Apparatus for detecting surgical objects within the human body

• US 5,456,718 A
• Filed: 01/03/1994
• Issued: 10/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Szymaitis, Dennis W.
• Original Assignee: Szymaitis, Dennis W.
• Inventors: Szymaitis, Dennis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US08/176,769
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 340/551, 340/571, 128/899, 600/3, 600/12, 600/14, 604/280, 604/286, 604/362, 623/11
• US Class Current: 128/899
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0804 Counting number of instruments used; Instrument detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/44 with radio-opaque material or signalling means for residual material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00936 metal
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method detects surgical objects within the human body where the apparatus includes the surgical object utilized in surgical procedures including a marker made of a selected nonmagnetostrictive, soft magnetic material which will emit known specific selected harmonic frequencies when exposed to an alternating electromagnetic field. That emission will cause a change in the alternating electromagnetic field which can be correlated to the presence of only the selected nonmagnetostrictive, soft magnetic material.

Claims

1. A detectable surgical object used in surgical procedures comprising:

a) a surgical object; and

b) a marker attached to the surgical object comprised of at least one marker comprised of at least one elongated body of a selected nonmagnetostrictive, soft magnetic material with zero magnetostriction which will emit known specific intensity of selected harmonic frequencies when exposed to an alternating electromagnetic field thereby causing a change in the alternating electromagnetic field which change can be correlated to the presence of only the selected nonmagnetostrictive, soft magnetic material.

2. The detectable surgical object of claim 1 wherein the surgical object is a surgical sponge.

3. The detectable surgical object of claim 2 wherein the marker is woven into the sponge.

4. The detectable surgical object of claim 1 wherein the coating is radio opaque.

5. The detectable surgical object of claim 1 wherein the marker comprises a soft magnetic amorphous material.

6. The detectable surgical object of claim 1 wherein the marker comprises a ribbon of soft magnetic amorphous material.

7. The detectable surgical object of claim 1 also comprising a biocompatible coating encapsulating the marker.

8. The detectable surgical object of claim 1 wherein the marker comprises at least one fiber of soft magnetic amorphous material.

9. The detectable surgical object of claim 1 wherein the marker comprises a soft magnetic crystalline material.

10. The detectable surgical object of claim 1 wherein the marker comprises a ribbon of soft magnetic crystalline material.

11. The detectable surgical object of claim 1 wherein the marker comprises at least one fiber of soft magnetic crystalline material.

12. The detectable surgical object of claim 1 wherein the at least one elongated body has an aspect ratio of at least 200.