Wirelessly detectable objects for use in medical procedures and methods of making same

1. A wirelessly detectable object for use in medical procedures, comprising:

a piece of absorbent material;

a transponder to wirelessly receive and transmit signals, the transponder comprising an environmental encapsulant;

a pouch that contains the transponder, the pouch comprising a fabric laminate and a film, the piece of absorbent material positioned between at least a portion of the fabric laminate and at least a portion of the film; and

a radio frequency (RF) weld that attaches the fabric laminate to the film and thereby secures the pouch to the piece of absorbent material.

2. The wirelessly detectable object of claim 1 wherein the piece of absorbent material comprises at least one of a sponge or a piece of gauze.

3. The wirelessly detectable object of claim 1 wherein the film is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

4. A wirelessly detectable object for use in medical procedures, comprising:

a piece of absorbent material, the piece of absorbent material including a first surface and a second surface that are separated from each other by an exposed edge portion, the first surface being opposite to the second surface;

a transponder to wirelessly receive and transmit signals;

a flexible sheet attached directly to the piece of absorbent material and forming a pocket with the piece of absorbent material to enclose the transponder therein, the flexible sheet folded over a portion of the exposed edge portion of the piece of absorbent material so as to cover the portion of the exposed edge portion and to provide a first portion of the flexible sheet adjacent the first surface of the piece of absorbent material and a second portion of the flexible sheet adjacent the second surface of the piece of absorbent material, the first portion of the flexible sheet further folded to form the pocket that encloses the transponder therein; and

a radio frequency (RF) weld that seals the transponder in the pocket formed by the flexible sheet and the piece of absorbent material.

5. The wirelessly detectable object of claim 4 wherein the piece of absorbent material comprises at least one of a sponge or a piece of gauze.

6. The wirelessly detectable object of claim 4 wherein the flexible sheet comprises a sheet of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) impregnated fabric.

7. The wirelessly detectable object of claim 4 wherein the first and the second portions of the flexible sheet are RF welded to the piece of absorbent material.

8. A wirelessly detectable object for use in medical procedures, comprising:

a piece of absorbent material, the piece of absorbent material including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface;

a transponder to wirelessly receive and transmit signals, the transponder comprising an environmental encapsulant;

a container containing the transponder and attached directly to the piece of absorbent material, the container including a first member, a second member, and a third member, the first and the second members forming a pouch that contains the transponder, the pouch containing the transponder positioned on the first surface of the piece of absorbent material and the third member positioned on the second surface of the piece of absorbent material directly opposite the pouch; and

a radio frequency (RF) weld that attaches the pouch containing the transponder to the third member so as to thereby attach the container to the piece of absorbent material.

9. The wirelessly detectable object of claim 8 wherein the first member, the second member, and the third member of the container are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

10. The wirelessly detectable object of claim 8 , further comprising:

a radio-opaque strip carried by the piece of absorbent material.

11. A wirelessly detectable object for use in medical procedures, comprising:

a piece of absorbent material, the piece of absorbent material including opposing first and second surfaces;

a transponder to wirelessly receive and transmit signals;

a container including a first body portion, a second body portion, and a third body portion, the first and second body portions defining a cavity that contains the transponder, the first, second, and third body portions each including matching outer body contours; and

at least one radio frequency (RF) weld that seals the first, second, and third body portions to the absorbent material by the at least one RF weld with the absorbent material secured between the second and third body portions.

12. The wirelessly detectable object of claim 11 wherein the container comprises polyvinyl chloride (PVC).