Method and apparatus to account for transponder tagged objects used during medical procedures

摘要

Medical procedure related objects (e.g., instruments, supplies) tagged with transponders may be accounted for in a medical procedure environment via a medical object accounting system using a number of antennas, and optional readers. A first set of antennas may be configured to interrogate sterile fields and/or non-sterile fields which do not encompass a body of a patient to account for the objects proximate a start and an end of a medical procedure. Sterile fields may encompass working surfaces of tables and stands, typically used by nurses. Readers (e.g., symbol, RFID) may be employed. A database may be maintained with information including a current status of each instrument or supply, for instance as checked in or checked out. On notification of a discrepancy, a handheld antenna and/or second set of antennas may interrogate a volume encompassing a body of a patient for retained instruments or supplies. The system may be automatically configured (e.g., loading appropriate software) on communicative coupling of a device (e.g., antenna, reader, peripheral device).

主权项

1. A method of accounting for medical procedure objects, the method comprising:
at least proximate a start of a medical procedure on a patient, automatically detecting each of a number of medical procedure objects for performing the medical procedure within at least one sterile field using at least one sterile field antenna that is carried by at least a portion of a surface proximate the at least one sterile field, fixed with respect to the at least one sterile field, and having a detection range coextensive with the at least one sterile field, and which at least one sterile field is at least proximate to the patient but which at least one sterile field does not encompass any portion of a body of the patient; each time one of the medical procedure objects is removed from the at least one sterile field, identifying the removed medical procedure object as checked out in a database; and each time the medical procedure object is returned to the at least one sterile field or to a non-sterile field, identifying the returned medical procedure object as checked-in in the database; automatically detecting a first medical procedure object of the number of medical procedure objects within the non-sterile field using at least one non-sterile field antenna that is carried proximate the non-sterile field and that has a detection range coextensive with the non-sterile field, wherein the non-sterile field does not encompass any portion of the body of the patient; after detecting the first medical procedure object within the non-sterile field, automatically detecting the first medical procedure object within the at least one sterile field using the at least one sterile field antenna; in response to detecting the first medical procedure object within the at least one sterile field after detecting the first medical procedure object within the non-sterile field, providing an indication that the first medical procedure object has been returned to the at least one sterile field after being present in the non-sterile field; and at least proximate an end of the medical procedure on the patient, automatically determining whether each of the number of medical procedure objects detected within the at least one sterile field at least proximate the start of the medical procedure are present in at least one of either the at least one sterile field or at least one non-sterile field, neither of which the at least one sterile field and the at least one non-sterile field encompass any portion of the body of the patient.