Method and apparatus for embedding a transmitter into a tool, and a system for monitoring the tool

• US 8,624,721 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Barker, Boyd Thomas Jr., Varner, Robert, Nycz, Jeffrey H., Tethrake, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/279,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20070244470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,822 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/568.1, 340/10.1, 340/572.1, 606/170, 606/167
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

An apparatus may include a tool having a slot, the tool being composed of an electrical conductor and the slot being formed in an outer wall of the tool. The apparatus may include a transmitter having an antenna, where the antenna may be offset from the tool. The transmitter may be positioned within the slot, may be coupled to the tool by a conductive material, and may be covered with a protective material, where the tool may be adapted to operate as an electrical ground.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a surgical tool having a slot, the tool being composed of an electrical conductor, the slot being formed in an outer wall of a conductive portion of the tool; and

a transmitter comprising an antenna, the antenna being offset from the tool, the transmitter being positioned within the slot, the transmitter being coupled to the conductive portion of the tool by a conductive material, and the transmitter being covered with a protective material, wherein the tool is adapted to operate as an electrical ground.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor is composed of metal, titanium, and/or surgical stainless steel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive material is one of solder or a conductive epoxy.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective material is non-conductive and comprises at least one of epoxy, silicone, plastic, or rubber.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna is adapted to radiate a wireless signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit the wireless signal after receiving a radio frequency signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a memory, the memory being adapted to store a unique identification number.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, where the slot laterally extends through the tool.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tool further comprises:

a bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall bounds the slot.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is adapted to wirelessly communicate with a computing device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit board comprising a pin, wherein the transmitter is coupled to the circuit board.

13. A method comprising:

forming a slot in an outer wall of a conductive portion of a surgical tool, the tool being composed of an electrical conductor;

positioning a transmitter within the slot, the transmitter comprising an antenna;

affixing the transmitter to the conductive portion of the tool with a conductive material; and

covering the transmitter with a protective material, wherein the antenna is offset from the tool.

14. A system comprising:

an access point;

a surgical tool being composed of an electrical conductor and having a slot, the slot being formed in an outer wall of a conductive portion of the tool; and

a transmitter comprising an antenna, the antenna being offset from the tool, the transmitter being positioned within the slot, the transmitter being coupled to the conductive portion of the tool by a conductive material, and the transmitter being covered with a protective material.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the access point.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit a wireless signal after receiving a radio frequency signal generated by the access point.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the transmitter further comprises:

a memory, wherein the radio frequency signal contains update information writeable to the memory.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a server, wherein the access point receives the wireless signal and the server receives extraction data based on the wireless signal from the access point across a network.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is adapted to transmit update data across the network to the access point.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the access point is adapted to transmit the update data to the transmitter.