SURGICAL SPONGE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

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.

主权项

1. An article for use in medical procedures, the article comprising:
an elongated flexible strip of material having a first end and a second end; and a plurality of surgical sponges physically separately coupled to the elongated flexible strip of material at respective fixed locations spaced along the elongated flexible strip of material, each of the surgical sponges individually physically detachable from the article.