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.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 28, 2026
Filed:
May. 11, 2022
Covidien Lp, Mansfield, MA (US);
Jason M. Mucilli, Lakewood, CO (US);
Edward L. Brannan, Erie, CO (US);
Richard L. Croft, Mead, CO (US);
Jennifer M. Layton, Broomfield, CO (US);
Benjamin J. Noe, Erie, CO (US);
Anthony V. Locatelli, Longmont, CO (US);
Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US);
Abstract
An inventory system configured for reducing variability in detecting and counting surgical items includes an RFID tag affixed to a surgical item, a signal generator configured to generate an energizing signal for the RFID tag, an antenna operably coupled to the signal generator, a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a spatial parameter of the antenna when scanning for the RFID tag, a processor, and a memory. The RFID tag is configured to transmit a return signal when energized. The antenna is configured to receive the return signal transmitted by the RFID tag. The memory includes instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor cause the system to scan for the RFID tag by the antenna, sense the signal over a period of time, and provide an indication that the spatial parameter of the antenna over time meets a predetermined rule.