Interchangeable tag and attachment

1. An interchangeable tag for attaching to a surgical item for automatically identifying the surgical item, comprising:

a base with a footprint for attaching to the surgical item at a first end of the base;

an identification head with a footprint larger than the footprint of the base, which is attached to the surgical item by said base at a second end of the base; wherein the identification head wirelessly accepts communication queries and transmits identification information related to the identified surgical item; and

wherein the base is attached to the surgical item by a first process that requires use of an attachment tool by a skilled user and the identification head is attached to the base after attaching the base to the surgical item by a second process that is performed without requiring an attachment tool;

wherein the second process attaches the identification head to the base preventing reopening without breaking the identification head or the base; and

wherein the base includes a locking top that locks the identification head onto the base by pressing the identification head onto the locking top or by pressing and rotating the identification head onto the locking top.

2. The interchangeable tag according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment tool required for the first process heats the base to attach it to the surgical item.

3. The interchangeable tag according to claim 1 , wherein the base is pre-attached to the surgical item by the item manufacturer.

4. The interchangeable tag according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment tool includes a mark to indicate how to align the attachment tool relative to the surgical item so that the base is attached correctly to the surgical item.

5. The interchangeable tag according to claim 1 , wherein the base has a special shape and the attachment tool is configured to grasp the base in a specific way to match the special shape.

6. The interchangeable tag according to claim 1 , wherein the base is attached to the surgical item by a laser welding process.

7. The interchangeable tag according to claim 1 , wherein the base is attached to the surgical item by an ultra-sonic process.

8. The interchangeable tag according to claim 1 , wherein the base is attached to the surgical item by adhesion.

9. The interchangeable tag according to claim 1 , wherein the base is configured so that the identification head is aligned with the surgical item after being attached to the base.

10. The interchangeable tag according to claim 1 , wherein the base includes a fine tuning control to align the identification head after it is attached to the base.

11. The interchangeable tag according to claim 1 , wherein the base includes a two stage element having an upper part and a lower part that are rotatable relative to each other to fine tune alignment of the identification head after it is attached to the base.

12. An identification head for attaching to a surgical item for automatically identifying the surgical item, comprising:

a head with a footprint that is attached to the surgical item by a base having a smaller footprint than the footprint of the head; wherein the base is attached to the surgical item or embedded in the surgical item by the manufacturer;

wherein the head wirelessly accepts communication queries and transmits identification information related to the identified surgical item; and

wherein the head is attachable to the base by a process that is performed without requiring an attachment tool;

wherein the process attaches the head to the base to prevent reopening without breaking the head or the base; and

wherein the base includes a locking top that locks the head onto the base by pressing the head onto the locking top or by pressing and rotating the head onto the locking top.

13. A method of forming an interchangeable tag to identify a surgical item, comprising:

receiving a base with a footprint and an identification head with a footprint larger than the footprint of the base; wherein the identification head is configured to wirelessly accept communication queries and transmits identification information related to the identified surgical item;

attaching a first end of the base to a selected position on the surgical item by a first process that requires use of attachment tools by a skilled user;

attaching a second end of the base to the identification head by a second process that is performed without requiring attachment tools;

wherein the second process attaches the identification head to the base preventing reopening without breaking the identification head or the base; and

wherein the base includes a locking top that locks the identification head onto the base by pressing the identification head onto the locking top or by pressing and rotating the identification head onto the locking top.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the base is configured so that the identification head is aligned with the tool after being attached to the base.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the base includes a fine tuning control to align the identification head after it is attached to the base.