Sponge carrier and counter

• US 5,186,322 A
• Filed: 04/14/1992
• Issued: 02/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medical Action Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sage Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Skiba, Barbara T., Harreld, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Jimmy G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ACKUN, JACOB K
• Application Number:
  US07/869,042
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 206/278, 206/438, 206/216, 206/440, 206/459, 2/161 R, 2/167, 2/168, 2/162, 2/159, 383/74, 383/71, 383/75, 294/1.3, 294/25, 128/DIG. 24
• US Class Current: 206/216
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/0075 permitting handling and containing of waste materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0804 Counting number of instruments used; Instrument detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/00 Surgical gloves; Finger-stalls specially adapted for surgery; Devices for handling or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/10 Surgical gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/37 for absorbent articles, e.g. bandages, garments, swabs or towels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/24 Medical-surgical bags

Abstract

A surgical sponge carrier and counter formed from a pliable film. The carrier and counter includes a glove-like portion with a tubular sleeve extending therefrom. A closure is located in the sleeve, the closure comprising a drawtape disposed in a guide and secured at one location to the sleeve. A notch is located in the guide generally opposite the location at which the drawtape is secured to the sleeve, the drawtape extending into the notch and forming a loop which may be engaged for both removal of the sponge carrier and counter by turning it inside out about the glove-like portion, and also drawing the now-inside out carrier and counter closed about its contents.

Claims

1. A surgical sponge carrier and counter formed from a pliable film and comprising

a. a glove portion including a thumb portion and a fingers portion,

b. a tubular sleeve portion extending from said glove portion, and

c. a closure located in said sleeve portion, said closure comprising

i. a circumferential drawtape guide formed in said sleeve portion and spaced from said glove portion,

ii. a continuous drawtape disposed in said guide, said drawtape being secured at one location to said sleeve and being slidable in said guide except at said one location, said one location being generally opposite said thumb portion,

iii. an engagement notch in said guide in alignment with said thumb portion, said notch being generally opposite said one location, and said drawtape extending into said notch and forming a loop in said notch for engagement of said drawtape and removal of the sponge carrier and counter by turning the sponge carrier and counter inside out about said glove portion, and

iv. means for temporarily retaining said drawtape at a location in said guide to maintain the carrier and counter closed, said means for temporarily retaining being located within said guide and engaging said drawtape within said guide.

2. A surgical sponge carrier and counter according to claim 1 in which said guide is located at one end of said sleeve portion.

3. A surgical sponge carrier and counter according to claim 1 in which said guide is a channel in said sleeve portion.

4. A surgical sponge carrier and counter according to claim 1 in which said means for temporarily retaining comprises at lest one tack seal in said guide and at least one indentation in said drawtape engaging said tack seal.

5. A surgical sponge carrier and counter according to claim 1 in which said film is generally transparent, and including indicia on said drawtape visible through said film.

6. A surgical sponge carrier and counter according to claim 5 in which said indicia includes a number identifying a number of sponges contained by the carrier and counter.

7. A surgical sponge carrier and counter according to claim 1 in which said fingers portion comprises individual finger digits.

8. A surgical sponge carrier and counter formed from a pliable film and comprising

a. a glove portion including a thumb portion and a fingers portion,

b. a tubular sleeve portion extending from said glove portion,

c. a closure located in said sleeve portion, said closure comprising

i. a circumferential drawtape guide formed in said sleeve portion and spaced from said glove portion,

ii. a continuous drawtape disposed in said guide, said drawtape being secured at one location to said sleeve and being slidable in said guide except at said one location, said one location being generally opposite said thumb portion, and

iii. an engagement notch in said guide in alignment with said thumb portion, said notch being generally opposite said one location, and said drawtape extending into said notch and forming a loop in said notch for engagement of said drawtape and removal of the sponge carrier and counter by turning the sponge carrier and counter inside out about said glove portion, and

d. said film being generally transparent, and including indicia on said drawtape visible through said film.

9. A surgical sponge carrier and counter according to claim 8 in which said guide is located at one end of said sleeve portion.

10. A surgical sponge carrier and counter according to claim 8 in which said guide is a channel in said sleeve portion.

11. A surgical sponge carrier and counter according to claim 8 including means for temporarily retaining said drawtape at a location in said guide to maintain the carrier and counter closed.

12. A surgical sponge carrier and counter according to claim 11 in which said means for temporarily retaining comprises at least one tack seal in said guide and at least one indentation in said drawtape engaging said tack seal.

13. A surgical sponge carrier and counter according to claim 8 in which said indicia includes a number identifying a number of sponges contained by the carrier and counter.

14. A surgical sponge carrier and counter according to claim 8 in which said fingers portion comprises individual finger digits.