Portable device for identification of surgical items with magnetic markers, method for identifying surgical objects with magnetic markers and system for the prevention of retention of surgical items with magnetic markers

1. A portable device ( 1 ) for identification of a surgical object with a magnetic marker forgotten inside a patient characterized by comprising:

(a) a sensing surface ( 3 ) comprising a probe, geomagnetic sensor elements, and an auxiliary sensor, the geomagnetic sensor elements being arranged in pairs of sensors in antagonistic orientation, wherein each pair of sensors is arranged on axes x, y, and z, so that an electrical signal, resulting from the arrangement of sensors on the axes x, y and z, is zero, in the presence of a uniform magnetic field, and a non zero electrical signal is generated in the presence of a non uniform magnetic field caused by the magnetic marker ( 4 ) that does not require external activation energy to operate, making the electrical signal available for measurement, and the auxiliary sensor compensating for environmental conditions surrounding the portable device, thereby increasing accuracy of the electrical signal; and

(b) a microprocessed or microcontrolled system for the measurement of the electrical signal provided by the geomagnetic sensor arrangement; a programmable logic device for comparison of the electrical signal measured with security levels and confirmation of the disparity between the values; and a warning electronic device ( 2 ) located in a handhold ( 7 ), which activates a luminous and/or sound and/or vibration alarm, indicating the presence of the surgical object, wherein the microprocessed or microcontrolled system and the programmable logic device are located in the handhold; and

(c) a rechargeable power source ( 11 ); wherein the portable device ( 1 ) is hermetic and contains a protective film of latex;

wherein the sensing surface is associated with the handhold, where the electrical signal generated by the geomagnetic sensor comprised in the sensing surface is driven to the microprocessed or microcontrolled system.

2. The portable device according to claim 1 characterized in that the geomagnetic sensor elements have sensitivity to capture magnetic fields of an order of 0.1 micro Tesla, providing linear indication until a measuring limit of +/−1000 micro Tesla.

3. The portable device according to claim 1 characterized in that the rechargeable power source ( 11 ) comprises electrical circuits that have limitation of current load.

4. The portable device according to claim 1 characterized in that the warning electronic device ( 2 ) further activates an alarm that indicates that the probe of the sensing surface of the portable device is on; and/or that the rechargeable power source ( 11 ) is discharged.

5. The portable device according to claim 1 characterized in that the portable device further contains a button ( 10 ) to enable/disable the sound alarm ( 9 ).

6. The portable device according to claim 1 characterized in that the dimensions of the portable device range from 100×75×15 millimeter to 600×400×300 millimeter.

7. The portable device according to claim 1 characterized in that the portable device further comprises a stable frequency oscillator and microprocessed or microcontrolled system components, with the portable device operation starting upon oscillation start.

8. The portable device according to claim 1 characterized in that the portable device further comprises an operation program that restarts in an event of a failure condition during a self-test of the portable device, or when a key that provides power to the portable device is driven.

9. A system for preventing retention of a surgical object with a magnetic marker inside a patient characterized by comprising:

(a) a portable device comprising: (i) a sensing surface ( 3 ) comprising a probe, geomagnetic sensor elements, and an auxiliary sensor, the geomagnetic sensor elements being arranged in pairs of sensors in antagonistic orientation, wherein each pair of sensors is arranged on axes x, y, and z generating electrical signal, whose generated electrical signal output resulting from the arrangement remains null under a uniform magnetic field, and provides a non null electrical signal output under the influence of a non uniform magnetic field such as the field generated by poles of the magnetic marker ( 4 ) that does not require external activation energy to operate, and the auxiliary sensor compensating for environmental conditions surrounding the portable device, thereby increasing accuracy of the electrical signal; (ii) a microprocessed or microcontrolled system for the measurement of the electrical signal; (iii) a programmable logic device for comparison of the non null measured electrical signal with security levels and confirmation of the disparity between the values; and (iv) a warning electronic device ( 2 ) located in a handhold ( 7 ), which activates a luminous and/or sound and/or vibration alarm, indicating the presence of the surgical object, wherein the microprocessed or microcontrolled system and the programmable logic device are located in the handhold; and

(b) the magnetic marker ( 4 ) made of neodymium, iron, boron or a mixture thereof, being coated with a biocompatible acrylic resin and fixed to the surgical object ( 5 ) wherein said fixation is given by chemical adhesion, mechanical attachment, sewn or having been manufactured with fabrics;

wherein the sensing surface is associated with the handhold, where the electrical signal generated by the geomagnetic sensor comprised in the sensing surface is driven to the microprocessed or microcontrolled system.

10. The system for preventing retention of a surgical object with a magnetic marker according to claim 9 characterized in that the geomagnetic sensor elements have sensitivity to capture magnetic fields of an order of 0.1 micro Tesla, providing linear indication until a measuring limit of +/−1000 micro Tesla.

11. The system for preventing retention of a surgical object with a magnetic marker according to claim 9 characterized in that the retained object ( 5 ) is detectable at distances up to 30 centimeter between the portable device ( 1 ) and the magnetic marker ( 4 ) located within cavities of patients.

12. A method of identification of a surgical object with a magnetic marker forgotten inside a patient characterized by comprising the use of a portable device comprising a sensing surface ( 3 ) comprising a probe, geomagnetic sensor elements, and an auxiliary sensor, for the detection of the magnetic marker ( 4 ) of neodymium, iron, boron or a mixture thereof, being coated with a biocompatible acrylic resin, and including the fixation in surgical objects ( 5 ) accession by chemical, mechanical, or manufactured with fabrics or sewn, comprising the steps of:

(a) positive identification, prior to a surgical procedure, of all surgical objects to be used in the surgical procedure;

(b) generating an electrical signal by the geomagnetic sensors arranged in pairs of sensors in antagonistic orientation, wherein each pair of sensors is arranged on axes x, y, and z;

(c) generating a compensating signal by the auxiliary sensor compensating for environmental conditions surrounding the portable device, thereby increasing accuracy of the electrical signal;

(d) scanning with the sensing surface ( 3 ) for detection and alarm of any objects forgotten in the interior of cavities of patients; and

(e) signaling by a warning electronic device ( 2 ) when a non zero electrical signal is generated by a perturbation caused by the magnetic marker ( 4 ) being sensed by the sensing surface ( 3 ).