TRANSPONDER DEVICE TO MARK IMPLEMENTS, SUCH AS SURGICAL IMPLEMENTS, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AND USING SAME
First Claim
1. A device to mark surgical implements, the device comprising:
- a flexible strap; and
a housing attachable to a portion of a surgical implement, the housing including a transponder receiving cavity sized to receive a transponder, an implement receiving cavity sized to receive a portion of the surgical implement, a strap receiving cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the strap, and a saddle-shaped finger support surface sized and configured to receive a finger of a user and provide additional leverage for operating the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the portion of the surgical implement via the strap and the implement receiving cavity.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transponder device to mark a surgical implement, such as a metallic surgical instrument, is provided that comprises a transponder housing attachable to a portion of the surgical implement. The housing may include a transponder receiving cavity spaced at least 1 millimeter, and preferably at least 2 millimeters, from any portion of the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the surgical implement, and preferably includes a saddle-shaped finger support surface or a stabilizing surface sized and configured to receive a finger of a user for providing additional leverage and/or stabilizing structure when operating the implement. The housing may be removably attached to the surgical implement or permanently attached. In use, a transponder is retained in the device. Methods of manufacturing transponder devices and methods of detecting a transponder indicating the possible presence of a surgical implement are also provided.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A device to mark surgical implements, the device comprising:
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a flexible strap; and a housing attachable to a portion of a surgical implement, the housing including a transponder receiving cavity sized to receive a transponder, an implement receiving cavity sized to receive a portion of the surgical implement, a strap receiving cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the strap, and a saddle-shaped finger support surface sized and configured to receive a finger of a user and provide additional leverage for operating the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the portion of the surgical implement via the strap and the implement receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A transponder device comprising:
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a housing having a base substrate and an overmold portion, the base substrate containing a transponder receiving cavity; attachment means for attaching the housing to a portion of a surgical implement; and a wireless transponder received in the transponder receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for manufacturing a device to mark implements comprising:
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molding a base substrate, the base substrate including a transponder receiving cavity sized to receive a transponder, a flexible strap, a strap receiving cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the strap, and a saddle-shaped finger support surface sized and configured to receive a finger of a user and provide additional leverage for operating an implement when the base substrate is attached to a portion of the implement; inserting the transponder in the transponder receiving cavity; and retaining the transponder within the transponder receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method comprising:
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aligning a housing having a saddle-shaped finger support surface and a implement receiving cavity with a handle of each of one or more rigid surgical implements such that, when the handle is received in the implement receiving cavity, a wireless transponder enclosed within the housing is at least 1 millimeter from the handle, a central plane of the housing is substantially co-planar with a central plane of the handle, and the finger support surface is oriented to receive a finger of a user when the user is utilizing the surgical implement; and securing the housing onto the handle via a flexible strap. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A device to mark surgical implements, the device comprising:
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a housing attachable to a portion of a surgical implement, the housing having a perimeter configured to accommodate at least an upper portion of a finger ring of the surgical implement and position a stabilizing surface to receive a finger of a user when operating the surgical implement; and a transponder retained in the housing and positioned such that the transponder is fixedly spaced at least about 1 millimeter from any portion of the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the surgical implement. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A device to mark surgical implements, the device comprising:
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a transponder; and a unitary rigid housing attachable to a portion of a surgical implement, the housing having an implement receiving portion configured to engage an elongated handle portion of the surgical implement and a transponder receiving portion having the transponder received therein, the transponder receiving portion being configured with respect to the implement receiving portion to position the transponder substantially parallel to the elongated handle portion and fixedly space the transponder at least about 1 millimeter from any portion of the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the elongated handle portion of the surgical implement. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A transponder device selectively attachable to surgical implements, the transponder device comprising:
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a transponder circuit; a non-metallic framework that substantially encloses the transponder circuit, the framework having a number of outward extending projections; and a non-metallic body which at least partially surrounds the framework and which completely surrounds the transponder circuit, wherein the outward extending projections of the framework position the transponder circuit inwardly from an exterior surface of a mold used to form the body during a fabrication of the transponder device. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A transponder device selectively attachable to surgical implements, the transponder device comprising:
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a transponder circuit; a framework having a number of outward extending projections that space the transponder circuit from a surface that forms a cavity of a mold in the shape of a body; the body, which body at least partially surrounds the framework and which completely surrounds the transponder circuit; and a compliant overmold interfacing with at least a first portion of the body. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method for manufacturing a transponder device attachable to surgical implements, the method comprising:
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forming a non-metallic framework around a transponder circuit, the framework including a number of outward extending projections; retaining the framework in a mold cavity, wherein the outward extending projections of the framework position the transponder circuit inwardly from an exterior surface of the mold cavity; forming via the mold cavity a non-metallic body which at least partially surrounds the framework and which completely surrounds the transponder circuit; and forming a compliant overmold that interfaces with at least a first portion of the body, the compliant overmold including an implement receiving cavity sized to at least partially receive a portion of a surgical implement. - View Dependent Claims (68)
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Specification