| abstract |
A surgical sponge detection system includes a plurality of surgical sponges ( 2 ) having radio frequency identification tags ( 1 ) securely attached thereto and a non-optical hand-held reader ( 40 ) for detecting the sponges by detecting the tags ( 1 ). Also disclosed is a device ( 30 ) for automatically counting, weighing, and calculating blood loss contained within, soiled surgical sponges ( 2 ) which includes a cabinet with an opening ( 3 ) at the top through which sponges ( 2 ) are deposited, a reader ( 6 ) which scans each sponge ( 2 ) entered and determines sponge type from a tag ( 1 ) affixed to each sponge ( 2 ), and a disposable bag ( 8 ) into which the sponges ( 2 ) are deposited. The disposable bag ( 8 ) is removably mounted to a weighing scale ( 10 ); there is also a rear door ( 9 ) from which the disposable bag ( 8 ) can be easily removed, a rechargeable battery ( 11 ), a shelf ( 12 ) for unused disposable bag storage, a control unit ( 4 ) which processes data received from reader ( 6 ) and scale ( 10 ) and instantaneously calculates total weight of liquid contained within sponges entered, a display panel ( 5 ) continuously displays the number and type of sponges entered during a given procedure as well as the total weight of liquids retained in those sponges. There is a means for automatically determining the weight of the sponges when dry which includes a non-optical scanner means ( 6 ) which can read an indicating means ( 1 ) on the sponges ( 2 ) even when the indicating means ( 1 ) is covered with blood or other body fluids. |