Transponder housing and device to mark implements, such as surgical implements, and method of using same
First Claim
1. A device to mark surgical implements, comprising:
- a non-elastic rigid housing attachable to a portion of a surgical implement, the housing including a rigid shell having two body portions forming a receiving cavity sized and shaped to closely receive at least a portion of the surgical implement and a transponder receiving cavity within said rigid shell sized to receive a transponder, wherein the rigid shell fixedly spaces the transponder receiving cavity at least about 1 millimeter from any portion of the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the surgical implement.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transponder device and/or housing to mark a surgical implement, such as a metallic surgical instrument, is provided that comprises a non-elastic, preferably non-metallic, rigid transponder housing attachable to a portion of the surgical implement. The housing includes a transponder receiving cavity spaced at least 1 millimeter, and preferably at least 2 millimeters, from any portion of the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the surgical implement. The housing may be removably attached to the surgical implement or permanently attached. In use, a transponder is installed in the transponder receiving cavity. A method of detecting a transponder indicating the possible presence of a surgical implement is also provided.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A device to mark surgical implements, comprising:
- a non-elastic rigid housing attachable to a portion of a surgical implement, the housing including a rigid shell having two body portions forming a receiving cavity sized and shaped to closely receive at least a portion of the surgical implement and a transponder receiving cavity within said rigid shell sized to receive a transponder, wherein the rigid shell fixedly spaces the transponder receiving cavity at least about 1 millimeter from any portion of the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the surgical implement.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A transponder device comprising:
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a rigid housing having at least two distinct pieces, the housing removably attachable to a portion of a surgical implement by enclosing the portion of the surgical implement within an implement receiving cavity of the housing; coupling means for coupling the at least two distinct pieces together to form a transponder receiving cavity and the implement receiving cavity therebetween; and a wireless transponder received in the transponder receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A surgical instrument comprising:
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instrument means; a handle connected to the instrument means; a non-elastic rigid non-metallic housing removably attached to at least a portion of the handle, the housing having a two-piece body coupled together by coupling means to form a transponder receiving cavity and an implement receiving cavity therebetween; and a wireless transponder enclosed within the transponder receiving cavity of the rigid housing wherein the rigid housing fixedly spaces the wireless transponder at least about 1 millimeter from the handle when the housing is clamped to a portion of the surgical implement with the portion received in the implement receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification