The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Patent No.:

US 10770178 B1

Date of Patent:

Sep. 08, 2020

Filed:

Jul. 07, 2017

Method and apparatus to account for transponder tagged objects used during clinical procedures employing a shielded receptacle with antenna

Applicant:

Covidien Lp, Mansfield, MA (US);

Inventors:

Bryan Hansen, Galway, IE;

Jeffrey Jensen, Boulder, CO (US);

Assignee:

Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US);

Attorney:

Primary Examiner:

Tuyen K Vo

Int. Cl.

CPC ...

G06Q 30/00 (2012.01); G06Q 90/00 (2006.01); G16H 40/20 (2018.01); A61B 90/98 (2016.01); A61F 15/00 (2006.01); G06K 19/07 (2006.01); A61B 46/00 (2016.01); G06K 7/10 (2006.01); A61B 50/33 (2016.01); A61B 42/10 (2016.01); A61B 50/13 (2016.01); G08B 21/02 (2006.01); G08B 21/24 (2006.01); H01Q 1/22 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 50/30 (2016.01); A61B 50/00 (2016.01);

U.S. Cl.

CPC ...

G16H 40/20 (2018.01); A61B 42/10 (2016.02); A61B 46/00 (2016.02); A61B 50/13 (2016.02); A61B 50/33 (2016.02); A61B 90/98 (2016.02); A61F 15/00 (2013.01); G06K 7/10356 (2013.01); G06K 7/10396 (2013.01); G06K 19/0723 (2013.01); A61B 50/30 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00442 (2013.01); A61B 2050/005 (2016.02); A61B 2050/0056 (2016.02); G08B 21/0275 (2013.01); G08B 21/24 (2013.01); H01Q 1/2216 (2013.01);

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.

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