Allied Corporation

Other

Identitech

Philip M Anderson, Iii

Carl E Fabian

Jeffrey C Urbanski

Ronald K Reich

James E Kearney

Hector Irizarry

Richard C Ujazdowski

Gordon Edward Fish

Gerald R Bretts

John J Torre

Donald Raskin

Ryusuke Hasegawa

John William Curran

Robert M VonHoene

Michael Suchomel

Scott E Gordon

Surgical implements used during an operating procedure are detected in human or animal tissue. Markers attached to the surgical implements change their impedance at a preselected frequency in the presence of an electromagnetic field. Each of the markers is thereby provided with signal-identifying characteristics. The signal-identifying characteristics are detected by a freely movable, portable detection unit from a first location proximate the patient in an accurate, reliable manner. Potential cross-interference with operating room electronic instrumentation is minimized by shielding. System cost and space requirements are substantially lowered. An accidentally retained surgical implement is discovered in a timely manner, prior to completion of surgery and before the patient has been removed from the operating room. The portable detection unit is adapted to be transported to a second location from which the potential cross-interference between the electrical or magnetic fields generated during operation of the detector and the electronics deployed during the surgery is minimized. The patient is interrogated after closure of the wound by being subjected to an interrogating field generated by the surgical implement detector at the second location. Visible and/or audible signals from the detector signify accidental retention of a surgical implement before the patient awakes.

Portable surgical implement detector

Surgical implements used during an operating procedure are detected in human tissue. Markers attached to the surgical implements change their impedance at a preselected frequency in the presence of an electromagnetic field. Each of the markers is thereby provided with signal-identifying characteristics. The signal-identifying characteristics are detected outside the operating room in an accurate, reliable manner. Potential interference with operating room electronic instrumentation is avoided, the possibility of operator error is reduced and system cost and space requirements are substantially lowered.

Surgical implement detection system

Externally detectable electronic article surveillance markers are attached to surgical implements, such as sponges and surgical instruments, appointed for use in a surgical wound. The attachment mechanism facilitates detection by an external interrogating field before the wound has been closed and the patient has left the operating table. The markers are responsive to the imposition of an interrogating field produced by an electronic article surveillance system. Markers contain one or more magnetomechanically responsive elements that are urged into mechanical resonance by the interrogating field. The ring-down of the resonance and the associated dipolar electromagnetic field provide a signal-identifying characteristic detected by a detection system. Upon detection, an audible or visible signal is triggered to alert relevant medical personnel to the need for follow-up care and removal of the offending item. The resonance occurs at a frequency ranging from about 70 to 300 kHz. Misadventures during operative procedures&#x2014;especially those wherein implements remain undiscovered at the time of surgery and are retained indefinitely within the surgical cavity, often entailing dire consequences to the patient&#x2014;are virtually eliminated. The attachment mechanism and markers assure that surgical implements are reliably detected and removed before completion of the surgical procedure.

Miniature magnetomechanical tag for detecting surgical sponges and implements

A miniature magnetic article surveillance system marker is adapted, when armed, to resonate at a frequency provided by an incident magnetic field applied within an interrogation zone. The marker comprises a magnetomechanical element having at least one elongated ductile strip of magnetostrictive ferromagnetic material disposed adjacent to a ferromagnetic element which, upon being magnetized, magnetically biases the strip and arms it to resonate at said frequency. A substantial change in effective magnetic permeability of the marker at the resonant frequency provides the marker with signal identity.

Miniature magnetomechanical marker for electronic article surveillance system

An apparatus monitors the departure of a child from an exit. The apparatus comprises: a magnetomechanically actuated electronic article surveillance system having an alarm; and a tag worn by the child. A field generating means of the system is adapted to generate an electromagnetic field at the exit. The tag is operative in the presence of the electromagnetic field to transmit a signal, which upon being detected, triggers the alarm. When the child passes through the electromagnetic field and departs from the exit, the tag transmits a signal that activates the alarm, thereby providing information to relatives of the child and store personnel concerning the child's whereabouts.

Child monitoring device

An apparatus monitors the movement of a person through an exit. The apparatus comprises an electronic article surveillance system adapted to generate an electromagnetic field at the exit and a tag worn by the person. The tag is responsive to the electromagnetic field. It is caused to alarm upon departure of the person from the exit. The tag is further provided with an alarm means for alarming the electronic article surveillance system.

Monitoring device adapted for use with an electronic article surveillance system

A license plate number for any vehicle extant within a field of view of an electronic camera is interpreted as a character sequence group in an image. Each character sequence group found in the image is converted to machine readable format by an optical character recognition engine and compared with a database having a plurality of license plate numbers and associated records. Each matching license plate number and associated record is displayed within the surveillance vehicle.

License plate surveillance system

An apparatus monitors the departure of a child from an exit. The apparatus comprises: an electronic article surveillance system adapted to generate an electromagnetic field at the exit; and a tag worn by the child, the tag being responsive to the electromagnetic field. The tag is caused to alarm upon departure of the child from the exit. Optionally, the tag is provided with an alarm means for alarming the electronic article surveillance system.

Child monitoring device adapted for use with an electronic surveillance system

Torque on a rotating or stationary shaft is measured by an apparatus that includes a light source for emitting light along a light path; a reflection grating fixed to the shaft along the light path reflecting and diffracting the light; and a light detector having a plurality of light detecting elements for receiving the reflected and diffracted light. Torque on the shaft produces a change in the grating spacing of the grating, which in turn produces a change of diffraction angle of the reflected light, thereby causing a different element of the light detector to receive the light.

Optical torque sensor utilizing change in reflectance grating line

Torque in a rotating or stationary shaft is measured by apparatus that includes: a light source for emitting light along a light path; a light detector for receiving the light; a first polarizing filter comprising a single polarizing area and having a first axis-of-polarization attached at a first point along the shaft within the light path and between the light source and the light detector; and a second polarizing filter comprising a single polarizing area and having a second axis-of-polarization, attached at a second point along the shaft and within the light path and between the light source and the light detector. Twist in the shaft produces a change in angle between the first and the second axis-of-polarization, which change in angle produces a change in intensity of the light.

Optical torque sensor utilizing single polarizing area filters and

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for accurately and reliably detecting surgical implements within animal or human tissue. The apparatus comprises a detector responsive to the presence, within a wound, of a surgical implement to which a marker is secured. The marker is adapted to produce identifying acoustic signal characteristics within the wound.

Surgical implement detector utilizing an acoustic marker

An apparatus for detecting a surgical implement in human or animal tissue has structure for defining a transmitting zone encompassing a surgical wound in the tissue. A battery powered marker is secured to a surgical implement positioned within the wound. Field generating structure is provided for generating within the transmitting zone an electromagnetic field having a predetermined frequency band. A signal generator generates a signal having a predetermined frequency band. The signal generator is operative to cause the field generating structure to generate the electromagnetic field, providing the marker with signal identity. A detector having an antenna located within the transmitting zone of the marker detects the marker signal irrespective of the marker's orientation therewithin.

Surgical implement detector utilizing a powered marker

An apparatus for detecting a surgical implement in human or animal tissue comprises a battery powdered marker. The marker is secured to the surgical implement and positioned within a surgical wound. A detection means has an antenna disposed in close proximity of the tissue. Means are provided for capacitance coupling of both the marker and the antenna to the tissue. A field generating means generates an electromagnetic field having a predetermined frequency band within the tissue and a signal generating means generates a signal having a predetermined frequency band ranging from about 10 MHz to 1 GHz. The signal generated by the signal generating means causes the field generating means to generate the electromagnetic field providing the marker with signal identity.

Surgical implement detector utilizing capacitive coupling

An apparatus for detecting a surgical implement in human or animal tissue has means for defining a transmitting zone encompassing a surgical wound in the tissue. A battery powered marker is secured to a surgical implement positioned within the wound. Field generating means are provided for generating within the transmitting zone an electromagnetic field having a predetermined frequency band. A signal generating means generates a signal having a predetermined frequency band. The signal generating means is operative to cause the field generating means to generate the electromagnetic field, providing the marker with signal identity. A detecting means having an antenna located within the transmitting zone of the marker detects the marker signal irrespective of the marker's orientation therewithin.

An apparatus for detecting a surgical implement in human or animal tissue comprises a battery powered marker. The marker is secured to the surgical implement and positioned within a surgical wound. A detection means has an antenna disposed in close proximity of the tissue. Means are provided for capacitance coupling of both the marker and the antenna to the tissue. A field generating means generates an electromagnetic field having a predetermined frequency band within the tissue and a signal generating means generates a signal having a predetermined frequency band ranging from about 10 MHz to 1 GHz. The signal generated by the signal generating means causes the field generating means to generate the electromagnetic field providing the marker with signal identity.

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Madison, NJ, United States of America

Philip M Anderson, Iii