Methods for monitoring objects in a surgical field

• US 9,530,036 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• 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:
  US14/629,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20150164603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385
• 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 method comprising:

dispensing new objects from a housing into a surgical field through an entry detection zone, at least one of said new objects comprising an identifier adapted to store information;

inspecting an identifier of at least one of said new objects using at least one entry scanner operatively associated with said entry detection zone;

emitting from at least one antenna of said entry scanner a detection field into said surgical field; and

facilitating the counting and identifying of said new objects using said at least one antenna regardless of the orientation of said new objects.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving used objects discarded through an exit detection zone; and

inspecting an identifier of at least one of said used objects using at least one exit scanner operatively associated with said exit detection zone.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising inspecting the identifiers of said new and used objects using a handheld scanner adapted to be moved over said surgical field.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

storing 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 displaying said data.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

comparing said data regarding said number and identity of said new objects inspected by said entry scanner with said data regarding said number and identity of said 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

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

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising moving one of said at least one antenna with respect to another of said at least one antenna.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the relative power, tuning or the phasing of signals of at least one antenna with respect to at least one other of said antennas.

8. A method for inspecting the identifier of surgical objects, the method comprising:

dispensing new objects into a surgical field through an entry detection zone, at least one of said new objects comprising an identifier;

inspecting the identifier of at least one of said new objects using a scanner operatively associated with said entry detection zone;

receiving used objects discarded through an exit detection zone; and

inspecting an identifier of at least one of said used objects using a scanner operatively associated with said exit detection zone.

9. A method for inspecting the identifier of surgical objects with a scanner, the scanner including at least one antenna, the method comprising:

dispensing objects into a surgical field through an object entry zone, at least one of said objects comprising an identifier;

inspecting the identifier of the at least one of said objects using the scanner operatively associated with said object entry zone;

emitting from said at least one antenna of said scanner a detection field into said surgical field for detecting said at least one object; and

facilitating the detecting of said objects using said at least one antenna regardless of the orientation of said object.