Surgical implement detector utilizing an acoustic marker
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting a surgical implement within a wound in human or animal tissue, comprising:
- (a) a marker secured to a surgical implement adapted to be positioned within said wound, said marker having a battery and being powered thereby;
(b) acoustic signal generating means for generating an acoustic signal;
(c) signal generating means for generating a signal having a predetermined frequency band and being operative to cause said acoustic generating means to generate said acoustic signal, providing said marker with signal identity, said signal generating means receiving power from said battery; and
(d) detection means having a transducer in contact with human or animal tissue, for detecting said acoustic signal.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for accurately and reliably detecting surgical implements within animal or human tissue. The apparatus comprises a detector responsive to the presence, within a wound, of a surgical implement to which a marker is secured. The marker is adapted to produce identifying acoustic signal characteristics within the wound.
284 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting a surgical implement within a wound in human or animal tissue, comprising:
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(a) a marker secured to a surgical implement adapted to be positioned within said wound, said marker having a battery and being powered thereby; (b) acoustic signal generating means for generating an acoustic signal; (c) signal generating means for generating a signal having a predetermined frequency band and being operative to cause said acoustic generating means to generate said acoustic signal, providing said marker with signal identity, said signal generating means receiving power from said battery; and (d) detection means having a transducer in contact with human or animal tissue, for detecting said acoustic signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A marker attached to a surgical implement within a wound in human or animal tissue, comprising:
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(a) a battery; (b) acoustic signal generating means for generating an acoustic signal; (c) signal generating means for generating a signal having a predetermined frequency band and being operative to cause said acoustic generating means to generate said acoustic signal, providing said marker with signal identity, said signal generating means receiving power from said battery.
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15. A method for detecting a surgical implement within a wound in human or animal tissue, comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching a marker to said surgical implement prior to its disposition within said wound, the marker having a battery and being powered thereby; (b) generating a signal from a signal generating means having a predetermined frequency band and being operative to initiate generation of an acoustic signal, from an acoustic signal generating means providing said marker with signal identity; (c) receiving said acoustic signal by a transducer in contact with said tissue near said wound to detect said marker; and (d) indicating said detection with detection means.
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16. A method for detecting a surgical implement within a wound in human or animal tissue, comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching a marker to a surgical implement prior to its disposition within said wound, the marker being battery powered; (b) generating a first acoustic signal with a detection means, said acoustic signal having a first acoustic predetermined frequency band; (c) detecting said first acoustic signal with detection means thereby activating said marker; (d) generating signal from a signal generating means having a signal predetermined frequency band and being operative to initiate generation of a second acoustic signal from an acoustic signal generating means providing said marker with signal identity; (e) receiving said second acoustic signal by a transducer in contact with said tissue near said wound to detect said marker; and (f) indicating said detection of the marker with detection means.
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Specification