METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DETECT TRANSPONDER TAGGED OBJECTS AND TO COMMUNICATE WITH MEDICAL TELEMETRY DEVICES, FOR EXAMPLE DURING MEDICAL PROCEDURES

• US 20110004276A1
• Filed: 10/27/2009
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: RF Surgical Systems LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Blair, William A., Poirier, David A., Barnes, Bruce E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,792,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/17 Comprising radiolucent components
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/704 Tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/94 coded with symbols, e.g. text
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/96 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The presence or absence of objects tagged with transponders may be determined in an environment in which medical procedures are performed via an interrogation and detection system which includes a controller and a plurality of antennas positioned along a patient support structure. The antennas may be positioned along an operating table, bed, mattress or pad, sheet, or may be positioned on a drape, or shade. Respective antennas may successively be activated to transmit interrogation signals. Multiple antennas may be monitored for responses from transponders to the interrogation signals. For example, all antennas other than the antenna that transmitted the most recent interrogation signal may be monitored. Antennas may be responsive to force, a signal indicative of such force being produced. A wireless physiological condition monitor may detect patient physiological conditions and wirelessly transmit signals indicative of such.

Claims

1. A system for use in a medical facility, the system comprising:

a number of antennas; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the antennas and configured to selectively cause at least one of the antennas to emit an interrogation signal and to detect a response signal, if any, from a number of transponders physically coupled to a number of objects used in medical procedures, wherein the controller is further configured to provide wireless communications of at least one of data or instructions with at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via the at least one of the antennas used to emit the interrogation signal or receive the response signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a plurality of the number of antennas are carried by a patient support structure that carries a patient during a medical procedure.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein at least one of the number of antennas is a handheld antenna that inductively cooperates with the plurality of antennas carried by the patient support structure.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein at least one of the number of antennas is a handheld antenna, and one of the handheld antenna or the plurality of antennas carried by the patient support structure transmits an interrogation signal and the other one of the handheld antenna or the plurality of antennas carried by the patient support surface receives response signals, if any, to the interrogation signal.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the number of antennas includes at least three loop antennas spaced along a longitudinal axis of the patient support structure, and the patient support surface is one of an operating table, a bed, a mattress, or a sheet.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a plurality of the number of antennas are carried by a drape that at least partially surrounds a patient support structure that carries a patient during a medical procedure.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a plurality of the number of antennas are carried by a shade that extends from a light fixture positioned relatively above a patient support structure that carries a patient during a medical procedure.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to receive data signals from the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via at least one of the number of antennas, the data signals representing physiological characteristics of the patient measured by the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to receive data signals from the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via at least one of the number of antennas, the data signals representing operational characteristics of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to transmit control signals to the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via at least one of the number of antennas, the control signals representing operational instructions to control operation of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to a display and is operable to display information related to at least one of the patient or the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to a user input device and is operable to receive user input entered via the user input device and to transmit control signals based on the received user input to the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via at least one of the number of antennas, the control signals representing operational instructions to control operation of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to receive data signals from a first one of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment and to transmit the data signals to a second one of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein a first one of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment is a transducer coupled to the patient and a second one of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment is a dedicated control system for the transducer.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the first one of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment is one of an electrocardiogram electrode, a pulse oximetry transducer and the second one of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment is a dedicated electrocardiogram processing system or a pulse oximetry processing system.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the antennas is responsive to a force exerted thereon and the controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of the force exerted on the antenna and to produce a notification if the force exceeds at least one of an amplitude threshold or a time duration.

17. A method of operating a system in a medical facility, the system including a plurality of antennas and a controller communicatively coupled to the antennas, the method comprising:

from time-to-time,

transmitting a number of wideband interrogation signals from at least one of the antennas;

determining whether a response to the wideband interrogation signals was received via at least one of the antennas from a transponder that marks an object used in a medical procedure;

from time-to-time,

providing communications with at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via the at least one of the antennas used to emit the interrogation signal or receive the response signal.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein transmitting a number of wideband interrogation signals from at least one of the antennas includes transmitting the wideband interrogation signals from a number of antennas carried by a patient support structure that carries a patient during a medical procedure.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein transmitting a number of wideband interrogation signals from at least one of the antennas includes transmitting the wideband interrogation signals from a handheld antenna that inductively cooperates with the plurality of antennas carried by the patient support structure.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein at least one of the number of antennas is a handheld antenna, and transmitting the wideband interrogation signals includes transmitting the wideband interrogation signals by one of the handheld antenna or the plurality of antennas carried by the patient support structure, and further comprising receiving any response signals to the wideband interrogation signals by the other one of the handheld antenna or the plurality of antennas carried by the patient support structure.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein transmitting a number of wideband interrogation signals from at least one of the antennas includes transmitting the wideband interrogation signals from at least three loop antennas spaced along a longitudinal axis of one of an operating table, a bed, a mattress or a sheet.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein transmitting a number of wideband interrogation signals from at least one of the antennas includes transmitting the wideband interrogation signals from a plurality of antennas carried by a drape that at least partially surrounds a patient support surface that carries a patient during a medical procedure.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein transmitting a number of wideband interrogation signals from at least one of the antennas includes transmitting the wideband interrogation signals from a plurality of antennas carried by a shade that extends from a light fixture positioned relatively above a patient support surface that carries a patient during a medical procedure.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein providing communications with at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via at least one of the antennas includes receiving data signals from the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via at least one of the number of antennas, the data signals representing physiological characteristics of the patient measured by the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein providing communications with at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via at least one of the antennas includes receiving data signals from the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via at least one of the number of antennas, the data signals representing operational characteristics of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein providing communications with at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via at least one of the antennas includes transmitting control signals to the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via at least one of the number of antennas, the control signals representing operational instructions to control operation of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting information by the controller to a display to display information related to at least one of the patient or the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving by the controller user input entered by a user via a user input device; and

transmitting control signals by the controller based on the received user input to the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment via at least one of the number of antennas, the control signals representing operational instructions to control operation of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving data signals by the controller via at least one of the antennas from a first one of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment; and

transmitting the received data signals to a second one of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein receiving data signals by the controller via at least one of the antennas from a first one of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment includes receiving data signals from a transducer coupled to the patient and transmitting the received data signals to a second one of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment includes transmitting the data signals to a dedicated control system for the transducer.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein receiving data signals by the controller via at least one of the antennas from a first one of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment includes receiving data signals from one of an electrocardiogram electrode, a pulse oximetry transducer and transmitting the received data signals to a second one of the at least one piece of dedicated medical diagnostic, therapeutic or monitoring equipment includes transmitting the data signals to one of a dedicated electrocardiogram processing system or a pulse oximetry processing system.

32. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one of the antennas is responsive to a force exerted thereon and further comprising:

receiving signals by the controller indicative of the force exerted on the antenna; and

produce a notification if the force exceeds at least one of an amplitude threshold or a time duration.

33. A physiological condition monitor, comprising:

a transducer coupleable to a patient to sense a physiological condition of the patient;

an antenna physically coupled to the transducer; and

a transmitter communicatively coupled to the transducer and to the antenna and configured to transmit signals indicative of the sensed physiological condition of the patient via the antenna to a plurality of antennas remote from the device.

34. The physiological condition monitor of claim 33, further comprising:

an energy storage device electrically coupled to provide power to the transmitter.

35. The physiological condition monitor of claim 33, further comprising:

a circuit configured to transform electromagnetic energy into electrical power, and coupled to supply the electrical power to the transmitter.

36. The physiological condition monitor of claim 33, further comprising:

a circuit that encodes an identifier that uniquely identifies the physiological condition monitor from other physiological condition monitors and which is communicatively coupled to the transmitter to transmit the identifier via the antenna.

37. The physiological condition monitor of claim 33 wherein a portion of the physiological condition monitor bears an optical marking.

38. A system for use in a medical facility, the system comprising:

a number of antennas, at least some of the antennas responsive to a force asserted thereon; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the antennas and configured to selectively cause at least one of the antennas to emit an interrogation signal and to detect a response signal, if any, from a number of transponders physically coupled to a number of objects used in medical procedures, wherein the controller is further configured to receive signals from at least some of the antennas indicative of the force asserted on the antenna.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the controller is configured to produce a notification if the force exerted on at least one of the antennas exceeds at least one of an amplitude threshold or a time duration threshold.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein the controller is configured to produce a notification if the force exerted on at least one of the antennas exceeds an amplitude threshold over a period of time that exceeds a time duration threshold.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein the controller is configured to produce a notification indicative of a position or location on the patient support structure or patient where an excessive force is being exerted.

42. The system of claim 38 wherein the controller is configured to transmit a notification via at least one of the antennas in response to the force asserted on at least one of the antennas exceeding a defined threshold.

43. A method of operating a system in a medical facility, the system including a plurality of antennas and a controller communicatively coupled to the antennas, at least some of the antennas responsive to a force asserted thereon, the method comprising:

from time-to-time,

transmitting a wideband interrogation signals from at least one of the antennas;

determining whether a response to the interrogation signal was received via at least one of the antennas from a transponder that marks an object used in medical procedures;

from time-to-time,

receiving signals from at least some of the antennas indicative of the force asserted on the antenna.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

producing a notification by the controller if the force exerted on at least one of the antenna exceeds at least one of an amplitude threshold or a time duration threshold.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

producing a notification by the controller if the force exerted on at least one of the antenna exceeds an amplitude threshold over a period of time that exceeds a time duration threshold.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

producing a notification by the controller indicative of a position or location on the patient support structure or patient where an excessive force is being exerted.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

transmitting a notification via at least one of the antennas in response to the force asserted on at least one of the antennas exceeding a defined threshold.