Transponder device to mark implements, such as surgical implements, and method of manufacturing and using same
First Claim
1. A device to mark surgical implements, the device comprising:
- a flexible strap;
a housing attachable to a portion of a surgical implement, the housing including a transponder receiving cavity, an implement receiving cavity sized to receive a portion of the surgical implement, a strap receiving cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the strap, and a saddle-shaped finger support surface sized and configured to receive a finger of a user and provide additional leverage for operating the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the portion of the surgical implement via the strap and the implement receiving cavity; and
a transponder retained in the transponder receiving cavity, andwherein the housing includes a base substrate, a first overmold portion that forms the implement receiving cavity and a second overmold portion that retains the transponder within the transponder receiving cavity, and the first overmold portion and the second overmold portion comprise a material that is different from a material of the base substrate.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transponder device to mark a surgical implement, such as a metallic surgical instrument, is provided that comprises a transponder housing attachable to a portion of the surgical implement. The housing may include 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, and preferably includes a saddle-shaped finger support surface or a stabilizing surface sized and configured to receive a finger of a user for providing additional leverage and/or stabilizing structure when operating the implement. The housing may be removably attached to the surgical implement or permanently attached. In use, a transponder is retained in the device. Methods of manufacturing transponder devices and methods of detecting a transponder indicating the possible presence of a surgical implement are also provided.
62 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A device to mark surgical implements, the device comprising:
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a flexible strap; a housing attachable to a portion of a surgical implement, the housing including a transponder receiving cavity, an implement receiving cavity sized to receive a portion of the surgical implement, a strap receiving cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the strap, and a saddle-shaped finger support surface sized and configured to receive a finger of a user and provide additional leverage for operating the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the portion of the surgical implement via the strap and the implement receiving cavity; and a transponder retained in the transponder receiving cavity, and wherein the housing includes a base substrate, a first overmold portion that forms the implement receiving cavity and a second overmold portion that retains the transponder within the transponder receiving cavity, and the first overmold portion and the second overmold portion comprise a material that is different from a material of the base substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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4. A device to mark surgical implements, the device comprising:
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a flexible strap; and a housing attachable to a portion of a surgical implement, the housing including a transponder receiving cavity sized to receive a transponder, an implement receiving cavity sized to receive a portion of the surgical implement, a strap receiving cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the strap, and a saddle-shaped finger support surface sized and configured to receive a finger of a user and provide additional leverage for operating the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the portion of the surgical implement via the strap and the implement receiving cavity, wherein the housing includes a base substrate and a first overmold portion that forms the implement receiving cavity, and wherein a projection of the first overmold portion extends beyond an interior profile of a handle of the surgical instrument to provide a gradual transition from the interior profile of the handle to a surface of the strap when the housing is attached to the handle.
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9. A transponder device comprising:
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a housing having a base substrate and an overmold portion, the base substrate containing a transponder receiving cavity; attachment means for attaching the housing to a portion of a surgical implement; and a wireless transponder received in the transponder receiving cavity, and wherein the overmold portion of the housing includes an indentation proximate a base of the strap where the strap is fixed to the housing such that a bend radius of the strap is reduced relative to an identically sized strap without an indentation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A transponder device comprising:
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a housing having a base substrate and an overmold portion, the base substrate containing a transponder receiving cavity; attachment means including a strap and a detent mechanism integral to the housing for attaching the housing to a portion of a surgical implement; and a wireless transponder received in the transponder receiving cavity, and wherein the overmold portion of the housing includes a raised surface proximate a base of the strap that substantially conforms with an interior contour of a handle of the surgical implement when the housing is attached thereto. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A transponder device comprising:
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a housing having a base substrate and an overmold portion, the base substrate containing a transponder receiving cavity; attachment means including a strap and a detent mechanism integral to the housing for attaching the housing to a portion of a surgical implement; and a wireless transponder received in the transponder receiving cavity, and wherein the overmold portion of the housing includes at least one projection extending beyond an interior profile of a handle of the surgical instrument to provide a gradual transition from the interior profile of the handle to a surface of the strap when the housing is attached to the handle.
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20. A transponder device comprising:
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a housing having a base substrate and an overmold portion, the base substrate containing a transponder receiving cavity; attachment means including a strap and a detent mechanism integral to the housing for attaching the housing to a portion of a surgical implement; and a wireless transponder received in the transponder receiving cavity, and wherein the housing further includes a strap receiving cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the strap, the strap receiving cavity providing a void proximate a lower surface of the housing such that an end of the strap does not protrude beyond the lower surface when the strap is received in the strap receiving cavity and trimmed to a final length.
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21. A method for manufacturing a device to mark implements comprising:
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molding a base substrate, the base substrate including a transponder receiving cavity sized to receive a transponder, a flexible strap, a strap receiving cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the strap, and a saddle-shaped finger support surface sized and configured to receive a finger of a user and provide additional leverage for operating an implement when the base substrate is attached to a portion of the implement; forming an overmold portion with an implement receiving cavity such that a surface of the implement receiving cavity and the finger support surface converge proximate a tip of the device; inserting the transponder in the transponder receiving cavity; and retaining the transponder within the transponder receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A transponder device selectively attachable to surgical implements, the transponder device comprising:
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a transponder circuit; a non-metallic framework that substantially encloses the transponder circuit, the framework having a number of outward extending projections; and a non-metallic body which at least partially surrounds the framework and which completely surrounds the transponder circuit, wherein the outward extending projections of the framework position the transponder circuit inwardly from an exterior surface of a mold used to form the body during a fabrication of the transponder device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A transponder device selectively attachable to surgical implements, the transponder device comprising:
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a transponder circuit; a framework having a number of outward extending projections that space the transponder circuit from a surface that forms a cavity of a mold in the shape of a body; the body, which body at least partially surrounds the framework and which completely surrounds the transponder circuit; and a compliant overmold interfacing with at least a first portion of the body. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for manufacturing a transponder device attachable to surgical implements, the method comprising:
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forming a non-metallic framework around a transponder circuit, the framework including a number of outward extending projections; retaining the framework in a mold cavity, wherein the outward extending projections of the framework position the transponder circuit inwardly from an exterior surface of the mold cavity; forming via the mold cavity a non-metallic body which at least partially surrounds the framework and which completely surrounds the transponder circuit; and forming a compliant overmold that interfaces with at least a first portion of the body, the compliant overmold including an implement receiving cavity sized to at least partially receive a portion of a surgical implement. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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Specification