Patent ID: 7180014
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: G06Q,G16H

Abstract:
1. A method for automated tracking and identification of surgical instruments in a surgical room environment comprising: f. Measuring the weight of individual surgical instruments belonging to a complete standardized surgical instrument set prior to sterilization by placing on a scale each said surgical instrument one at a time according to a prompt; g. Storing the weights of the individual surgical instrument in a computer data file; h. Assigning a serial number to the complete standardized surgical instrument set for allowing retrieval of information regarding instrument weights during an operation; i. Automatically verifying set completeness during set assembly by the automatic counting and comparing of weights of measured pieces with nominal weights of this particular type of individual surgical instrument stored in a database; j. If a mismatch occurs, then interactively pointing to potentially missing parts identified from said database, wherein said mismatch is identified by; f. Placing a restriction that the weight of instruments of the same type cannot differ by more than two times (ratio between minimum and maximum weights of the same type instruments) to prevent rounding off error in any subsequent identification routine; g. Identifying an instrument quantity to instruct the user on the specific quantity of the individual surgical instrument needed in each complete standardized surgical instrument set; h Spreading individual surgical instruments on a platform divided into segments, with the individual surgical instrument of the same type being placed within the same segments and the platform weighed by a scale; i Viewing said segmented platform by a video camera connected to a computer equipped with an image processing application; j Placing upon a user an identifying indicia with a specific shape imprint on it with a color or imprint specifically chosen to differentiate it from the background; k During removal of a surgical instrument, identifying a weight change above a specified level while signaling the computer equipped with said image processing application the position of the identifying indicia relative to the segmented platform during said weight change; l Acquiring, by said computer equipped with an image processing application, a weight differential prior and after placement or withdrawal of the individual surgical instrument such as to be able to identify which instrument was removed from said platform; wherein by adding up the weight of unused and used instruments and comparing it with the initial weight, verification of set completeness can be done in a single step.