摘要 |
A device for automatically counting, weighing, and calculating blood loss contained within, soiled surgical sponges includes a cabinet with an opening at the top through which sponges are deposited, a reader which scans each sponge entered and determines sponge type from a tag affixed to each sponge, and a disposable bag into which the sponges are deposited. The disposable bag is removably mounted to a weighing scale; there is also a rear door from which the disposable bag can be easily removed, a rechargeable battery, a shelf for unused disposable bag storage, a control unit which processes data received from reader and scale and instantaneously calculates total weight of liquid contained within sponges entered, a display panel which 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 which can read an indicating means on the sponges even when the indicating means is covered with blood or other body fluids. |