# US 10,770,178 B2 · Method and apparatus to account for transponder tagged objects used during clinical procedures employing a shielded receptacle with antenna > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,770,178 B2 - Document ID: US10770178B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/316,979 - Filed: 2017-07-07 - Published: 2019-10-03 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-11 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Bryan Hansen; Jeffrey Jensen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770178B2 ## CPC - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G16H 40/63: for local operation - A61B 42/10: Surgical gloves - A61B 46/00: Surgical drapes - A61B 50/13: Trolleys{, e.g. carts} - A61B 50/33: Trays - A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders - A61F 15/00: Auxiliary appliances for wound dressings; Dispensing containers for dressings or bandages {(packaging of wound dressings A61F13/00072)} - G06K 7/10356: {using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas} - G06K 7/10396: {the interrogation device being wearable, e.g. as a glove, bracelet, or ring (wearable aerials in general H01Q1/27)} - G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs} - G16H 20/40: relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture - 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) - A61B 90/90: Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags - A61B 2017/00221: {with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves} - A61B 2017/00442: {connectable to wrist or forearm} - A61B 2018/00988: {Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter} - A61B 2050/005: {with a lid or cover} - A61B 2050/0056: {about a lateral axis in the lid plane} - A61B 2090/0805: {automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors} - A61B 2090/0818: {Redundant systems, e.g. using two independent measuring systems and comparing the signals} - G08B 21/0275: {Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID} - G08B 21/24: Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms - H01Q 1/2216: {used in interrogator/reader equipment} - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract Medical procedure related objects (e.g., instruments, supplies) tagged with transponders (e.g., RFID transponders, dumb transponders) are accounted for in a medical or clinical environment via an accounting system using a number of antennas and interrogators/readers. A first set of antennas and RFID interrogator(s) interrogate portions of the environment for RFID tagged objects, for example proximate a start and an end of a procedure. Shielded packaging and/or shielded receptacles shield tagged objects, preventing interrogation except for those objects in unshielded portions of the environment. A shielded receptacle may include an antenna to interrogate the contents thereof in a relatively noise-free environment. A data store may maintain information including a current status or count of each instrument or supply, for instance as checked in or checked out. A handheld antenna and/or second set of antennas interrogates a body of a patient for retained instruments or supplies tagged with dumb transponders. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for use in clinical environments, the apparatus comprising: at least one shielded receptacle, the at least one shielded receptacle having an interior, a port that provides access to the interior from an exterior of the shielded receptacle, and at least one shield that shields the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle and any wireless communications transponders in the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle from at least one of radio or microwave frequency energy emitted externally from the at least one shielded receptacle at least when the port is in a closed configuration; a cover operatively associated with the at least one shielded receptacle, wherein the cover is: positionable on the port to place the at least one shielded receptacle in the closed configuration; and removable from the port to place the at least one shielded receptacle in an open configuration; and at least one receptacle radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator, the at least one RFID interrogator communicatively coupled to: a first set of antennas supported on an inner surface of the cover, the first set of antennas positioned and oriented to provide coverage for at least a portion of the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle, wherein the first set of antennas is configured to emit at least one of radio or microwave frequency energy interrogation signals; and a second set of antennas supported on the exterior of the shielded receptacle, the second set of antennas positioned and oriented to detect response signals originating from any wireless communications transponders contained within the interior of the shielded receptacle, wherein the at least one RFID interrogator, via the second set of antennas, is configured to generate an alert indicating that transponders contained within the interior of the shielded receptacle are not completely shielded. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one shielded receptacle is selectively configurable between the closed configuration and the open configuration, wherein in the open configuration the port provides physical access to the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle from an exterior thereof and in the closed configuration the port prevents physical access to the interior of the shielded receptacle from the exterior thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first set of antennas is positioned and oriented to provide coverage of an entirety of the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle and all wireless communications transponders in the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first set of antennas is positioned and oriented to provide coverage of the port of the at least one shielded receptacle and any wireless communications transponders passing through the port to the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein, in the open configuration, the port is sized and dimensioned to receive pieces of disposable gauze, each piece of disposable gauze tagged with a respective radio frequency identification (RFID) wireless communications transponder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receptacle RFID interrogator, comprises: at least one processor, the at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one interrogator; and at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium that stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, execution of which causes the at least one processor to: proximate an end of a clinical procedure, determine whether the first set of antennas detected any response signals from any wireless transponders in the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receptacle RFID interrogator, comprises: at least one processor, the at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one interrogator; and at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium that stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, execution of which causes the at least one processor to: proximate an end of a clinical procedure, determine a respective identity of any wireless transponders in the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle that emit response signals that are detected via the first set of antennas. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receptacle RFID interrogator, comprises: at least one processor, the at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one interrogator; and at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium that stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, execution of which causes the at least one processor to: proximate a start of a clinical procedure, determine a respective identity of any wireless transponders in the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle that emit response signals that are detected via the first set of antennas. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receptacle RFID interrogator, comprises: at least one processor, the at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one interrogator; and at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium that stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, execution of which causes the at least one processor to: proximate a start of a clinical procedure, determine a respective identity of any wireless transponders in the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle that emit response signals that are detected via the first set of antennas; proximate an end of the clinical procedure, determine a respective identity of any wireless transponders in the interior of at least one the shielded receptacle that emit response signals that are detected via the first set of antennas; compare the identities of the wireless transponders identified proximate the end of the clinical procedure to the identities of the wireless transponders identified proximate the start of the clinical procedure; and causing an alert to be provided in response to existence of a discrepancy between the identities of the wireless transponders identified proximate the end of the clinical procedure to the identities of the wireless transponders identified proximate the start of the clinical procedure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one processor, the at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one interrogator; and at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and which stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, execution of which causes the at least one processor to: in response to a closure of the at least one shielded receptacle perform an interrogation of any wireless transponders in the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one processor, the at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one interrogator; and at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and which stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, execution of which causes the at least one processor to: in response to a closure of the at least one shielded receptacle determine whether there is any communications between the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle and an exterior thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein in order to determine whether there is any communications between the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle and an exterior thereof the at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, execution of cause the at least one processor to: cause a signal to be emitted in the exterior of the at least one shielded receptacle, and determine whether the signal is detected in the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein in order to determine whether there is any communications between the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle and an exterior thereof the at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, execution of cause the at least one processor to: cause a signal to be emitted in the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle, and determine whether the signal is detected in the exterior of the at least one shielded receptacle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein in response to a determination that there is no communications between the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle and an exterior thereof the at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, execution of cause the at least one processor to: perform an interrogation of any wireless transponders in the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein in response to a closure of the at least one shielded receptacle, the instructions cause the at least one processor to causes the cover to the at least one shielded receptacle to lock in the closed configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15 wherein in response to a successful interrogation of the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle, the instructions cause the at least one processor to cause the cover to the at least one shielded receptacle to unlock. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15 wherein in response to a successful interrogation of the interior of the at least one shielded receptacle, the instructions cause the at least one processor to cause the cover to the at least one shielded receptacle to autonomously move into the open configuration.