Apparatus and methods for monitoring objects in a surgical field

• US 8,985,446 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Combo LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Fleck, Steven J., Szakelyhidi, David, Gandhi, Gautam
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US13/927,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20130327826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/376, 235/383, 235/385, 235/462.01, 23547201-47203, 235/476, 235/487, 340/568.1, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0056 about a lateral axis in the lid plane
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0065 Peelable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0805 automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/00 Surgical drapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/10 Furniture specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/37 for absorbent articles, e.g. bandages, garments, swabs or towels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/08 Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/36 Surgical swabs, e.g. for absorbency or packing body cavities during surgery A61F13/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/44 with radio-opaque material or signalling means for residual material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/10 Parts, details or accessories surgical drape sheets A61B46/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/12 Rests specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of patient-supporting surfaces rests for the surgeon A61B90/60; restraining devices A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2205/10 : Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0502 : Dispensers of disposable sheets
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/01 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 : using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 : the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 : the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10425 : the interrogation device being arranged for interrogation of record carriers passing by the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10475 : arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 : Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 : Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 : used in interrogator/reader equipment

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 identifier 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.

Claims

1. Scanning apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a stationary object entry detection zone adapted to receive new objects dispensed from said housing prior to introduction into a surgical field;

at least one entry scanner operatively associated with said entry detection zone and adapted to inspect said new objects using identifiers of said new objects regardless of the orientation of said new objects;

a stationary object exit detection zone physically separated from the stationary object entry detection zone adapted to receive used objects discarded into said housing after exit from said surgical field; and

at least one exit scanner operatively associated with said exit detection zone and adapted to inspect said used objects using identifiers of said used objects regardless of the orientation of said used objects.

2. The scanning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handheld scanner adapted to be moved over said surgical site to inspect said new and used objects using identifiers of said new and used objects respectively regardless of the orientation of said new and used objects.

3. The scanning apparatus of claim 2 further comprising control circuitry operatively associated with said scanners and adapted to control the operation of said scanners.

4. The scanning apparatus of claim 3, wherein said control circuitry is further adapted to:

store data regarding the number and identity of said new objects prior to their introduction into said surgical field and the number and identity of said used objects after their exit from said surgical field; and

visually display said data.

5. The scanning apparatus of claim 4, wherein said control circuitry is further adapted to:

compare said data regarding said number and identity of new objects inspected by said entry scanner with said data regarding said number and identity of used objects inspected by said exit scanner to determine if all new objects entering said surgical field have been removed from said surgical field; and

initiate an alarm if, at the end of a surgical procedure, it is determined that not all new objects entering the surgical field have exited the surgical field.

6. The scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said entry scanner is operatively associated with an object supply device.

7. The scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein either or both of said entry detection zone and said exit detection zone have a recess for receiving said new and used objects respectively.

8. The scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said entry scanner has at least one entry antenna adapted to:

emit a detection field into said surgical field; and

facilitate counting and identifying of said new objects regardless of the orientation of said new objects.

9. The scanning apparatus of claim 8, wherein one of said at least one entry antenna is adapted to move with respect to another of said at least one entry antenna.

10. The scanning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is adapted to control the relative power, tuning or the phasing of signals of at least one entry antenna with respect to at least one other of said entry antennas.