Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-vitro method for detecting anti-erythrocyte antibodies in a sample, comprising at least the following steps: a) bringing the sample into contact with one or more test erythrocytes or a suspension of one or more test erythrocytes having a known phenotype, under conditions likely to induce hemagglutination, so as to obtain a reaction mixture; b) bringing the reaction mixture into contact with a solid substrate containing a plurality of defined adsorption areas which have previously fixed antibodies or antibody fragments capable of binding antigenic determinants present on the one or more test erythrocytes; c) ascertaining the presence or absence of a hemagglutination reaction in at least one of the adsorption areas so as to detect the presence or absence of anti-erythrocyte antibodies in the sample; the steps a) and b) being carried out separately or simultaneously.

Abstract: A hand-held antenna system allows medical personnel to ascertain the presence or absence of objects (e.g., medical supplies) tagged with transponders in an environment in which medical procedures are performed. In use, the hand-held antenna system may be positioned proximate a patient at a time after a medical procedure, such as after child birth, so the system can scan the patient's body to determine the presence of objects tagged with transponders. The antenna system includes three antenna elements arranged mutually orthogonal to each other to transmit and receive signals in three coordinate directions. A controller is coupled to the antenna elements to transmit signals to the transponders and to receive response signals. The antenna system may operate in a static scan mode wherein the antenna system is held in a fixed position by a user and a dynamic scan mode wherein the antenna system is moved by a user.

Abstract: Spine rods are secured together by a crosslink which includes a central body with an arch therein curving around a gap, which allows a spinous process of an adjacent vertebrae, or other anatomical structure, to be located therein. The crosslink includes left and right extensions in a preferred embodiment which are movable relative to the body to accommodate both width adjustment for the crosslink and pivoting of distal ends of the crosslink relative to each other and relative to the body. After movement is accommodated, joints between the extensions in the body can be tightened to eliminate further movement. Clamps at distal ends of the crosslink secure the crosslink to adjacent spine rods. The arch has a bend angle above a horizontal plane to further facilitate avoiding interference with anatomical structures. The arch can be further bent if needed to a desired angle.

Abstract: A hand-held antenna system allows medical personnel to ascertain the presence or absence of objects (e.g., medical supplies) tagged with transponders in an environment in which medical procedures are performed. In use, the hand-held antenna system may be positioned proximate a patient at a time after a medical procedure, such as after child birth, so the system can scan the patient's body to determine the presence of objects tagged with transponders. The antenna system includes three antenna elements arranged mutually orthogonal to each other to transmit and receive signals in three coordinate directions. A controller is coupled to the antenna elements to transmit signals to the transponders and to receive response signals. The antenna system may operate in a static scan mode wherein the antenna system is held in a fixed position by a user and a dynamic scan mode wherein the antenna system is moved by a user.

Abstract: Medical procedure related objects (e.g., instruments, supplies) tagged with transponders (e.g., RFID transponders, dumb transponders) are accounted for in a medical or clinical environment via an accounting system using a number of antennas and interrogators/readers. A first set of antennas and RFID interrogator(s) interrogate portions of the environment for RFID tagged objects, for example proximate a start and an end of a procedure. Shielded packaging and/or shielded receptacles shield tagged objects, preventing interrogation except for those objects in unshielded portions of the environment. A shielded receptacle may include an antenna to interrogate the contents thereof in a relatively noise-free environment. A data store may maintain information including a current status or count of each instrument or supply, for instance as checked in or checked out. A handheld antenna and/or second set of antennas interrogates a body of a patient for retained instruments or supplies tagged with dumb transponders.

Abstract: A beam acts as an implantable spinal support structure. The beam is generally cylindrical in form with two semi-cylindrical shells defining a cylindrical contour of the beam and with a web passing through a central axis of the beam and joining midpoints of the two shells together. The shells preferably have threads on an outer surface thereof to engage bone within a cylindrical hole passing through two adjacent vertebrae spanning a disk space, for support of the vertebrae such as for fusion thereof together. One end of the beam can be tapered to maximize structural support for the vertebrae. This tapered end can be provided as a separate extension removably attachable to other portions of the beam in one embodiment. A method for implantation is also disclosed where the beam is implanted at an angle to the spinal axis and intersecting a disk space between adjacent vertebrae.

Abstract: A wireless transponder device that may be used in medical procedure may be fabricated using semiconductor fabrication techniques. The electrical components of the wireless transponder device may be more resilient when compared to components that are electrically coupled using traditional electrical coupling techniques (e.g., soldering) that may be used for such devices. Such electrical components may be smaller and thereby less noticeable when the wireless transponder is physically coupled or attached to medical devices or components. The semiconductor fabrication process may be used to form a wireless transponder with a metal layer that may be carried on a substrate in which the metal layer includes an inductive portion and a capacitive portion that together may form a resonant circuit that resonates at a desired frequency. The wireless transponder may be enclosed within a pouch that is physically coupled to a medical object that may be used during the medical procedure.

Abstract: Medical procedure related objects (e.g., instruments, supplies) tagged with transponders (e.g., RFID transponders, dumb transponders) are accounted for in a medical or clinical environment via an accounting system using a number of antennas and interrogators/readers. A first set of antennas and RFID interrogator(s) interrogate portions of the environment for RFID tagged objects, for example proximate a start and an end of a procedure. Shielded packaging and/or shielded receptacles shield tagged objects, preventing interrogation except for those objects in unshielded portions of the environment. A shielded receptacle may include an antenna to interrogate the contents thereof in a relatively noise-free environment. A data store may maintain information including a current status or count of each instrument or supply, for instance as checked in or checked out. A handheld antenna and/or second set of antennas interrogates a body of a patient for retained instruments or supplies tagged with dumb transponders.

Abstract: A modularly-wheeled cooler that that can be transported across almost any surface and can store wheels and other objects when not in use. The modularly-wheeled includes a receptacle, a lid, a pair of front axles, a pair of rear axles, a plurality of wheel-attachment features, and a first plurality of peg-attachment features. The receptacle is preferably a structural body that can receive and store objects. The lid provides a cover means that conceals and protects the objects stored inside of the receptacle. The pair of front axles and the pair of rear axles allow the cooler have wheels attached. The plurality of wheel-attachment features allows the cooler to receive and store wheels when the cooler is not in use. The plurality of peg-attachment features allows the cooler to have storage pegs attached which allow the cooler to store objects such as foldable chairs.

Abstract: A hand-held antenna system allows medical personnel to ascertain the presence or absence of objects (e.g., medical supplies) tagged with transponders in an environment in which medical procedures are performed. In use, the hand-held antenna system may be positioned proximate a patient at a time after a medical procedure, such as after child birth, so the system can scan the patient's body to determine the presence of objects tagged with transponders. The antenna system includes three antenna elements arranged mutually orthogonal to each other to transmit and receive signals in three coordinate directions. A controller is coupled to the antenna elements to transmit signals to the transponders and to receive response signals. The antenna system may operate in a static scan mode wherein the antenna system is held in a fixed position by a user and a dynamic scan mode wherein the antenna system is moved by a user.

Abstract: The presence or absence of objects (e.g., medical implements, medical supplies) tagged with transponders may be determined in an environment in which medical procedures (e.g., surgery) are performed via an interrogation and detection system which includes a controller and a plurality of antennas positioned along a patient support structure. The antennas may, for example, be positioned along an operating table, bed, a mattress or pad or a sheet and may be radiolucent. Respective antennas may successively be activated to transmit interrogation signals. Multiple antennas may be monitored for responses from transponders to the interrogation signals. For example, all antennas other than the antenna that transmitted the most recent interrogation signal may be monitored.

Abstract: A modularly-wheeled cooler that that can be transported across almost any surface and can store wheels and other objects when not in use. The modularly-wheeled includes a receptacle, a lid, a pair of front axles, a pair of rear axles, a plurality of wheel-attachment features, and a first plurality of peg-attachment features. The receptacle is preferably a structural body that can receive and store objects. The lid provides a cover means that conceals and protects the objects stored inside of the receptacle. The pair of front axles and the pair of rear axles allow the cooler have wheels attached. The plurality of wheel-attachment features allows the cooler to receive and store wheels when the cooler is not in use. The plurality of peg-attachment features allows the cooler to have storage pegs attached which allow the cooler to store objects such as foldable chairs.

Abstract: A hand-held antenna system allows medical personnel to ascertain the presence or absence of objects (e.g., medical supplies) tagged with transponders in an environment in which medical procedures are performed. In use, the hand-held antenna system may be positioned proximate a patient at a time after a medical procedure, such as after child birth, so the system can scan the patient's body to determine the presence of objects tagged with transponders. The antenna system includes three antenna elements arranged mutually orthogonal to each other to transmit and receive signals in three coordinate directions. A controller is coupled to the antenna elements to transmit signals to the transponders and to receive response signals. The antenna system may operate in a static scan mode wherein the antenna system is held in a fixed position by a user and a dynamic scan mode wherein the antenna system is moved by a user.

Abstract: The presence or absence of objects tagged with transponders may be determined in an environment in which medical procedures are performed via an interrogation and detection system which includes a controller and a plurality of antennas positioned along a patient support structure. The antennas may be positioned along an operating table, bed, mattress or pad, sheet, or may be positioned on a drape, or shade. Respective antennas may successively be activated to transmit interrogation signals. Multiple antennas may be monitored for responses from transponders to the interrogation signals. For example, all antennas other than the antenna that transmitted the most recent interrogation signal may be monitored. Antennas may be responsive to force, a signal indicative of such force being produced. A wireless physiological condition monitor may detect patient physiological conditions and wirelessly transmit signals indicative of such.

Abstract: The presence or absence of objects (e.g., medical implements, medical supplies) tagged with transponders may be determined in an environment in which medical procedures (e.g., surgery) are performed via an interrogation and detection system which includes a controller and a plurality of antennas positioned along a patient support structure. The antennas may, for example, be positioned along an operating table, bed, a mattress or pad or a sheet and may be radiolucent. Respective antennas may successively be activated to transmit interrogation signals. Multiple antennas may be monitored for responses from transponders to the interrogation signals. For example, all antennas other than the antenna that transmitted the most recent interrogation signal may be monitored.

Abstract: The presence or absence of objects is determined by interrogating or exciting transponders coupled to the objects using pulsed wide band frequency signals. Interrogation is broken down into a number of subsample scan cycles each having interrogation cycles a start time forward in time by a fraction of a period of an expected transponder response signal. Ambient or background noise is evaluated and a threshold adjusted based on the level of noise. Adjustment may be based on multiple noise measurements or samples. Noise detection may be limited, with emphasis placed on interrogation to increase the signal to noise ratio. Matched filtering may be employed. Presence/absence determination may take into account frequency and/or Q value to limit false detections. Appropriate acts may be taken if detected noise is out of defined limits of operation, for example shutting down interrogation and/or providing an appropriate indication.

Abstract: The presence or absence of objects tagged with transponders may be determined in an environment in which medical procedures are performed via an interrogation and detection system which includes a controller and a plurality of antennas positioned along a patient support structure. The antennas may be positioned along an operating table, bed, mattress or pad, sheet, or may be positioned on a drape, or shade. Respective antennas may successively be activated to transmit interrogation signals. Multiple antennas may be monitored for responses from transponders to the interrogation signals. For example, all antennas other than the antenna that transmitted the most recent interrogation signal may be monitored. Antennas may be responsive to force, a signal indicative of such force being produced. A wireless physiological condition monitor may detect patient physiological conditions and wirelessly transmit signals indicative of such.

Abstract: The presence or absence of objects (e.g., medical implements, medical supplies) tagged with transponders may be determined in an environment in which medical procedures (e.g., surgery) are performed via an interrogation and detection system which includes a controller and a plurality of antennas positioned along a patient support structure. The antennas may, for example, be positioned along an operating table, bed, a mattress or pad or a sheet and may be radiolucent. Respective antennas may successively be activated to transmit interrogation signals. Multiple antennas may be monitored for responses from transponders to the interrogation signals. For example, all antennas other than the antenna that transmitted the most recent interrogation signal may be monitored.

Abstract: A hand-held antenna system allows medical personnel to ascertain the presence or absence of objects (e.g., medical supplies) tagged with transponders in an environment in which medical procedures are performed. In use, the hand-held antenna system may be positioned proximate a patient at a time after a medical procedure, such as after childbirth, so the system can scan the patient's body to determine the presence of objects tagged with transponders. The antenna system includes two sets of three antenna elements arranged mutually orthogonal to each other to transmit and receive signals in at least three coordinate directions. A controller is coupled to the antenna elements to transmit signals to the transponders and to receive response signals. The antenna system may operate in a static scan mode wherein the antenna system is held in a fixed position by a user and a dynamic scan mode wherein the antenna system is moved by a user.

Abstract: A hand-held antenna system allows medical personnel to ascertain the presence or absence of objects (e.g., medical supplies) tagged with transponders in an environment in which medical procedures are performed. In use, the hand-held antenna system may be positioned proximate a patient at a time after a medical procedure, such as after child birth, so the system can scan the patient's body to determine the presence of objects tagged with transponders. The antenna system includes three antenna elements arranged mutually orthogonal to each other to transmit and receive signals in three coordinate directions. A controller is coupled to the antenna elements to transmit signals to the transponders and to receive response signals. The antenna system may operate in a static scan mode wherein the antenna system is held in a fixed position by a user and a dynamic scan mode wherein the antenna system is moved by a user.