TRANSPONDER HOUSING AND DEVICE TO MARK IMPLEMENTS, SUCH AS SURGICAL IMPLEMENTS, AND METHOD OF USING SAME

• US 20080238677A1
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: RF Surgical Systems, Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Blair, William A., Poirier, David A., Barnes, Bruce E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• 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

Abstract

A transponder device and/or housing to mark a surgical implement, such as a metallic surgical instrument, is provided that comprises a non-elastic, preferably non-metallic, rigid transponder housing attachable to a portion of the surgical implement. The housing includes a transponder receiving cavity spaced at least 1 millimeter, and preferably at least 2 millimeters, from any portion of the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the surgical implement. The housing may be removably attached to the surgical implement or permanently attached. In use, a transponder is installed in the transponder receiving cavity. A method of detecting a transponder indicating the possible presence of a surgical implement is also provided.

Claims

1. A device to mark surgical implements, comprising:

a non-elastic rigid housing attachable to a portion of a surgical implement, the housing including a shell having an implement receiving cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the surgical implement and a transponder receiving cavity sized to receive a transponder, the transponder receiving cavity spaced at least about 1 millimeter from any portion of the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the surgical implement.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

the transponder, wherein the transponder is removably retained in the transponder receiving cavity.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing is removably attachable to the portion of the surgical implement.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a detent mechanism that is integral to the housing to attach the housing to the portion of the surgical implement.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the implement receiving cavity is an asymmetric passage.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the transponder receiving cavity is at least two millimeters from any portion of the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the surgical implement.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the shell of the housing has a first portion and a second portion, and a coupling structure adapted to connect the first and the second portions together.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the coupling structure is a snap.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the coupling structure is a clip.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the first and the second portions of the shell of the housing are connected by a hinge.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the hinge is integral with the first and the second portions.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing is composed of plastic, the plastic able to withstand multiple sterilizations in an autoclave.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing is non-metallic.

14. A device to mark surgical implements, the device comprising:

a flexible strap, the strap able to encircle at least a portion of a surgical implement; and

a housing having a strap receiving cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the strap to retain the strap to the housing and a transponder receiving cavity sized to receive a transponder, the transponder receiving cavity spaced at least about 1 millimeter from any portion of the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the surgical implement via the strap.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

the transponder, wherein the transponder is removably retained in the transponder receiving cavity.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the strap has a first end and a second end, the first end secures to the second end to form a loop, the loop encircling at least a portion of the surgical implement.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the housing includes a securing structure to secure the strap within the strap receiving cavity.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the securing structure fixedly secures the strap within the strap receiving cavity.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the securing structure removably secures the strap within the strap receiving cavity.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein the securing structure is a detent mechanism.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the detent mechanism includes a pawl formed integrally in the slot receiving cavity and the strap includes a number of teeth adapted to engage the pawl.

22. The device of claim 14 wherein the strap is a material different from the material of the housing.

23. The device of claim 14 wherein the transponder receiving cavity is at least two millimeters from any portion of the surgical implement when the housing is attached to the surgical implement via the strap.

24. The device of claim 14 wherein the housing has a first portion and a second portion, and a coupling structure adapted to connect the first and the second portions together.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the coupling structure is at least one of a snap or a clip.

26. The device of claim 24 wherein the first and the second portions of the housing are connected by a hinge.

27. The device of claim 14 wherein the strap and the housing are integral.

28. The device of claim 14 wherein the housing is composed of plastic, the plastic able to withstand multiple sterilizations in an autoclave.

29. The device of claim 14 wherein the housing is non-metallic.

30. A transponder device comprising:

a housing having at least two distinct pieces, the housing removably attachable to a portion of a surgical implement;

coupling means for coupling the at least two distinct pieces together to form a transponder receiving cavity therebetween; and

a wireless transponder received in the transponder receiving cavity.

31. The transponder device of claim 30 wherein at least one of the pieces of the housing is non-elastic.

32. The transponder device of claim 30 wherein at least one of the pieces of the housing is non-metallic.

33. The transponder device of claim 30 wherein the housing positions the wireless transponder at least 1 millimeter from the surgical implement when attached to the portion of the surgical implement.

34. The transponder device of claim 33 wherein the housing positions the wireless transponder at least 2 millimeters from the surgical implement when coupled to the surgical implement.

35. The transponder device of claim 30 wherein at least one piece of the housing is made of plastic, the plastic able to withstand multiple sterilizations in an autoclave.

36. The transponder device of claim 30 wherein the housing has a cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the surgical implement.

37. The transponder device of claim 30, further comprising:

a detent mechanism that is integral to the housing to attach the housing to the portion of the surgical implement.

38. The transponder device of claim 30 wherein the housing forms an asymmetric passage to receive the portion of the surgical implement.

39. A surgical instrument comprising:

instrument means;

a handle connected to the instrument means;

a non-elastic non-metallic housing removably attached to at least a portion of the handle, the housing having a two-piece body coupled together by coupling means to form a transponder receiving cavity therebetween; and

a wireless transponder enclosed within the transponder receiving cavity of the housing wherein the housing positions the wireless transponder at least 1 millimeter from the handle.

40. The surgical instrument of claim 39 wherein the instrument means is at least one of a cutting means, a grasping means, a clamping means, an access means, an injection/irrigation means, or a measurement means.

41. The surgical instrument of claim 39 wherein the coupling means is at least one of a snap, a strap, or a clip.

42. The surgical instrument of claim 39 wherein the housing positions the wireless transponder approximately 2 millimeters from the at least a portion of the handle.

43. The surgical instrument of claim 39 wherein the housing has an integral detent mechanism to attach the housing to the at least a portion of the handle.

44. The surgical instrument of claim 39 wherein the instrument means is metallic.

45. A method comprising:

attaching a non-elastic rigid non-metallic housing having an implement receiving cavity onto a portion of each of one or more rigid surgical implements, the housing positioning a wireless transponder enclosed within the housing at least 1 millimeter from the portion of the surgical implement;

transmitting a signal in a first frequency band during a first time proximate to a confined area;

transmitting a signal in a second frequency band during a second time proximate to the confined area;

receiving a response, if any, to the transmission of the signal in the first frequency band; and

receiving a response, if any, to the transmission of the signal in the second frequency band.

46. The method according to claim 45 wherein attaching a non-elastic rigid non-metallic housing onto a portion of each of one or more rigid surgical implements includes removably attaching the housing onto the portion of the surgical implements.

47. The method according to claim 45 wherein attaching a non-elastic rigid non-metallic housing onto a portion of each of one or more rigid surgical implements includes attaching two parts of the housing together using a coupling structure.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein attaching a non-elastic rigid non-metallic housing onto a portion of each of one or more rigid surgical implements includes actuating a detent mechanism of the housing.

49. The method according to claim 45, further comprising:

before transmitting the signal in the first frequency band, using at least one of the one or more surgical implements to perform a surgical task.

50. The method according to claim 45 wherein attaching a non-elastic rigid non-metallic housing onto a portion of each of one or more rigid surgical implements includes positioning the transponder at least 2 millimeters from the surgical implement.

51. The method according to claim 45, further comprising:

sterilizing at least one of the one or more surgical implements by autoclaving the at least one surgical implement with the housing still attached to the surgical implement.

52. A method comprising:

attaching a non-elastic rigid non-metallic housing having a strap receiving cavity onto a portion of each of one or more rigid surgical implements via a flexible strap, the housing positioning a wireless transponder enclosed within the housing at least 1 millimeter from the portion of the surgical implement;

transmitting a signal in a first frequency band during a first time proximate to a confined area;

transmitting a signal in a second frequency band during a second time proximate to the confined area;

receiving a response, if any, to the transmission of the signal in the first frequency band; and

receiving a response, if any, to the transmission of the signal in the second frequency band.

53. The method according to claim 52 wherein attaching a non-elastic rigid non-metallic housing having a strap receiving cavity onto a portion of each of one or more rigid surgical implements via a strap includes securely attaching the housing onto the portion of each of one or more surgical implements by pulling the strap through the strap receiving cavity such that the strap actuates a detent mechanism of the housing.