System, Method and Device for Tracking Surgical Sponges
First Claim
1. A method of using a system to track surgical sponges for a medical procedure, comprising:
- storing in a memory of a computer a multitude of identifiers (IDs) with each ID corresponding to a different one of a multitude of available surgical sponges that are available for use for the medical procedure;
radiating a plurality of discarded surgical sponges entering a waste receptacle;
receiving, from said radiating, a plurality of IDs, each received ID corresponding to one the plurality of sponges entering the waste receptacle;
wirelessly transmitting each of the plurality of received IDs to the computer;
receiving the plurality of IDs at the computer;
receiving at the computer one or more of the multitude of IDs at completion of the medical procedure, wherein the one or more IDs correspond to surgical sponges not used during the procedure; and
determining whether any available surgical sponge is not discarded and is not unused based on;
(a) the multitude of IDs corresponding to the multitude of surgical sponges available for use for the medical procedure;
(b) the plurality of IDs corresponding to the plurality of sponges entering the waste receptacle; and
(c) the one or more IDs correspond to surgical sponges not used during the procedure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and device for tracking surgical sponges for a medical procedure is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes an RF reader having an antenna, said antenna configured to be removably attached to a receptacle and to radiate discarded sponges comprising sponges entering the receptacle. The RF reader may be configured to receive unique identifying (ID) information from radiated sponges and provide the ID information to a wireless transmitter electrically connected to the RF reader. The system may include a handheld computer having a wireless port and configured to wirelessly receive the ID information of discarded surgical sponges from the wireless transmitter. The handheld computer may store in its memory ID information of a plurality of available surgical sponges comprising sponges available for use during the procedure and receive and store ID information of a plurality of unused surgical sponges comprising sponges that were not used during the procedure. In addition, the handheld computer may be configured to process data of the discarded surgical sponges, unused surgical sponges, and available surgical sponges to determine if any available surgical sponge is not discarded and is not unused.
84 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of using a system to track surgical sponges for a medical procedure, comprising:
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storing in a memory of a computer a multitude of identifiers (IDs) with each ID corresponding to a different one of a multitude of available surgical sponges that are available for use for the medical procedure; radiating a plurality of discarded surgical sponges entering a waste receptacle; receiving, from said radiating, a plurality of IDs, each received ID corresponding to one the plurality of sponges entering the waste receptacle; wirelessly transmitting each of the plurality of received IDs to the computer; receiving the plurality of IDs at the computer; receiving at the computer one or more of the multitude of IDs at completion of the medical procedure, wherein the one or more IDs correspond to surgical sponges not used during the procedure; and determining whether any available surgical sponge is not discarded and is not unused based on; (a) the multitude of IDs corresponding to the multitude of surgical sponges available for use for the medical procedure; (b) the plurality of IDs corresponding to the plurality of sponges entering the waste receptacle; and (c) the one or more IDs correspond to surgical sponges not used during the procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for tracking surgical sponges for a medical procedure in which used sponges are discarded into a receptacle, comprising:
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an RF reader having an antenna, said antenna configured to be removably attached to the receptacle and to radiate discarded sponges entering the receptacle; said RF reader configured to receive identifying (ID) information from radiated discarded sponges; a wireless transmitter electrically connected to said RF reader to receive from said RF reader the ID information of discarded sponges; a portable computer having a wireless port and configured to wirelessly receive the ID information of discarded sponges from said wireless transmitter; said portable computer storing in memory ID information of a plurality of available surgical sponges comprising sponges available for use for the procedure; wherein said portable computer is configured to receive and store ID information of a plurality of unused surgical sponges comprising sponges available for use for the procedure and that were not used during the procedure; and wherein said computer is responsive to an input to process data of the discarded surgical sponges, unused surgical sponges, and available surgical sponges to determine if any available surgical sponge is not discarded and is not unused. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for tracking surgical sponges for a medical procedure in which used sponges are discarded into a waste receptacle, comprising:
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an RF reader having an antenna enclosed, at least in part, in a disposable apron; wherein said antenna is configured to be removably attached to the receptacle and to radiate discarded sponges entering the receptacle; wherein said apron is configured to be removably attached to said antenna; wherein said RF reader is configured to receive identifying (ID) information from radiated sponges comprising; a wireless transceiver electrically connected to said RF reader to receive from said RF reader the ID information of discarded sponges; and wherein said wireless transceiver is configured to wirelessly transmit ID information of discarded sponges. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification