APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING & TRACKING MULTIPLE TOOLS AND DISPOSABLES

• US 20100201487A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steris Corporation
• Original Assignee: Haldor Advanced Technologies Ltd
• Inventors: HALBERTHAL, Reuven, Poremba, Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 8,193,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0805 automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• 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: G06K 7/10168 the powering being adversely affected by environmental influences, e.g. unwanted energy loss in the interrogation signal due to metallic or capacitive objects in the proximity of the interrogation device or in the proximity of the interrogated record carrier
• 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 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

A method and apparatus for identifying and tracking instruments, in multiple instrument environments such as an operating room or a garage. Each instrument or disposable has attached thereto an identifying tag, such as an RFID tag. Each plane or location the instruments or disposables are placed on, comprises an antenna and thus continuously identifies the tools. In order for the antenna to work in a metallic environment, the antenna is equipped with a metallic board underneath, which insulates form other metals, and in order for the metallic board not to absorb all the energy, a spacing layer is placed between the metal board and the antenna. Flat antennas may be implemented as a collection of wire loops, overlapping in about 20% of one of their dimensions.

Claims

1. An identification antenna for receiving signals from a tag attached to a tool or a disposable placed on the antenna, the antenna comprising:

at least two loops made of conductive material, each loop partially overlapping with at least one other loop;

a substantially flat conductive board; and

a spacing layer, for keeping distance between the at least two loops and the conductive board.

2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the antenna emits a signal having radio frequency, and the tag is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

3. The antenna of claim 1 wherein partially overlapping loops substantially fully overlap in one dimension, and overlap in about 20 percents in the other dimension.

4. The antenna of claim 1 further comprising an insulating top cover or base cover.

5. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the flat conductive board and the spacing layer have width and depth substantially equal to the width and depth of an operation room instrument table, or of a table top of a Mayo.

6. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the at least two loops are attached to an FR4 board.

7. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the spacing layer comprises crisscross spacing elements.

8. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the conductive board comprises an FR4 board covered with a conductive layer on its upper and lower planes.

9. The antenna of claim 1 each of the at least two loops comprise a capacitor.

10. The antenna of claim 1 wherein information regarding the tag is transferred by the antenna to a reader, and wherein information from the reader is transferred to a computing platform.

11. The antenna of claim 10 wherein the computing platform executes at least one application selected from the group consisting of:

generating a collection of available tools at the beginning of an operation;

adding tools to the collection;

removing tools from the collection, such as tools taken out of the room;

receiving a report on all tools from the collection not identified in the preceding predetermined period of time;

letting a user approve a missing tool; and

generating;

letting a user approve a missing tool;

enabling operating room personnel and Central Sterilizing Supply Unit personnel to communicate regarding condition of instruments; and

providing a report about tools used during surgery that have to undergo special maintenance.

12. An identification antenna for receiving signals from a tag attached to a tool or a disposable placed within the antenna, the antenna comprising:

an internal bucket, having attached to its external surface at least one loop made of conductive material;

a conductive layer;

a spacer for forming a distance between the at least one loop and the conductive layer; and

an external bucket for insulating the conductive layer.

13. An identification antenna for receiving signals from an RFID tag attached to a tool or a disposable placed within the antenna, the antenna comprising:

an insulating bin, having attached to its external surface at least one loop made of conductive material;

an insulating cover for covering the at least one loop;

a first spacing layer placed under the insulating bin;

a conductive layer placed under the first spacing layer; and

a second spacing layer placed under the conductive layer.

14. A tool to be identified by an identifying antenna, the tool comprising:

at least one operative part;

a tag-holding part, comprising;

a tag;

a housing for the tag, shaped like a first ring and a second ring attached on their flat parts, wherein the first ring has an external diameter equal to the external diameter of the second ring, the first ring has an internal diameter larger than the internal diameter of the second ring, the internal diameter of the second ring compatible with the diameter of the tag, and the first ring having a notch; and

an insulating cover for covering the tag and the first ring, excluding at least one area in which the first ring is connected to the at least one operative part.