Sterilizable wirelessly detectable objects for use in medical procedures and methods of making same
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorWilliam A. Blair
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments of wirelessly detectable objects to be used in medical procedures are provided. Such may employ ionizing radiation hard wireless radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders, other wireless transponders and/or integrated circuits, and attachment structures, all of which retain structural and functional integrity when exposed to standard sterilization dosages of ionizing radiation. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders, other wireless transponders and/or integrated circuits, and attachment structures, may retain structural and functional integrity when exposed to standard sterilization temperatures and/or pressures.
Claims20
A wirelessly detectable object to use in medical procedures, comprising:
- a medical procedure object for use in performing a medical procedure, wherein the medical procedure object includes a pair of outer-most fold portions and at least two inner fold portions, the inner fold portions spaced inwardly from and between the outer-most fold portions;
- a first piece of radio-opaque material extending along a width of one of the at least two inner fold portions of the medical procedure object;
- a second piece of radio-opaque material extending along a width of the same one of the at least two inner fold portions of the medical procedure object;
- a transponder that wirelessly receives a first interrogation signal and in response wirelessly returns a first response signal that provides a unique identifier;
- an attachment structure that attaches the transponder to the medical procedure object;
- and
- a directional antenna attached to the medical procedure object.
A wirelessly detectable object to use in medical procedures, comprising:
- a medical procedure object for use in performing a medical procedure, wherein the medical procedure object includes a pair of outer-most fold portions and at least two inner fold portions, the inner fold portions spaced inwardly from and between the outer-most fold portions;
- a first piece of radio-opaque material extending along a width of the medical procedure object;
- a first radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder configured to wirelessly receive a first interrogation signal and in response wirelessly return a first response signal that provides a unique identifier;
- a second RFID transponder configured to wirelessly receive a second interrogation signal different from the first interrogation signal;
- an attachment structure that attaches the first RFID transponder to the medical procedure object, the attachment structure including a pouch, wherein one of the first RFID transponder or the second RFID transponder includes a directional antenna disposed within the pouch;
- and
- a second piece of radio-opaque material extending along the width of the medical procedure object and spaced from the first piece of radio-opaque material, wherein the first and the second pieces of radio-opaque material are both carried by a same one of the at least two inner fold portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.