Method and apparatus for embedding a transmitter into a tool, and a system for monitoring the tool

1. An apparatus comprising:

a surgical tool having a slot, the tool being composed of an electrical conductor, the slot being formed in an outer wall of a conductive portion of the tool; and

a transmitter comprising an antenna, the antenna being offset from the tool, the transmitter being positioned within the slot, the transmitter being coupled to the conductive portion of the tool by a conductive material, and the transmitter being covered with a protective material, wherein the tool is adapted to operate as an electrical ground.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical conductor is composed of metal, titanium, and/or surgical stainless steel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductive material is one of solder or a conductive epoxy.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protective material is non-conductive and comprises at least one of epoxy, silicone, plastic, or rubber.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is adapted to radiate a wireless signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit the wireless signal after receiving a radio frequency signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter comprises a memory, the memory being adapted to store a unique identification number.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the slot laterally extends through the tool.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tool further comprises:

a bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall bounds the slot.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is adapted to wirelessly communicate with a computing device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a circuit board comprising a pin, wherein the transmitter is coupled to the circuit board.

13. A method comprising:

forming a slot in an outer wall of a conductive portion of a surgical tool, the tool being composed of an electrical conductor;

positioning a transmitter within the slot, the transmitter comprising an antenna;

affixing the transmitter to the conductive portion of the tool with a conductive material; and

covering the transmitter with a protective material, wherein the antenna is offset from the tool.

14. A system comprising:

an access point;

a surgical tool being composed of an electrical conductor and having a slot, the slot being formed in an outer wall of a conductive portion of the tool; and

a transmitter comprising an antenna, the antenna being offset from the tool, the transmitter being positioned within the slot, the transmitter being coupled to the conductive portion of the tool by a conductive material, and the transmitter being covered with a protective material.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the transmitter is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the access point.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit a wireless signal after receiving a radio frequency signal generated by the access point.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the transmitter further comprises:

a memory, wherein the radio frequency signal contains update information writeable to the memory.

18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

a server, wherein the access point receives the wireless signal and the server receives extraction data based on the wireless signal from the access point across a network.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the server is adapted to transmit update data across the network to the access point.

20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the access point is adapted to transmit the update data to the transmitter.