Apparatus and methods for monitoring objects in a surgical field
First Claim
1. A scanning apparatus, comprising:
- a scanner adapted to detect a surgical instrument identifier associated with each of a plurality of surgical instruments in a package and a package identifier;
control circuitry configured to;
perform a package status check prior to use of the surgical instruments in a surgical field based on the surgical instrument identifier and the package identifier, wherein the package status check is configured to issue an alert when an alert condition is detected;
wherein the package status check is configured to;
perform a consistency check for a package detected using the package identifier and a determined quantity associated with the package identifier, andissue an alert when a number of detected surgical instrument identifiers associated with the package identifier does not match the determined quantity associated with the package identifier.
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for identifying and counting objects having identifiers entering and exiting a surgical field are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus has an entry scanner, a hand held scanner and an exit scanner for generating a detection field and for receiving data which identifies said objects. In another embodiment, the apparatus has a plurality of lower antennas and an upper antenna for generating a detection field and for receiving data which identifies said objects. Various surgical devices with identifiers and methods for preventing electromagnetic coupling between and protecting objects and identifiers are also provided. The invention further provides apparatus and methods comprising a handheld scanner and a mat adapted to underlie a patient during a surgical procedure.
143 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A scanning apparatus, comprising:
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a scanner adapted to detect a surgical instrument identifier associated with each of a plurality of surgical instruments in a package and a package identifier; control circuitry configured to; perform a package status check prior to use of the surgical instruments in a surgical field based on the surgical instrument identifier and the package identifier, wherein the package status check is configured to issue an alert when an alert condition is detected; wherein the package status check is configured to; perform a consistency check for a package detected using the package identifier and a determined quantity associated with the package identifier, and issue an alert when a number of detected surgical instrument identifiers associated with the package identifier does not match the determined quantity associated with the package identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A scanning apparatus, comprising:
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a scanner adapted to detect a surgical instrument identifier and a package identifier; control circuitry configured to; perform a package status check based on the surgical instrument identifier and the package identifier, wherein the package status check is configured to issue an alert when an alert condition is detected; wherein the package status check is configured to; perform a re-use prevention check, wherein the re-use prevention check compares the instrument identifier or the package identifier to previously detected instrument identifiers or previously detected package identifiers to determine whether an instrument or a package has been re-scanned; and issue an alert when the instrument or the package is determined to have been re-scanned. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A scanning apparatus, comprising:
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a scanner adapted to detect a surgical instrument identifier and a package identifier; wherein detecting the surgical instrument identifier and the package identifier is performed in an exit scanning operation, wherein the exit scanning operation identifies a surgical instrument that is being removed from a surgical site; control circuitry configured to; perform a package status check based on the surgical instrument identifier and the package identifier, wherein the package status check is configured to issue an alert when an alert condition is detected; wherein the package status check is configured to; determine whether the surgical instrument has been previously scanned into the surgical site based on the instrument identifier; and issue an alert when the surgical instrument has not been previously scanned into the surgical site. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of performing a package status check, comprising:
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detecting a surgical instrument identifier associated with each of a plurality of surgical instruments in a package and a package identifier; performing a package status check prior to use of the surgical instruments in a surgical field based on the surgical instrument identifier and the package identifier, wherein the package status check is configured to issue an alert when an alert condition is detected; wherein said performing a package status check includes; performing a consistency check for a package detected using the package identifier and a determined quantity associated with the package identifier, and issuing an alert when a number of detected instrument identifiers associated with the package identifier does not match the determined quantity associated with the package identifier.
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23. A method of performing a package status check, comprising:
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detecting a surgical instrument identifier and a package identifier; performing a package status check based on the surgical instrument identifier and the package identifier, wherein the package status check is configured to issue an alert when an alert condition is detected; wherein said performing a package status check includes; performing a re-use prevention check, wherein the re-use prevention check compares the instrument identifier or the package identifier to previously detected instrument identifiers or previously detected package identifiers to determine whether an instrument or a package has been re-scanned; and issuing an alert when the instrument of the package is determined to have been re-scanned.
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24. A method of performing a package status check, comprising:
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detecting a surgical instrument identifier and a package identifier; wherein said detecting the surgical instrument identifier and the package identifier is performed in an exit scanning operation, wherein the exit scanning operation identifies surgical instruments that are being removed from a surgical site; performing a package status check based on the surgical instrument identifier and the package identifier, wherein the package status check is configured to issue an alert when an alert condition is detected; wherein said performing a package status check includes; determining whether the surgical instrument has been previously scanned into the surgical site based on the instrument identifier; and issuing an alert when the surgical instrument has not been previously scanned into the surgical site.
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Specification