Systems and methods for localizing retained surgical items combining rfid tags and computer vision

Abstract

An inventory system configured for detecting and counting potentially retained surgical items within a body of a patient includes an RFID tag configured to transmit a return signal at a frequency when energized, a signal generator configured to generate an energizing signal for the RFID tag, an antenna operably coupled to the signal generator, the antenna configured to receive a return signal transmitted by the RFID tag, an imaging device configured to capture an image, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor cause the system to energize the RFID tag, receive the return signal from the antenna, receive the image of the area including the portion of the body of the patient from the imaging device, and determine a spatial location of the RFID tag.