US 12,251,171 B2
Surgical item detection system for in vivo foreign object detection by magnetic flux leakage
Edwin M. Maynard, Frederick, CO (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/966,101.
Prior Publication US 2024/0122652 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 34/20 (2016.01); A61B 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 34/20 (2016.02) [A61B 5/062 (2013.01); A61B 2034/2051 (2016.02)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A detection system for detection of a surgical implement within a body of a patient, the detection system comprising:
a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field;
a tunneling magneto-resistive sensor configured to sense a distortion in the magnetic field in response to an approximation of the sensor to the surgical implement;
a processor; and
a memory including instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
generate a transient magnetic field;
induce a residual magnetic field on the surgical implement in response to the transient magnetic field; and
sense by the sensor the residual magnetic field of the surgical implement.