Surgical sponge counting device and method

a sponge counting and sponge technology, applied in the field of surgical sponge counting devices and methods, can solve problems such as sponge miscounting, and achieve the effects of easy viewing and counting, convenient use of sponges, and easy counting

US20080029416A1Inactive Publication Date: 2008-02-07PAXTON DENISE
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2008-02-07
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

The present invention is a device for displaying and assisting a user in counting used surgical sponges and the like. The device includes integral sets of holders arranged around an exterior edge of the device. Each set of holders is arranged away from the other sets of holders such that a user can practice a method of easily and accurately accounting for used surgical sponges.
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Description

[0001] There are no related patent applications.

[0002] This patent application did not receive federal research and development funding.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention is generally directed to a method and device for displaying and counting used surgical sponges. More specifically the present invention relates to a device which easily allows for visual recognition of a sum of sponges used during a medical procedure. The device helps keep track of the used sponges to prevent medical accidents caused by unaccounted sponges.

[0004] Medical accidents may occur during surgery when surgical sponges are inadvertently left in a patient. The patient may develop a life-threatening injury or infection when this type of accident occurs. It is therefore important to carefully count used surgical sponges.

[0005] Previously, others have counted used surgical sponges in a manner whereby used surgical sponges are passed from a surgeon to a scrub nurse who drops the used sponges in a kick bu...

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Embodiment Construction

[0026]FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention shown in a square shape. In this embodiment, the sponge monitoring device 1 comprises twenty rods 5 arranged to provide a plurality of projections 3. The twenty rods 5 comprise a support structure for bearing the weight of used sponges. The rods 5 are arranged in sets 10 and comprise a rigid material. Preferably, the rods 5 are seventeen inches long to facilitate use of the device with a ring stand that is currently used in surgical procedures. Each set 10 includes five rods 5 that are arranged parallel to one another, as shown. Adjoining rods 5 of a set 10 are preferably separated by a one-inch gap, represented as 20 in the Figures. In the preferably embodiment, each set of five rods 5 are separated by two inches from the other set of parallel rods, represented by 15 in FIG. 1. As shown, the device of the first embodiment comprises forty projections 3 arranged about exterior edges of the device 1. The projections...