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Surgical implement detector utilizing a radio-frequency identification marker

  • US 7,307,530 B2
  • Filed: 02/10/2005
  • Issued: 12/11/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A surgical implement detector system, comprising:

  • a. a non battery-powered, radio-frequency marker encapsulated in a glass envelope and attached to a surgical implement designated for use in a surface of a surgical procedure, said surgical implement being a metallic surgical instrument and said radio-frequency marker being displaced from said surface of said surgical instrument using a non-metallic fastener thereby preventing signal interfering effect from the metallic surgical implement;

    b. remote detector unit having an interrogating antenna that communicates with and powers the said radio-frequency marker using a carrier frequency;

    c. said radio-frequency marker comprising an integrated circuit comprising a read-only memory having a burnt-in code that is powered by a capacitor;

    d. said capacitor being charged by said interrogating antenna and coupling to a second antenna located within the radio-frequency marker to provide power thereto;

    e. said radio-frequency marker broadcasting said code through said radio-frequency antenna using a modulated carrier frequency, which is received by said interrogating antenna;

    f. said detector unit decoding said modulated carrier frequency and detecting said code, thereby identifying a surgical implement to which a radio-frequency marker is attached;

    whereby scanning a surgical wound using said remote detector interrogating antenna during and after an operating procedure detects the location and identity of surgical implements present within a surgical wound.

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