US 12,433,711 B2
Inventory systems and methods for detecting and counting potentially retained surgical items
Donald W. Heckel, Thornton, CO (US); and Edward L. Brannan, Erie, CO (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Appl. No. 18/558,453
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 25, 2022, PCT No. PCT/IB2022/053823
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 1, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/234391, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 10, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/183,092, filed on May 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0216102 A1, Jul. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 90/98 (2016.01); G06K 7/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 90/08 (2016.02) [A61B 90/98 (2016.02); G06K 7/10366 (2013.01); A61B 2090/0804 (2016.02)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inventory system configured for detecting and counting potentially retained surgical items within a body of a patient, the inventory system comprising:
a first RFID tag affixed to a secure package and configured to transmit a first return signal when energized; and
a surgical item configured to be removed from the secure package, the surgical item including a second RFID tag affixed to the surgical item, the second RFID configured to transmit a second return signal when energized; and
a signal generator configured to generate an energizing signal for at least one of the first RFID tag or the second RFID tag;
a processor; and
a memory, including instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor cause the system to:
energize the first RFID tag;
receive the first return signal, the first return signal including a first unique identifier of the first RFID tag; and
generate a first key based on the first unique identifier and a master private key stored on the memory,
wherein an encrypted data-block is embedded in the second RFID tag, the encrypted data-block containing the first unique identifier of the first RFID tag.