Automatic surgical sponge counter and blood loss determination system
First Claim
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1. An automatic sponge counter apparatus for counting sponges, each sponge carrying an RF identification tag operable to transmit a unique data string corresponding to the tagged sponge, the apparatus comprising:
- a non-optical scanner configured to interrogate a plurality of RF identification tagged sponges simultaneously present within a volume, said scanner simultaneously reading a plurality of tagged sponges present within said volume, said scanner detecting each of the plurality of tagged sponges electromagnetically, said scanner detecting the unique data strings corresponding to each of the plurality of tagged sponges; and
a control unit that maintains a count of a total number of tagged sponges present in said volume, said control unit maintaining a running count of a number of tagged sponges from a predetermined time, said control unit being responsive to said non-optical scanner, said control unit receiving the unique data strings from the non-optical scanner, said control unit identifying each of the plurality of tagged sponges based on the unique data string.
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Abstract
A surgical sponge detection system includes a device for automatically counting soiled surgical sponges which includes a reader which scans each sponge entered and determines sponge type from a tag affixed to each sponge and a control unit which processes data received from reader contained within sponges entered. The reader includes a non-optical scanner means which can read an indicating means on the sponges even when the indicating means is covered with blood or other body fluids.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An automatic sponge counter apparatus for counting sponges, each sponge carrying an RF identification tag operable to transmit a unique data string corresponding to the tagged sponge, the apparatus comprising:
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a non-optical scanner configured to interrogate a plurality of RF identification tagged sponges simultaneously present within a volume, said scanner simultaneously reading a plurality of tagged sponges present within said volume, said scanner detecting each of the plurality of tagged sponges electromagnetically, said scanner detecting the unique data strings corresponding to each of the plurality of tagged sponges; and a control unit that maintains a count of a total number of tagged sponges present in said volume, said control unit maintaining a running count of a number of tagged sponges from a predetermined time, said control unit being responsive to said non-optical scanner, said control unit receiving the unique data strings from the non-optical scanner, said control unit identifying each of the plurality of tagged sponges based on the unique data string. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An method for counting sponges, each sponge carrying an RF identification tag operable to transmit a unique data string corresponding to the tagged sponge, the method comprising:
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interrogating a plurality of RF identification tagged sponges simultaneously present within a volume using a non-optical scanner, said interrogating simultaneously reading a plurality of tagged sponges present within said volume, said interrogating detecting each of the plurality of tagged sponges electromagnetically, said interrogating detecting the unique data strings corresponding to each of the plurality of tagged sponges; and maintaining a count of a total number of tagged sponges present in said volume, said maintaining a count maintaining a running count of a number of tagged sponges from a predetermined time, said maintaining a count including; receiving the unique data strings from the non-optical scanner, and identifying each of the plurality of tagged sponges based on the unique data string. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A RF identification tagged surgical sponge configured for automatic counting, comprising:
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an absorbent material; an RF identification tag attached to the absorbent material; the RF identification tag being operable to transmit a unique data string corresponding to the tagged sponge; the tagged sponge being configured for being detected using a non-optical scanner that interrogates a plurality of RF identification tagged sponges simultaneously present within a volume, said interrogating simultaneously reading a plurality of tagged sponges present within said volume, said interrogating detecting each of the plurality of tagged sponges electromagnetically, said interrogating detecting the unique data strings corresponding to each of the plurality of tagged sponges; wherein the non-optical scanner maintains a count of a total number of tagged sponges present in said volume, said maintaining a count maintaining a running count of a number of tagged sponges from a predetermined time, said maintaining a count including; receiving the unique data strings from the non-optical scanner, and identifying each of the plurality of tagged sponges based on the unique data string. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification