Method and equipment for automated tracking and identification of nonuniform items
US7180014B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 2004 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG16H40/20
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus comprising of a segmented instrument tray, precision scale, image processing system, photoelectric sensors and a Personal Computer (PC) is disclosed. Said apparatus provides an automated and accurate tracking of surgical instruments used during surgical operating procedure by counting and identifying a specific quantity and instrument type, which are removed from a sterilized instrument tray to be used during the procedure and subsequently returned to the tray upon procedure completion, thus preventing an accidental leaving of an instrument inside of a patient and significantly reducing time spent by the operation staff for the instrument accounting.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.