KIRURGISK INSTRUMENT-RFID-TAG-LÆSNINGSANORDNING OG FREMGANGSMÅDE OG KIRURGISK INSTRUMENTSPORINGSSYSTEM

Surgical instrument RFID tag reading apparatus (10) comprises an interrogation zone (12) for receiving a surgical instrument set (14) comprising: a plurality of surgical instruments, each having a respective RFID tag containing identification information; an RFID tag reader (16); RF antenna (18) arranged to transmit an RF signal (20) and arranged to receive RF return signals from at least some of the RFID tags; guidance apparatus (22) arranged to cause predetermined relative movement between the RFID tags on the surgical instruments and the RF signal; and a controller (24) arranged to: receive the surgical instrument identification information from the RFID tag reader for each RFID tag from which an RF return signal is received; compare the received surgical instrument identification information with a surgical instrument list of the set; and; determine whether surgical instrument identification information has been received for each of the surgical instruments on the surgical instrument list, and if not, generate an incomplete list alert.