Surgical implement detector utilizing a resonant marker
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting a surgical implement in human or animal tissue, comprising(a) means for defining an interrogation zone encompassing a surgical wound in said tissue;
- (b) a marker secured to a surgical implement appointed to be positioned within said wound, said marker comprising a marker element adapted to undergo resonance at only a preselected frequency, causing a substantial change in its effective impedance, when interrogated within a frequency band that is (i) below 1 gigahertz, and (ii) contains a frequency component equal to the preselected frequency, said marker element generating an electromagnetic dipole field that provides said marker element with signal identity;
(c) interrogating means comprising a frequency generating means, field generating means, and field changing means, said frequency generating means generating said frequency band, said field generating means generating within said interrogation zone an interrogating field having said frequency band, and said field changing means varying the amplitude and direction of said interrogating field to alter the electromagnetic dipole coupling between said marker element and said interrogating field; and
(d) receiving means comprising a detecting antenna, an antenna changing means, and a detecting means, said detecting antenna receiving said marker dipole field, said antenna changing means varying the orientation and position of said detecting antenna relative to said marker element to alter said electromagnetic dipole coupling therebetween, and said detecting means detecting and verifying said marker dipole field.
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Abstract
Apparatus for detecting a surgical implement in human or animal tissue comprises a detector responsive to the presence, within an interrogation zone, of a surgical implement to which a marker is secured. The marker is adapted to produce identifying signal characteristics within a frequency band generated in the interrogation zone. Variations in the phase and or direction of the interrogating field and changes in the electromagnetic coupling between markers and receiver optimize coupling therebetween.
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31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting a surgical implement in human or animal tissue, comprising
(a) means for defining an interrogation zone encompassing a surgical wound in said tissue; -
(b) a marker secured to a surgical implement appointed to be positioned within said wound, said marker comprising a marker element adapted to undergo resonance at only a preselected frequency, causing a substantial change in its effective impedance, when interrogated within a frequency band that is (i) below 1 gigahertz, and (ii) contains a frequency component equal to the preselected frequency, said marker element generating an electromagnetic dipole field that provides said marker element with signal identity; (c) interrogating means comprising a frequency generating means, field generating means, and field changing means, said frequency generating means generating said frequency band, said field generating means generating within said interrogation zone an interrogating field having said frequency band, and said field changing means varying the amplitude and direction of said interrogating field to alter the electromagnetic dipole coupling between said marker element and said interrogating field; and (d) receiving means comprising a detecting antenna, an antenna changing means, and a detecting means, said detecting antenna receiving said marker dipole field, said antenna changing means varying the orientation and position of said detecting antenna relative to said marker element to alter said electromagnetic dipole coupling therebetween, and said detecting means detecting and verifying said marker dipole field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for detecting a surgical implement in human or animal tissue, comprising the steps of:
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(a) defining an interrogation zone encompassing a surgical wound in said tissue; (b) attaching a marker to said surgical implement, said surgical implement being appointed for disposition within said wound, the marker comprising a marker element adapted to undergo resonance at only a preselected frequency, causing a substantial change in its effective impedance, when interrogated within a frequency band that is (i) below 1 gigahertz and (ii) contains a frequency component equal to the preselected frequency, and to generate an electromagnetic dipole field providing the marker with signal identity; (c) interrogating said zone by (i) generating therewithin said frequency band and an interrogating field having said frequency band and (ii) varying amplitude and direction of said interrogating field to alter electromagnetic dipole coupling between said marker and said interrogating field; and (d) receiving said dipole field by varying orientation and position of a detecting antenna relative to said marker to alter said electromagnetic dipole coupling therebetween and assure detection of said implement.
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Specification