Apparatus and methods for monitoring objects in a surgical field

• US 9,414,973 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2015
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• 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:
  US14/836,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20150363618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/376, 235/383, 235/385, 235/462.01, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 235/476, 235/487
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A monitoring system configured to detect a surgical sponge having an RF tag, the system comprising:

a handheld wand comprising an antenna and configured to be placed into proximity with a surgical patient;

a mat comprising an antenna and configured to be placed into proximity with the surgical patient; and

a control circuitry disposed in electronic communication with the handheld wand and with the mat, the control circuitry configured to selectively operate the handheld wand and the mat such that one or the other of the handheld wand and the mat emit a detection field, the same one or the other of the handheld wand and the mat further configured to detect a response signal of the RF tag, and the control circuitry further configured to initiate an alarm in response to detecting the response of the RF tag.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the detection field comprises an RF field having a frequency greater than about 100 kHz and less than 1 GHz.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the detection field comprises an RF field having a frequency greater than about 100 kHz and less than 150 kHz.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the detection field comprises an RF field having a frequency of 125 kHz.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the mat is configured to be disposed between a surgical table and a surgical patient.

6. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the mat is reusable.

7. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the mat is disposable.

8. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the mat comprises a plurality of antennas.

9. The monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of antennas are configured to operate sequentially.

10. The monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of antennas are configured to operate concurrently.

11. A method of using a monitoring system to detect a surgical sponge having an RF tag, the monitoring system comprising a mat having an antenna, a handheld wand having an antenna, and a control circuitry disposed in electrical communication with the mat and the handheld wand, the method comprising:

placing one of the mat and the handheld wand into proximity with the surgical patient;

initiating a scanning function of the control circuitry such that the control circuitry selectively operates one or the other of the handheld wand and the mat to emit a detection field,

detecting a response signal of the RF tag with the same one or the other of the mat and the handheld wand having emitted the detection field; and

initiating an alarm at the control circuitry in response to the detection of the response signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of initiating the scanning function of the control circuitry such that the control circuitry selectively powers the other of the mat and the handheld wand to emit a detection field, whereby the mat and the handheld wand perform the scanning function sequentially.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of moving the handheld wand along a path adjacent to the surgical patient such that the handheld wand is maintained in non-contact proximity with the surgical patient during the scanning function of the handheld wand.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the detection field comprises an RF field having a frequency greater than about 100 kHz and less than 1 GHz.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the detection field comprises an RF field having a frequency greater than about 100 kHz and less than 150 kHz.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising placing the mat on a surgical table.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the mat comprises a plurality of antennas, said method further comprising detecting a response signal of the RF tag with at least one of the plurality of antennas.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising operating the plurality of antennas sequentially.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising operating the plurality of antennas concurrently.