Abstract:
An apparatus for metal detection is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing having a first end portion sized and adapted for holding by a user and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, wherein the second end portion includes a centrally located aperture, a detection coil within the second end portion, and a detection circuit connected to the detection coil, the detection circuit and detection coil being configured to detect the presence of an element proximate to the second end portion.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to implants, and more particularly to detecting visually hidden or masked items within a patient during surgery. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0003]    There are certain situations in which it may be necessary or desirable to locate a metallic or nonmetallic object or mechanical fastener or other object within the body. For example, many surgical procedures require the temporary implantation of mechanical fasteners such as screws, pins, metal wires, staples, etc. that subsequently must be removed. Implanted screws can require removal due to complications like pain, infection, ineffectiveness, repair or replacement. There are also situations in which it is desirable to remove a fastener after a bone or other structure has healed. Aside from fasteners and other objects that are deliberately implanted, metallic objects—like bullets, shrapnel, and other shards of metal—sometimes make their way into the body and require removal. Many surgical tools and instruments such as clips, clamps, retractors, forceps used during surgery can be misplaced during surgeries and particularly during emergency surgeries requiring time-critical actions. 
         [0004]    The position of the fastener, surgical tools, or other metallic or nonmetallic object may be difficult to immediately identify visually during surgery, as they may be obscured by blood or body tissues. Accordingly, there is a need for a handheld object detection device for use during surgery to identify foreign objects within the patient and to allow a surgeon or user of the device to accurately mark a location associated with the detecting on a patient&#39;s surface. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    An apparatus for metal and/or nonmetallic detection is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing having a first end portion sized and adapted for holding by a user and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, wherein the second end portion includes a centrally located aperture, a detection coil within the second end portion, and a detection circuit connected to the detection coil, the detection circuit and detection coil being configured to detect the presence of an element proximate to the second end portion. 
         [0006]    This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  schematically shows an exemplary detection system, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the detection device, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the detection device, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the detection device, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the detection device taken along line A-A of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the detection device, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  schematically shows the detection device, in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  shows a process for detecting and removing an object during a medical procedure, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take at least the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context dictates otherwise. The meanings identified below do not necessarily limit the terms, but merely provide illustrative examples for the terms. The meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, and the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” The phrase “in one embodiment,” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Similarly, the phrase “in some embodiments,” as used herein, when used multiple times, does not necessarily refer to the same embodiments, although it may. As used herein, the term “or” is an inclusive “or” operator, and is equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “based upon” is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “exemplary” used throughout this description means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other exemplary embodiments. 
         [0017]    Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention. 
         [0018]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein the depictions are for the purpose of illustrating certain exemplary embodiments only and not for the purpose of limiting the same,  FIG. 1  schematically shows an exemplary detection system  10  that may help implement the surgical metal detection apparatus methodologies of the present disclosure. The system  10  includes a computing device  18 , a server system  16 , a network  14 , and a detection device  12 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the computing device  18  may be directly communicatively connected to the detection device  12  via the network  14  and/or directly communicatively connected to the detection device  12 . The server system  16  may be directly communicatively connected to the computing device  18  and the detection device  12  via the network  14 . The detection device  12  may be physically connected to the network  14  or the computing device  18  during selected periods of operation without departing from the teachings herein. Components of the system  10  are shown in  FIG. 1  as single objects. Such illustration is for ease of description and it should be recognized that the system  10  may include multiple additional mobile and computing devices. 
         [0019]    The network  14  may be any suitable series of points or nodes interconnected by communication paths. The network  14  may be interconnected with other networks and contain sub networks network such as, for example, a publicly accessible distributed network like the Internet or other telecommunications networks (e.g., intranets, virtual nets, overlay networks and the like). The network  14  may facilitate the exchange of data between and among the detection device  12 , the computing device  18 , and the server system  16  although in various embodiments the detection device  12  may be directly connected to the computing device  18 . 
         [0020]    The computing device  18  and the server system  16  may each be: various embodiments of a computer including high-speed microcomputers, minicomputers, mainframes, and/or data storage devices. The server system  16  preferably executes database functions including storing and maintaining a database and processes requests from the detection device  12  and the computing device  18  to extract data from, or update, a database as described herein below. The server  16  may additionally provide processing functions for the detection device  12  and the computing device  18  as will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a careful reading of the teachings herein. 
         [0021]    In addition, the detection device  12  may include one or more applications that the user may operate. Operation may include downloading, installing, turning on, unlocking, activating, or otherwise using the application. The application may comprise at least one of an algorithm, software, computer code, and/or the like, for example, mobile application software. In the alternative, the application may be a website accessible through the world wide web. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 2-6  depict various views of the detection device  12 . As  FIGS. 2-6  show, the device  12  includes a handle  13  and a planar-shaped detection portion  14 . In one embodiment, the handle  13  is ergonomically-shaped. The device  12  includes an ON/OFF switch  16 , a first lighting device  18  configured to indicate an ON/OFF operating state, and a plurality of exemplary lighting devices  20 ,  21 ,  22 , and  23  configured to indicate to a user detection of a foreign object. One skilled in the art will readily acknowledge that one or more types of lighting devices may be incorporated into the device  12  including light emitting diodes and electroluminescent wire. 
         [0023]    The device  12  is equipped with an inductance-to-digital converter  40  that measures parallel impedance of an LC resonator  42  located in the detection portion  14 . In this way, the device  12  detects objects by receiving energy and not providing energy into a patient that may interfere with embedded medical devices. The planar-shaped portion  14  further includes an aperture  30  from which a medical professional may mark through the device upon detecting a foreign object. For example, an indication may be made to the user such as via the lighting devices  20 - 23 , an audio signal or a display that a foreign object is below the portion  14  of the device  12 . The detected indication of a foreign object is weaker at some areas that others, e.g., it is stronger when in close proximity and weaker further away. Upon making a determination that the detected indication is stronger at a particular point, the user may hold the device in that position, insert a pen or marker through the aperture  30  and make a mark on the patient or bandage indicating the area where the foreign object is detected. 
         [0024]      FIG. 7  schematically show an exemplary detection device  12 . As  FIG. 7  shows, the device  12  includes an inductance-to-digital converter  40  that measures the parallel impedance of an LC resonator  42 . In one embodiment, the LC resonator  42  may be housed within the planar-shaped portion  14  as shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . An inductance-to-digital module  44  measure the parallel impedance of the LC resonator  42  by regulating the oscillation amplitude in a closed-loop configuration to a constant level, while monitoring the energy dissipated by the LC resonator  42 . In one embodiment, a threshold detector  46  provides a comparator of the inductance-to-digital module  44  with hysteresis functionality. The inductance-to-digital module  44  may then compare measurements using the threshold detector  46  and a proximity data register  48 . In various embodiments, an input/output circuitry  52  for connecting peripheral devices such as the lighting devices  20 ,  21 ,  22 , and  23  and the switch  16  may be used. A battery or power source  54  is preferably connected to the device  12 . In various embodiments, the battery  54  may be connected via the switch  16 . The battery may be directly connected to the lighting devices  20 ,  21 ,  22 , and  23  and/or through the input/output circuitry  52 . 
         [0025]    In various embodiments, the device  12  may utilize beat frequency oscillation (BFO), Very low frequency (VLF), Pulse induction (PI), dielectric capacitance and/or ultra sound technology and/or single transistor RF pulse circuit, and/or induction balance, and/or, balanced coils, or any combination of these technologies. In operation, the user activates the device  12  with a push button  16 , the user physically moves the handheld device  12  over the skin or open surgical field. As the signal strength changes an audible and/or visual indicator, e.g., from the lighting devices  20 - 23  will alert or otherwise indicate to the user nearing the location of presence of the foreign material. 
         [0026]      FIG. 8  shows a process  100  for detecting and removing an object during a medical procedure. The process begins at step  102  wherein a surgeon or medical professional moves the device  12  over a patient&#39;s body including an area of operation. At step  104 , upon detecting an object proximate to or within a patient, the device  12  provides an indication. The indication may be made to the user using one or more of the lighting devices  20 - 23 , using a speaker, or tactile device. In various embodiments, the aperture  30  of the device  12  is the point at which the detection is indicated. Hence, at step  106 , a user should insert a marker or other marking device through the aperture  30  of the device  12  at the location indicated by the device  12 . At step  108 , the user marks a physical indication on a surface associated with the location on the patient or surface material, e.g., bandage, associated with the indicated location. At step  110 , the surgeon removes the metal detection device at the marked location. 
         [0027]    The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications thereto. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.