Surgical object and comprehensive fluid monitoring system having capability of mobile monitoring and having highly sensitive and reliable detection of objects being placed in a container

• US 9,347,817 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2015
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Surgitrac Corporation
• Original Assignee: Surgitrac Corporation
• Inventors: Pollock, Richard A., Kassam, Mahmood S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W
• Application Number:
  US14/629,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20150168207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0804 Counting number of instruments used; Instrument detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0805 automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0437 Trolley or cart-type apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02042 Determining blood loss or bleeding, e.g. during a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/208 adapted to determine urine quantity, e.g. flow, volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/37 for absorbent articles, e.g. bandages, garments, swabs or towels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/777 Determination of loss or gain of body fluids due to suction-irrigation, e.g. during surgery
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2203/02 suspended
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2203/50 comprising weighing means
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/106 the objects being bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1415 for flexible receptables, e.g. bags, sacks
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1473 Receptacles having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1607 with filling openings
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/124 Counting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/168 : Sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/184 : Weighing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/04 : for weighing fluids, e.g. gases, pastes
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/387 : for combinatorial weighing, i.e. selecting a combination of articles whose total weight or number is closest to a desired value
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/40 : with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight indicating means for weighing apparatus G01G23/18; recording means for weighing apparatus G01G23/18; computers in general G06
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/414 : using electronic computing means only
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/23 : Support or suspension of weighing platforms G01G21/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/28 : Frames, Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 : for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A surgical sponge and comprehensive fluid monitoring system and method are provided. The system includes a support ring for securely supporting a container with at least one port opening for receiving surgical sponges placed into the container. A hollow spine structure includes a channel and a rod that can move in the channel. The rod transfers weight force from the support ring to a weight force sensing device. A flexure maintains the rod vertically aligned in the channel with a gap separating the length of the rod from the channel walls. A processor receives an information signal indicative of at least one of urine outflow, suction fluid outflow, irrigation fluid intake; and intravenous fluid intake, of a surgical patient. The processor accumulates a total amount of estimated net fluid volume loss for the patient from the surgical sponge, and from other measured fluid outflow and intake.

Claims

1. A surgical object and comprehensive fluid monitoring system for a surgical patient, comprising:

a support ring for securely supporting a container with at least one port opening of the container being disposed for receiving surgical objects placed into the container through the at least one port opening with the aid of gravity;

a hollow spine structure vertically oriented and comprising a channel with channel walls along the length of the hollow spine structure;

a rod movably disposed in the channel within the hollow spine structure, the rod moveable along the channel;

a weight force sensing device mechanically coupled to the rod, the support ring mechanically coupled to the rod, and the rod being in a moving arrangement that transfers weight force from the support ring to the weight force sensing device;

a flexure mechanically coupled with the rod and the hollow spine structure, the flexure adding very little if any downward force onto the rod and thereby onto the weight force sensing device while maintaining the rod vertically aligned in the channel with a gap separating the length of the rod from the channel walls, the gap allowing the rod to move vertically without friction from contact with the channel walls while the rod in the channel is protected from impact by the channel walls; and

a processor communicatively coupled with the weight force sensing device, wherein the processor, responsive to executing computer instructions, performs operations comprising;

receiving an information signal indicative of fluid outflow and/or fluid intake amount associated with a surgical patient, the information signal comprising an indication of at least one of

urine fluid outflow amount from a surgical patient;

suction fluid outflow amount from a surgical cavity of the surgical patient;

irrigation fluid intake amount into a surgical cavity of the surgical patient; and

intravenous fluid intake amount into the surgical patient;

determining an incremental weight of the contents of the container from a surgical object placed into the container through one of the at least one port opening, based at least on an information signal received from the weight force sensing device indicating a change in weight force sensed by the weight force sensing device contemporaneous with the placement of the surgical object into the container through the at least one port opening with the aid of gravity;

identifying the type of surgical object placed into the container through the one of the at least one port opening;

determining a fluid weight of the surgical object placed into the container through the at least one port opening by at least comparing the determined incremental weight of the contents of the container from the surgical object placed into the container to an expected “

dry”

(non-fluid-filled) weight value for the identified type of the surgical object; and

accumulating a total amount of estimated net fluid volume loss for a surgical patient, based at least on the determined fluid weight of the surgical object placed into the container being accumulated with a fluid outflow amount and/or a fluid intake amount determined from the received information signal indicative of a fluid outflow amount and/or a fluid intake amount associated with the surgical patient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor, responsive to executing computer instructions, performs operations comprising:

accumulating the total amount of estimated net fluid loss for the surgical patient over a time period, based at least on an accumulation of;

the determined fluid weight of the surgical object placed into the container;

a determined fluid weight of one or more other surgical objects placed into the container through the at least one port opening with the aid of gravity; and

a determined fluid outflow and/or fluid intake amount for the surgical patient, determined from the received information signal indicative of a fluid outflow and/or fluid intake amount associated with the surgical patient.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor, responsive to executing computer instructions, performs operations comprising:

receiving the information signal communicatively coupled from a urine fluid monitor system monitoring urine fluid outflow of the surgical patient, the information signal being indicative of urine fluid outflow amount from the surgical patient.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor, responsive to executing computer instructions, performs operations comprising:

receiving the information signal communicatively coupled from a suction fluid monitor system monitoring suction fluid outflow from a surgical cavity of the surgical patient, the information signal being indicative of suction fluid outflow amount from the surgical patient.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor, responsive to executing computer instructions, performs operations comprising:

receiving the information signal communicatively coupled from an intravenous fluid monitor system monitoring intravenous fluid intake of the surgical patient, the information signal being indicative of intravenous fluid intake amount of the surgical patient.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor, responsive to executing computer instructions, performs operations comprising:

receiving the information signal communicatively coupled from an irrigation fluid monitor system monitoring irrigation fluid intake into a surgical cavity of the surgical patient, the information signal being indicative of irrigation fluid intake amount of the surgical patient.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the receiving an information signal communicatively coupled from the irrigation fluid monitor system comprises receiving the information signal from user input received at a user input interface of the monitor system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the surgical object is a surgical sponge.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor, responsive to executing computer instructions, performs operations comprising:

identifying a type of surgical sponge placed into the container through the one of the at least one port opening, the identifying based on selection of a type of surgical sponge selected from a plurality of expected types of sponges.

determining a fluid weight of the surgical sponge placed into the container through the at least one port opening by at least comparing the determined incremental weight of the contents of the container from the sponge placed into the container to an expected “

dry”

(non-fluid-filled) weight value for the identified type of the surgical sponge.

10. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a main monitor system and at least one mobile monitor system wireles sly communicatively coupled with the main monitor system, the main monitor system comprising the support ring, the hollow spine structure, the rod, the weight force sensing device, the flexure, and the processor, and the at least one mobile monitor system comprising;

a wireless communication device including a display for displaying information that is wirelessly received from the main monitor system, the displayed information comprising at least one of;

a surgical object count for counting the total number of at least one type of surgical object expected to be placed in the container through the at least one port opening;

a total net fluid volume amount representing an accumulation of fluid outflow amount and/or fluid intake amount of the surgical patient;

a total estimated amount of fluid being carried with at least one surgical object placed into the container through the at least one port opening.

a total urine fluid outflow amount of a surgical patient;

a total suction fluid outflow amount corresponding to fluid suctioned from a surgical cavity of the surgical patient;

a total irrigation fluid intake amount corresponding to fluid irrigated into a surgical cavity of the surgical patient; and

a total intravenous fluid intake amount for a fluid intravenously introduced into the surgical patient.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a mobile telephone including a display.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the wireless communication device comprises:

a user input interface; and

at least one processor, which responsive to executing computer instructions, performs operations comprising;

in response to receiving a user input signal from the user input interface, wirelessly transmitting an alarm information signal destined for reception by the main monitor system, the alarm information signal communicating detection of an alarm condition from a user of the wireless communication device to the main monitor system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor of the wireless communication device, responsive to executing computer instructions, performs operations comprising:

in response to receiving a user input signal from the user input interface, wirelessly transmitting an alarm information signal destined for reception by the main monitor system for displaying a corresponding alarm information on a user interface of the main monitor system, the alarm information signal communicating detection of an alarm condition from a user of the wireless communication device to a user of the main monitor system.

14. A method, with a processor of an information processing system, for monitoring at least one surgical object placed into a container and monitoring total net fluid volume loss of a surgical patient, the method comprising:

securely supporting a container having at least one port opening, the container supported with a rod vertically aligned and moveably disposed in a channel of a vertically oriented hollow spine structure with a gap separating the length of the rod from the channel walls, the gap allowing the rod to move vertically without friction from contact with the channel walls, the rod transferring a weight force from the supported container to a weight force sensing device mechanically coupled to the rod;

detecting placement of a surgical object into the container through one of the at least one port opening with the aid of gravity;

identifying a type of the surgical object being placed in the container;

contemporaneous with the detecting, receiving an information signal that indicates an incremental weight force of the container;

determining, with the processor, an incremental weight of the contents of the container from the surgical object placed into the container through the one port opening;

determining a fluid weight of the surgical object placed into the container through the one port opening by at least comparing the determined incremental weight of the contents of the container from the surgical object placed into the container to an expected “

dry”

(non-fluid-filled) weight value for the identified type of the surgical object;

receiving an information signal indicative of fluid outflow amount and/or fluid intake amount associated with a surgical patient, the information signal comprising an indication of at least one of

urine fluid outflow amount from a surgical patient;

suction fluid outflow amount from a surgical cavity of the surgical patient;

irrigation fluid intake amount into a surgical cavity of the surgical patient; and

intravenous fluid intake amount into the surgical patient; and

accumulating a total amount of estimated net fluid volume loss for a surgical patient, based at least on the determined fluid weight of the surgical object placed into the container being accumulated with a fluid outflow amount and/or a fluid intake amount determined from the received information signal indicative of a fluid outflow amount and/or a fluid intake amount associated with the surgical patient.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

accumulating the total amount of estimated net fluid loss for the surgical patient over a time period, based at least on an accumulation of;

the determined fluid weight of the surgical object placed into the container;

a determined fluid weight of one or more other surgical objects placed into the container through the at least one port opening with the aid of gravity; and

a determined fluid outflow amount and/or fluid intake amount for the surgical patient, determined from the received information signal indicative of a fluid outflow amount and/or fluid intake amount associated with the surgical patient.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

counting in real time, with the processor, the number of surgical objects placed into the container through the at least one port opening, based at least on the detecting placement.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving the information signal communicatively coupled from one of;

a urine fluid monitor system monitoring urine fluid outflow of the surgical patient, the information signal being indicative of urine fluid outflow amount from the surgical patient;

a suction fluid monitor system monitoring suction fluid outflow from a surgical cavity of the surgical patient, the information signal being indicative of suction fluid outflow amount from the surgical patient;

an intravenous fluid monitor system monitoring intravenous fluid intake of the surgical patient, the information signal being indicative of intravenous fluid intake amount of the surgical patient;

an irrigation fluid monitor system monitoring irrigation fluid intake into a surgical cavity of the surgical patient, the information signal being indicative of irrigation fluid intake amount of the surgical patient; and

user input received at a user input interface of the monitor system, the information signal being indicative of irrigation fluid intake amount of the surgical patient.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving information from the information processing system by a wireless communication device; and

displaying the wirelessly received information on a display of the wireless communication device, the displayed information comprising at least one of;

a surgical object count for counting the total number of at least one type of surgical object expected to be placed in the container through the at least one port opening;

a total net fluid volume amount representing an accumulation of fluid outflow amount and/or fluid intake amount of the surgical patient;

a total estimated amount of fluid being carried with at least one surgical object placed into the container through the at least one port opening.

a total urine fluid outflow amount of a surgical patient;

a total suction fluid outflow amount corresponding to fluid suctioned from a surgical cavity of the surgical patient;

a total irrigation fluid intake amount corresponding to fluid irrigated into a surgical cavity of the surgical patient; and

a total intravenous fluid intake amount for a fluid intravenously introduced into the surgical patient.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a mobile telephone including a display.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

in response to receiving a user input signal from a user input interface of the wireless communication device, wirelessly transmitting from the wireless communication device an alarm information signal destined for reception by the information processing system, the alarm information signal communicating detection of an alarm condition detected by a user of the wireless communication device, the alarm condition being detected from at least the wirelessly received information displayed on the display of the wireless communication device.