SURGICAL SPONGE INCORPORATING RFID TECHNOLOGY AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20080051746A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jane Shen-Gunther
• Original Assignee: Jane Shen-Gunther
• Inventors: Shen-Gunther, Jane
• Application Number:
  US11/466,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20080051746A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/44 with radio-opaque material or signalling means for residual material
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/047 Masks, filters, surgical pads, devices for absorbing secretions, specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems

Abstract

A surgical sponge with an integrated RFID transponder is disclosed. A laundry RFID transponder integrated between layers of the sponge provides means for surgical personnel to verify with a RFID reader that all such sponges have been removed from a patient'"'"'s body prior to an incision being closed or from a body cavity without an incision. The RFID reader may also be used post closure to re-verify that no such sponges have been inadvertently closed within the patient. A system may include a storage means and associated display device to allow for easy and convenient verification that all sponges made available for a particular surgery have all been accounted for prior to the surgical incision being closed.

Claims

1. A surgical item comprising:

a surgical sponge for use during surgical procedures; and

a RFID transponder integrated within said sponge, said RFID transponder capable of functioning after enduring fluids, including blood and other bodily fluids.

2. The surgical item of claim 1 wherein the sponge is a laparotomy sponge.

3. The surgical item of claim 1 wherein the sponge includes a radio-opaque member.

4. The surgical item of claim 1 wherein the RFID transponder is thermally attached to, or sewn into, the sponge.

5. A surgical system comprising:

a surgical sponge;

a laundry RFID transponder integrated between two layers of the sponge; and

a RFID reader operable to identify the RFID transponder.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the RFID reader is a hand held device.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the surgical sponge is a laparotomy sponge.

8. A surgical method comprising:

performing a surgical procedure requiring an incision, closing of the incision and the use of one or more surgical sponges;

completing the surgical procedure except for closing the incision;

using a RFID reader to confirm that each of the one or more sponges is outside of a patient'"'"'s body; and

closing the incision.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the RFID reader is a hand held device.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising using the RFID reader after closing the incision to re-confirm that each of the one or more sponges is outside of a patient'"'"'s body.

11-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method of tracking surgical sponges, comprising:

integrating a RFID transponder into a plurality of surgical sponges;

recording use of the sponges by reading a transponder signal and transmitting the use of the sponges to a storage means and associated display device;

after need for the sponges has ceased, removing the sponges and recording non-use of the sponges by reading the transponder signal and transmitting its non-use of the sponges to the storage means and associated display device; and

comparing the use data of the sponges with the non-use data of the sponges to confirm that all used sponges have been identified and removed from the patient.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the storage means comprises a database maintained on a computer system.

15. A system for tracking surgical sponges comprising:

one or more surgical sponges, each one or more sponge including a RFID transponder;

a RFID scanner or reader operable to identify each sponge by reading a RFID transponder associated with the sponge; and

a storage device for recording the identification acquired by the RFID scanner or reader.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the RFID scanner or reader is a hand-held device.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising a display device in communication with the storage device.