Intra-operative system for identifying and tracking surgical sharp objects, instruments, and sponges

• US 9,168,104 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Richard Dein
• Original Assignee: John Richard Dein
• Inventors: Dein, John Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jayesh A
• Application Number:
  US12/490,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20090317002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,317 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382/128, 382/321, 382/190
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0805 automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/362 for sharps
• 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 90/94 coded with symbols, e.g. text
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/96 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/44 with radio-opaque material or signalling means for residual material

Abstract

Intra-operative systems for identifying surgical sharp objects are provided. Aspects of the systems include an intra-operative imaging device for obtaining intra-operative surgical sharp object image data; and a surgical sharp object automated shape recognition module configured to identify a surgical sharp object from intra-operative surgical sharp object image data. Systems of the invention may further include additional components, such as surgical instrument and/or sponge identification and tracking devices. Systems of the invention find use in a variety of methods and applications, including tracking of surgical items during a surgical procedure.

Claims

1. A system for intra-operatively identifying a surgical sharp object, the system comprising:

an intra-operative imaging device for obtaining intra-operative surgical sharp object image data comprising one or more of a shape, size or outline of at least one surgical sharp object; and

a surgical sharp object automated shape recognition module comprising a processor, a database of pre-existing surgical sharp object image data comprising a shape of at least one surgical sharp object, wherein the automated shape recognition module is configured to identify a surgical sharp object from the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data by comparing the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data with the pre-existing surgical sharp object image data;

wherein the surgical sharp object is a needle and a curve formed by a certain size of the needle is used to identify the needle via the automated shape recognition module.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the intra-operative imaging device is part of a surgical sharp object disposal container and wherein the intra-operative imaging device is configured to obtain the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data of at least one surgical sharp object within the disposal container.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the surgical sharp object automated shape recognition module is part of the surgical sharp object disposal container.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the surgical sharp object automated shape recognition module is configured to dynamically identify the surgical sharp object.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the surgical sharp object automated shape recognition module comprises an assisted identification algorithm.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the intra-operative imaging device is positioned to image surgical sharp objects placed onto a sterile table.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the intra-operative imaging device is a hand-held imaging device.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured to track a surgical sharp object.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises one or more detectors.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to identify surgical sponge identifier labels.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a display unit.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the intra-operative imaging device is configured to obtain the surgical sharp object image data before, during and after a surgical procedure.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data comprises still image or video image data.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein identifying a surgical sharp object from the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data comprises a step of manipulating the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data to reduce noise or performing binarization.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein identifying a surgical sharp object from the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data comprises pixel counting, thresholding, segmentation, pattern recognition, detection of an angle or curve, measurement of an area or size, determination of an aspect ratio, edge detection, outline or silhouette detection, color recognition, template matching, or combinations thereof.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein identifying a surgical sharp object from the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data comprises employing pre-existing surgical sharp object data in an automated shape recognition protocol.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the obtained intra-operative surgical sharp object image data comprises the shape of the at least one surgical sharp object.

18. A method of intra-operatively identifying a surgical sharp object, the method comprising:

obtaining a surgical sharp object from an operative sterile field;

imaging the surgical sharp object with an intra-operative imaging device to obtain image data comprising one or more of a shape, size or outline of at least one surgical sharp object; and

forwarding the image data to a surgical sharp object automated shape recognition module comprising a processor, a database of pre-existing surgical sharp object image data comprising a shape of at least one surgical sharp object, wherein the automated shape recognition module is configured to identify the surgical sharp object from the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data by comparing the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data with the pre-existing surgical sharp object image data;

wherein the surgical sharp object is a needle and a curve formed by a certain size of the needle is used to identify the needle via the automated shape recognition module.

19. A surgical sharp object disposal container comprising:

an intra-operative imaging device for obtaining intra-operative surgical sharp object image data comprising one or more of a shape, size or outline of at least one surgical sharp object; and

a surgical sharp object automated shape recognition module comprising a processor, a database of pre-existing surgical sharp object image data comprising a shape of at least one surgical sharp object, wherein the automated shape recognition module is configured to identify a surgical sharp object from the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data by comparing the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data with the pre-existing surgical sharp object image data;

wherein the surgical sharp object is a needle and a curve formed by a certain size of the needle is used to identify the needle via the automated shape recognition module.