Apparatus and methods for monitoring objects in a surgical field

• US 9,672,397 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Combo LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Szakelyhidi, David, Gandhi, Gautam, Fleck, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US15/051,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20160171262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 235385
• 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 of monitoring a surgical operation, the method comprising:

providing a monitoring system for identifying a surgical object having an RF tag including an unique identifier, the monitoring system comprising a base supported on wheels, a visual display unit supported by the base, a first scanner including an antenna supported by the base, a second scanner supported by the base and different from the first scanner, and control circuitry supported by the base and in communication with the visual display unit, the first scanner, and the second scanner;

positioning the base relative to a surgical field;

scanning the surgical object with the first scanner to identify the surgical object by the unique identifier and displaying on the visual display unit information relating to the surgical object;

scanning the surgical object with the second scanner to identify the surgical object by the unique identifier and displaying information on the visual display unit relating to the surgical object scanned with the second scanner.

2. The method of monitoring of claim 1, further comprising determining the surgical object as present within the surgical field after scanning the surgical object with the first scanner.

3. The method of monitoring of claim 2, further comprising initiating an alarm in an event that at an end of a surgical procedure when the surgical object has been determined as within the surgical field and has not been determined as removed from within the surgical field.

4. The method of monitoring of claim 3, wherein the second scanner is movable within the surgical field independent of the base;

wherein scanning with the second scanner comprises moving the second scanner relative to a patient within the surgical field; and

further comprising repeating the step of scanning with the second scanner subsequent to initiating the alarm.

5. The method of monitoring of claim 1 wherein the step of scanning the surgical object with the second scanner further comprises emitting an RF field into the surgical field with the second scanner;

receiving a response from the RF tag of the surgical object with the second scanner;

electronically communicating a signal from the second scanner to the control circuitry; and

determining a location of the surgical object based on the signal received from the second scanner.

6. The method of monitoring of claim 5, wherein the second scanner is movable within the surgical field independent of the base, and wherein scanning with the second scanner comprises moving the scanner relative to a patient within the surgical field.

7. The method of monitoring of claim 1, further comprising providing a third scanner including an antenna, different from the first and second scanners, operatively associated with the base and in communication with the control circuity;

and scanning the surgical object with the third scanner to identify the surgical object by the unique identifier.

8. The method of monitoring of claim 7, wherein scanning with first scanner determines the surgical object as present within the surgical field and wherein scanning with the third scanner determines the surgical object as removed from within the surgical field.

9. The method of monitoring of claim 8, wherein the third scanner is a collection container such that scanning with the third scanner is performed while the surgical object is disposed within the collection container.

10. A method of operating a surgical monitoring system, the surgical monitoring system comprising a base supported on wheels, a visual display unit supported by the base, a first scanner including an antenna supported by the base, a second scanner supported by the base and different from the first scanner, and control circuitry supported by the base in communication with the visual display unit, the first scanner and the second scanner, the method comprising:

positioning the base relative to a surgical field;

operating the control circuitry to scan using the first scanner to identify a unique identifier of a surgical object, the system displaying information on the visual display unit subsequent to the identification of the surgical object by the first scanner;

operating the control circuitry to scan using the second scanner to identify the unique identifier of the surgical object, the system displaying information on the visual display unit subsequent to the identification of the surgical object by the second scanner.

11. The method of operating of claim 10, the control circuitry determines the surgical object as present within the surgical field after identification of the surgical object by the first scanner.

12. The method of operating of claim 10, wherein the step of operating the control circuitry to scan using the second scanner comprises emitting an RF field into the surgical field from the second scanner;

receiving a response signal from the RF tag of the surgical object with the second scanner;

electronically communicating a signal from the second scanner to the control circuitry; and

identifying the surgical object based on the signal received from the second scanner.

13. The method of operating of claim 12, further comprising the control circuitry initiating an alarm in an event that at an end of a surgical procedure when the surgical object has been determined as within the surgical field and has not been determined as removed from within the surgical field.

14. The method of monitoring of claim 13, wherein the second scanner is movable within the surgical field independent of the base;

wherein operating the control circuitry to scan with the second scanner occurs during movement of the second scanner relative to a patient within the surgical field; and

the method further comprising repeating the step of operating the control circuitry to scan with the second scanner subsequent to initiating the alarm.

15. The method of operating of claim 12, wherein the second scanner is movable within the surgical field independent of the base, and wherein operating the control circuitry to scan with the second scanner occurs during movement of the second scanner relative to a patient within the surgical field.

16. The method of operating of claim 10, wherein the surgical monitoring system further comprises a third scanner including an antenna, different from the first and second scanners, operatively associated with the base and in communication with the control circuity;

the method further comprising operating the control circuitry to scan using the third scanner to identify the surgical object by the unique identifier, the system displaying information on the visual display unit subsequent to the identification of the surgical object by the third scanner.

17. The method of operating of claim 16, wherein operating the control circuitry to scan with the first scanner determines the surgical object as present within the surgical field and wherein operating the control circuitry to scan with the third scanner designates the surgical object as removed from within the surgical field.

18. The method of operating of claim 16, wherein the third scanner is a collection container such that operating the control circuitry to scan with the third scanner is performed while the surgical object is disposed within the collection container.

19. A method of identifying and tracking a surgical object having an RF tag including an unique identifier, the method comprising:

providing a monitoring system comprising a base supported on wheels, a visual display unit supported by the base, a first scanner including an antenna supported by the base, a second scanner supported by the base and different from the first scanner, and control circuitry supported by the base and in communication with the visual display unit, the first scanner, and the second scanner;

positioning the base relative to a surgical field;

displaying object entry data on the visual display unit subsequent to the identification of the surgical object by the unique identifier after a first scanning of the surgical object by one of the first and second scanners, wherein the object entry data determines the surgical object to be within the surgical field;

displaying object exit data on the visual display unit upon identification of the surgical object by the unique identifier after a second scanning of the surgical object by one of the first and second scanners, wherein the object exit data determines the surgical object to be removed from the surgical field.

20. The method of identifying and tracking a surgical object of claim 19, wherein the monitoring system further comprises a third scanner including an antenna, different from the first and second scanners, operatively associated with the base and in communication with the control circuitry;

wherein the third scanner is movable within the surgical field independent of the base;

the method further comprising the step of displaying a visual alarm upon identification of the surgical object by the unique identifier after a scan using the third scanner, wherein the scan using the third scanner comprising moving the third scanner relative to a patient within the surgical field.