46 results about "Surgical Sponges" patented technology

A surgical sponge comprises a plurality of radiopaque markers having a high radiographic density and a distinctive, visually recognizable shape. The markers have an x-ray density equivalent to at least about 0.1 g / cm2 of BaSO4. The markers produce an x-ray image with high contrast and a shape that is readily recognizable and differentiated from the images produced by other items and structures commonly seen in x-rays of post-operative patients. Owing to the distinctive, high contrast image produced by the markers, the sponge is reliably and unambiguously detected. This is so even in situations where the sponge is inadvertently left in the surgical wound. Discomfort, trauma, and possibly fatal consequences that might otherwise occur are virtually eliminated. The surgical procedure is carried out with decreased likelihood of a sponge being retained inadvertently.

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.

Externally detectable electronic article surveillance markers are attached to surgical implements, such as sponges and surgical instruments, appointed for use in a surgical wound. The attachment mechanism facilitates detection by an external interrogating field before the wound has been closed and the patient has left the operating table. The markers are responsive to the imposition of an interrogating field produced by an electronic article surveillance system. Use of the attachment mechanism and markers assure that the surgical implements are reliably detected and removed before completion of the surgical procedure. This technique eliminates the not infrequent mishap in which an implement is undiscovered at the time of surgery and remains indefinitely within the surgical cavity, often entailing dire consequences to the patient.

A surgical sponge dispensing system facilitates the accurate counting of surgical sponges used in a medical procedure. An elongated flexible strip of material carries a plurality of surgical sponges, each attached to the elongated flexible strip of material at a respective fixed location. Demarcations on the elongated flexible strip of material can provide an accurate and reliable indication of the number of surgical sponges detached from the elongated flexible strip of material. Additionally, each of the plurality of surgical sponges and the corresponding attachment location of the sponge to the elongated flexible strip of material may carry a unique alphanumeric identifier. Reconciling the alphanumeric identifiers at locations on the elongated flexible strip of material during a medical procedure can provide an accurate and reliable count of the number of surgical sponges used during the procedure.

A periodontal structure regeneration composition for treatment of periodontal disease is a mixture of particles of a bone growth material and free collagen. All particles are sized to be less than 1 mm in diameter. The periodontal regeneration composition is injected into the periodontal pocket through an 18 gauge needle. The composition may contain a thickener that increases the viscosity of the composition after the material has been injected into the periodontal pocket. The composition is available in pre-filled syringes offered in a kit that may also contain strips of surgical sponge or gauze that are sized to fit within a periodontal pocket, a tube of adhesive, a dental bur, a probe, a gauze placement tool, gauze counter and a brush for cleaning the dental bur.

A rack for surgical sponge counter bags that facilitates sponge counting, comprising a spindle and a plurality of rotatable support members mounted for rotation about the spindle, each support member carrying one or more mechanical devices that are constructed and adapted to grasp a sponge counter bag.

A surgical sponge counter includes a unitary molded plastic sponge tray defining a plurality of wells each sized to hold a lap sponge. Each well has a ledge defining a recess below the sponge for collecting fluid once the sponge is replaced in the tray. A needle counting receptacle tray may be nested within the sponge tray above the sponges.

A surgical sponge inventory rack includes a vertical mounting rod, a laterally extending sponge bag holder connected to the mounting rod, and a sponge bag supported on the sponge bag holder. The sponge bag includes a pocket configured to receive and display a surgical sponge. The sponge bag holder including a plurality of support members. The support members are shiftable relative to one another to transition the sponge bag holder between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. At least one of the support members extends in the lateral direction past another of the support members when the sponge bag holder is in the expanded configuration. The support members collectively present a depth in a fore-and-aft direction that is transverse to the lateral direction and transverse to the vertical direction. The depth is at least substantially constant as the sponge bag holder transitions between the collapsed and expanded configurations.