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Apparatus for tagging and detecting surgical implements

  • US 4,658,818 A
  • Filed: 04/12/1985
  • Issued: 04/21/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting a surgical implement retained within a surgically exposed human body cavity, the apparatus comprising, in combination:

  • (a) tagging means adapted to be attached to a surgical implement insertable within a human body cavity, and including;

    (1) oscillator means for producing a series of electrical output pulses, said pulses having a frequency selected safely to exceed the normal physiological signals of a body into which an associated surgical instrument is to be inserted when actuated prior to insertion of an associated surgical instrument within a surgically created body cavity; and

    (2) conductor means attached to the oscillator means for electrically conductively coupling the electrical output pulses of the oscillator means to internal body fluids and tissue of a human body into which a surgical instrument associated with the oscillator means is inserted; and

    (b) detecting means located externally of a human body into which is inserted a surgical implement provided with a tagging means, and including;

    (3) reception means for receiving a signal from a tagging means, said reception means including means for rejecting the normal physiological signals of the human body;

    (4) detector means attached to the reception means for sensing a signal received from a tagging means; and

    (5) alert means attached to the detector means for providing a sensory response whenever a signal from a tagging means is sensed.

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