device, the indicating data being indicative of a unique identifier and being determined when the scanning device is used to scan the instrument. The processing system uses the identifier to obtain instrument data associated with the instrument from a database, before interacting with the instrument data to either record one or more events performed with the instrument or determine one or more events performed with the instrument.

Claims

1-94. -94. (canceled)

95. ) A device for scanning medical instruments to detect a code, the device including:

a) a number of illumination sources for illuminating a surface of the instrument;

b) an emitter/detector element for;

i) generating a radiation beam to expose an area of the surface of the instrument; and

,

ii) detecting reflected radiation to thereby sense the code applied to the instrument; and

,

c) a shroud including a diffuser that diffuses radiation from the illumination sources, the diffuser having an opening aligned with the emitter/detector element for allowing the radiation beam to pass therethrough.

96. ) A scanner device according to claim 95, wherein the diffuser is a diffuser cone.

97. ) A scanner device according to claim 95, wherein shroud includes an outer housing.

98. ) A scanner device according to claim 97, wherein the outer housing helps reduce stray reflections from impinging on the emitter/detector element.

99. ) A scanner device according to claim 97, wherein the outer housing has a reflective inner surface for reflecting diffused radiation from the illumination sources.

100. ) A scanner device according to claim 99, wherein the diffused radiation is reflected to ensure that the diffused radiation is incident on the surface of the instrument at a range of angles substantially over an entire region surrounding the code.

101. ) A scanner device according to claim 95, wherein the shroud is for:

a) reducing stray reflections impinging on the emitter/detector element; and

,

b) providing a constant intensity of background radiation reflected from the instrument surface.

102. ) A scanner device according to claim 95, wherein the scanner includes a body, the shroud being coupled to the body.

103. ) A scanner device according to claim 95, wherein the emitter/detector element generates a laser beam.

104. ) A scanner device according to claim 95, wherein the scanning device is for scanning barcodes.

105. ) A device for scanning instruments to detect a code, the device including:

a) a number of illumination sources for illuminating a surface of the instrument;

b) an emitter/detector element for;

i) generating a radiation beam to expose an area of the surface of the instrument; and

,

ii) detecting reflected radiation to thereby sense the code applied to the instrument; and

,

c) a shroud for;

i) reducing stray reflections impinging on the emitter/detector element; and

,

ii) providing a constant intensity of background radiation reflected from the instrument surface.

106. ) A device according to claim 105, wherein the shroud diffuses radiation from the illumination sources and reflects the diffused radiation to ensure that the diffused radiation is incident on the surface of the instrument at a range of angles substantially over an entire region surrounding the code.

107. ) A shroud for a scanning device for scanning instruments to detect a code, the shroud including a diffuser that diffuses radiation from a number of illumination sources that illuminate a surface of the instrument, the diffuser having an opening aligned with an emitter/detector element to allow:

a) a radiation beam generated by the emitter/detector element to pass through the opening and expose an area of the surface of the instrument and,

b) reflected radiation to be sensed by the emitter/detector element.

108. ) A scanner for scanning 2-D codes, the scanner including:

a) a laser emitter/detector element that;

i) generates a laser beam which exposes an area of the surface of the instrument;

ii) detects reflected radiation and uses this to sense the 2-D code;

b) a number of illumination sources to allow the surface of the instrument to be illuminated;

c) a shroud including;

i) a diffuser cone having an opening aligned with the laser emitter/detector element to allow the laser beam to pass through the opening, and wherein the diffuser cone diffuses radiation from the number of illumination sources; and

,

ii) an outer housing having a reflective inner surface for reflecting diffused radiation from the illumination sources such that the reflected diffused radiation impinges on the surface of the instrument.

109. ) A scanner according to claim 108, wherein the shroud diffuses and reflects the radiation from the number of radiation sources to ensure that the radiation is incident on the instrument at a range of angles substantially over an entire region surrounding the 2-D code being detected.

110. ) A scanner according to claim 108, wherein the shroud helps reduce the chance of stray reflections impinging on the laser emitter/detector element, and provides a constant intensity of background radiation reflected from the entire instrument surface.

111. ) A scanner according to claim 108, wherein the scanner includes processing for allowing an output indicative of the 2-D code or information encoded therein.

112. ) A method of laser marking an instrument for use in an instrument tracking system, wherein a number of instruments are provided adjacent respective apertures provided in an aperture array, and wherein the method includes, in the processing system:

a) receiving an indication of the number of apertures;

b) for each of the number of apertures, determining a unique identifier;

c) encoding each unique identifier as a respective machine readable code; and

,

d) controlling a laser to thereby selectively expose bonding material provided on each instrument to thereby apply the respective machine readable code on the surface of the instrument.

113. ) A method according to claim 112, wherein the method includes, in the processing system, selectively positioning the laser to thereby position the focal spot aligned with the aperture.

114. ) A method according to claim 112, wherein the method includes, in the processing system:

a) receiving image data from an imaging system;

b) determining, using the image data, the relative position of the aperture relative to the laser; and

,

c) selectively positioning the laser based on the relative position.

115. ) A method according to claim 112, wherein the method includes, applying the bonding material by:

a) selectively positioning a bonding material application system adjacent an aperture; and

,

b) causing the bonding material application system to apply bonding material to the instrument.

116. ) A method according to claim 112, wherein the method includes:

a) receiving indicating data from a scanning device, the indicating data being indicative of the unique identifier and being determined when the scanning device is used to scan the code; and

,

b) confirming the unique identifier matches the identifier used to generate the code, thereby confirming the machine readability of the code.

117. ) A method according to claim 112, wherein the method includes, in the processing system:

a) generating instrument data indicative of the instrument; and

,

b) recording an association between the unique identifier and the instrument data.

118. ) A method according to claim 117, wherein the method further includes, in the processing system:

a) receiving indicating data from a scanning device, the indicating data being indicative of the unique identifier and being determined when the scanning device is used to scan the tag;

b) obtaining, from a database and using the indicating data, the instrument data associated with the instrument;

c) displaying at least some of the instrument data; and

,

d) receiving, via an input device, input commands confirming that the instrument has been correctly identified; and

,

e) making the instrument available for use following a successful confirmation.

119. ) A method according to claim 112, wherein the method includes determining the unique identifier by at least one of:

a) obtaining the unique identifier from another processing system; and

,

b) generating the unique identifier using a predetermined algorithm.

120. ) Apparatus for use in laser marking an instrument for use in an instrument tracking system, wherein a number of instruments are provided adjacent respective apertures provided in an aperture array, and wherein the apparatus includes a processing system for:

a) receiving an indication of the number of apertures;

b) for each aperture, determining a unique identifier;

c) encoding each unique identifier as a respective machine readable code; and

,

d) controlling a laser to thereby selectively expose bonding material provided on each instrument to thereby apply the respective machine readable code to the surface of the instrument.

121. ) Apparatus for use in laser marking a medical instrument having a marking area provided thereon, the apparatus including:

a) a frame having at least two apertures therein;

b) at least one support member for each aperture, each support member including

i) a shaft;

ii) a housing;

iii) a mounting pad coupled to the housing; and

iv) a resilient member for urging the mounting pad towards the frame, to thereby urge a medical instrument against the frame such that the marking area is aligned with the aperture.

122. ) Apparatus according to claim 121, wherein the mounting pad is pivotally mounted to the housing.

123. ) Apparatus according to claim 122, wherein the apparatus includes:

a) a marking system mounted to the frame and arranged so as to expose the instrument, through the aperture, using a radiation beam; and

,

b) a controller for controlling the radiation beam to thereby apply the code to the instrument.

124. ) Apparatus according to claim 123, wherein the apparatus includes:

a) a laser for generating a laser beam; and

,

b) an optical system for focussing the laser beam into a marking area aligned with the aperture.

125. ) Apparatus according to claim 124, wherein the laser is a CO₂ laser, and wherein the optical system is a high power density focusing optics system.

126. ) Apparatus according to claim 123, wherein marking system includes an imaging system, and wherein the imaging system is adapted to generate an image used in aligning the radiation beam with a selected one or the apertures.

127. ) Apparatus according to claim 123, wherein the code is applied to a bonding material.

128. ) Apparatus according to claim 127, wherein the marking system includes a bonding material application system for applying the bonding material to the instrument.

129. ) Apparatus according to claim 128, wherein the bonding material application system is formed from a printing system.

130. ) Apparatus according to claim 123, wherein the marking system includes a scanning device for:

a) scanning a code provided on an instrument; and

,

b) providing indicating data indicative of the unique identifier, to a processing system.

131-141. -141. (canceled)