Covidien LP

Patricia Black

David A Poirier

An apparatus for use in clinical environments. The apparatus includes a trocar, having a cannula with a proximal end and a distal end. The cannula defines a lumen therethrough that extends from the proximal end to the distal end. A proximal port at the proximal end provides access to an interior of the lumen from an exterior of the cannula. Further, a distal port at the distal end provides access to the interior of the lumen from the exterior of the cannula. At least one trocar antenna is physically coupled to the trocar and is positioned and oriented to provide wireless communications coverage to at least a portion of an interior of the lumen and to any wireless communications transponders that pass through the lumen of the cannula.

Method and apparatus to account for transponder tagged objects used during clinical procedures, employing a trocar

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. A cannula of a trocar may include one or more trocar antennas positioned and oriented to integrate tapped objects that pass through a lumen of the cannula. Shielded packaging and/or shielded receptacles shield tagged objects, preventing interrogation except for those objects in unshielded portions of the 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.

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.

Method and apparatus to account for transponder tagged objects used during clinical procedures, for example including count in and/or count out and presence detection

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Louisville, CO, United States of America

Patricia Black