Surgical Article Count Verification Using Speech Discrepancy Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical sponge counting methods, including manual and electronically assisted techniques, are prone to human error and illegibility, necessitating improved integration into surgical procedure protocols to ensure accurate inventory management.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method utilizing a surgical management system with a display device, user interface, microphones, and processors for receiving and converting audible speech into machine-encoded values to compare and identify discrepancies in surgical article counts, incorporating neural network training for enhanced accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual counting methods are used, then the counting process is simple and requires no additional equipment, but it is prone to human error and illegibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecounting accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical counting with an automated system that uses RFID readers to detect tags on surgical sponges, converting mechanical hand-counting into an electronic automated detection process that eliminates human error and improves reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces RFID tags as intermediary elements attached to surgical sponges, which serve as mediators between the physical sponges and the counting system, enabling automatic detection and counting without direct human intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If electronic counting technology is integrated into surgical protocols, then counting accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the surgical management system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory management accuracyVSAvoidsystem integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical management system is designed to perform multiple functions including patient identification, surgical site marking, and sponge counting through a single integrated platform, reducing the need for separate systems and managing complexity through consolidation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time feedback by continuously monitoring RFID tags during the surgical procedure and automatically updating inventory counts, enabling immediate detection of discrepancies and improving accuracy through continuous verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If verbal confirmation counts are implemented, then the reliability of surgical article counts is improved, but the time required for counting procedures increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecount verification accuracyVSAvoidcounting procedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables continuous counting throughout the surgical procedure by automatically detecting RFID tags as sponges are used, eliminating the need for discrete verbal confirmation counts at specific intervals and maintaining continuous inventory awareness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical sponges themselves provide the counting information through their embedded RFID tags, which automatically communicate their presence and status to the management system without requiring active participation or verification from surgical staff

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the accuracy of surgical sponge counting by automatically identifying and correcting discrepancies between electronic and verbal counts, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring precise inventory management during surgical procedures.

Implementation Method 1

converting, with the one or more processors, the confirming verbal count into machine-encoded values

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic signal processing:

Data Source

PatentUS20250352279A1Systems And Methods For Implementing Adjunct Technology To Facilitate A Surgical Procedure

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

A method of facilitating a surgical procedure includes receiving a first input including a first surgical article type and a first quantity of the first surgical article type for surgical articles that have been counted in to the procedure, displaying an electronic count including the first surgical article type and the first quantity of the first surgical article type, and receiving a subsequent input to alter the count. The method further includes capturing, with a microphone, speech including a verbal count for the surgical articles that have been counted in to the procedure, converting the verbal count into machine-encoded values including a second surgical article type and a second quantity, and comparing the electronic count to the machine-encoded values to identify a discrepancy. The method further includes displaying the identified discrepancy.