Surgical sponge with visually detectable element

• US 4,244,369 A
• Filed: 02/26/1979
• Issued: 01/13/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Original Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Inventors: Canty, Herbert G., McAvinn, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROSENBAUM, C FRED
• Application Number:
  US06/015,074
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 128/155-156, 128/290, 128/296, 428/379, 428/380, 428/383, 428/377, 57/223, 57/234, 57/241-242, 57/258
• US Class Current: 604/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3937 Visible markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/44 with radio-opaque material or signalling means for residual material

Abstract

A surgical sponge comprising, a sheet of an absorbent material, and an elongated visually detectable element at least partially located on an outer surface of the sheet, with the element being non-wettable and of a color which contrasts with the color of blood to significantly increase the visibility of the sponge in a patient'"'"'s body when saturated by body fluids.

Claims

1. A surgical sponge, comprising:

a sheet of an absorbent material comprising a multiple ply absorbent gauze; and

an elongated visually detectable element having a portion at least partially located on an outer surface of said sheet, said element being substantially non-radiopaque to X-rays and comprising an inner layer of a highly reflective material, and an outer layer at least substantially covering the inner layer, said outer layer comprising (a) transparent material means for defining a nonwettable outer surface of the element, said outer surface having a contact angle greater than 90 degrees in the presence of blood whereby in the presence of blood, at least portions of said element are not occluded by blood and thus remain highly visible, said non-wettable element having a color which contrasts with the color of blood to further significantly increase the visibility of the sponge in a patient'"'"'s body when said sponge is saturated by body fluids, said outer portion extending a substantial distance along the outer surface of the sheet and being permanently affixed to the sheet throughout its length.

2. The sponge of claim 1 including a separate radiopaque element located on said sheet.

3. The sponge of claim 1 wherein said sheet comprises a multiple-ply absorbent gauze.

4. The sponge of claim 1 wherein said element includes a central layer, in which said outer layer comprises a pair of transparent films on opposed sides of the central layer, and in which said inner layer comprises a highly reflective adhesive bonding the films on opposed surfaces of the central layer.

5. The sponge of claim 1 wherein said inner layer comprises, a central layer of a highly reflective metallic material, in which the outer layer comprises a pair of outer films of a transparent material on opposed sides of said central layer, and in which the element includes a transparent adhesive bonding said outer films on opposed surfaces of the central layer.

6. The sponge of claim 5 wherein said adhesive contains a coloring material.

7. The sponge of claim 1 wherein said element is relatively narrow and comprises a thread in a stitching pattern sewn onto said sheet.

8. The sponge of claim 1 wherein said element defines a pattern on the surface of said sheet extending substantially throughout the width and length of the sponge.

9. The sponge of claim 1 wherein said element is secured on an outer surface of said sheet.

10. The sponge of claim 1 wherein said sheet comprises a fabric having a plurality of absorbent yarns and said element is an integral part of the fabric structure.

11. The sponge of claim 10 wherein said element is woven into said fabric with said absorbent yarns.

12. The sponge of claim 1, further comprising an elongate radiopaque ribbon, said elongated visually detectable element being wound about said elongate radiopaque ribbon.

13. A surgical sponge, comprising:

a sheet of an absorbent material comprising a multiple ply absorbent gauze; and

an elongated visually detectable element having a portion at least partially located on an outer surface of said sheet, said element being substantially non-radiopaque to X-rays and comprising

an inner layer of a fluorescent material, and an outer layer at least substantially covering the inner layer, said outer layer comprising transparent material means for defining a non-wettable outer surface of the element, said outer surface having a contact angle greater than 90 degrees in the presence of blood whereby in the presence of blood, at least portions of said element are not occluded by blood and thus remain highly visible, said fluorescent material inner layer contrasting with the color of blood to further significantly increase the visibility of the sponge in a patient'"'"'s body when said sponge is saturated by body fluids, said outer portion extending a substantial distance along the outer surface of the sheet and being permanently affixed to the sheet throughout its length.

14. The sponge of claim 13, further comprising an elongated ribbon of radiopaque material, and in which an elongated yarn of said fluorescent material is wound about an outer surface of said ribbon.

15. The sponge of claim 13, further comprising a separate radiopaque element located on said sheet.

16. A surgical sponge, comprising:

a sheet of an absorbent material comprising a multiple ply absorbent gauze; and

an elongated visually detectable element having a portion at least partially located on an outer surface of said sheet, said element being substantially non-radiopaque to X-rays and comprising an inner layer of phosphorescent material, and an outer layer at least substantially covering the inner layer, said outer layer comprising transparent material means for defining a non-wettable outer surface of the element, said outer surface having a contact angle greater than 90 degrees in the presence of blood whereby in the presence of blood, at least portions of said elements are not occluded by blood and thus remain highly visible, said phosphorescent material inner layer contrasting with the color of blood to further significantly increase the visibility of the sponge in a patient'"'"'s body when said sponge is saturated by body fluids, said outer portion extending a substantial distance along the outer surface of the sheet and being permanently affixed to the sheet throughout its length.

17. The sponge of claim 16, further comprising an elongated ribbon of radiopaque material, and in which an elongated yarn of said phosphorescent material is wound about an outer surface of said ribbon.

18. The sponge of claim 16, further comprising a separate radiopaque element located on said sheet.

19. A surgical sponge, comprising:

a sheet of an absorbent material comprising a multiple ply absorbent gauze; and

an elongated visually detectable element having a portion at least partially located on an outer surface of said sheet, said element being substantially non-radiopaque to X-rays and comprising an inner layer of iridescent material, and an outer layer at least substantially covering the inner layer, said outer layer comprising transparent material means for defining a non-wettable outer surface of the element, said outer surface having a contact angle greater than 90 degrees in the presence of blood whereby in the presence of blood, at least portions of said element are not occluded by blood and thus remain highly visible, said iridescent material inner layer contrasting with the color of blood to further significantly increase the visibility of the sponge in a patient'"'"'s body when said sponge is saturated by body fluids, said outer portion extending a substantial distance along the outer surface of the sheet and being permanently affixed to the sheet throughout its length.

20. The sponge of claim 19, further comprising an elongted ribbon of radiopaque material, and in which an elongated yarn of said iridescent material is wound about an outer surface of said ribbon.

21. The sponge of claim 19, further comprising a separate radiopaque element located on said sheet.

22. A surgical sponge, comprising:

a sheet of an absorbent, nonwoven material; and

an elongated visually detectable element having a portion at least partially located on an outer surface of said sheet, said element being substantially non-radiopaque to X-rays and comprising an inner layer of a highly reflective material, and an outer layer at least substantially covering the inner layer, said outer layer comprising transparent material means for defining a non-wettable outer surface of the element, said outer surface having a contact angle greater than 90 degrees in the presence of blood whereby in the presence of blood, at least portions of said element are not occluded by blood and thus remain highly visible, said non-wettable element having a color which contrasts with the color of blood to further significantly increase the visibility of the sponge in a patient'"'"'s body when said sponge is saturated by body fluids, said outer portion extending a substantial distance along the outer surface of the sheet and being permanently affixed to the sheet throughout its ength.