Abstract: System, methods and apparatus related to surgical articles used during surgery. The system, methods and apparatus may include features such as an element/substrate added to surgical articles which enables the recognition by human visualization of the surgical articles when left inside patient bodies when viewed with medical imaging technologies. The element/substrate may include a plurality of three dimensional objects. Alternatively, the element/substrate may comprise a ribbon of radiopaque material having cut-puts or other radiolucent regions which provide image artifacts observable under fluoroscopic imaging.

Abstract: Surgical articles, such as sponges, are provided in a pack which contains individual surgical articles having UHF RFID or other electronic labels which provide both (a) unique identification information for each article as well as (b) unique identification information for all articles in the pack. Prior to the surgical procedure, the labels are scanned and the identification information for all articles in the pack uploaded to a processor to create a list of available individual surgical articles. At the end of the surgical procedure, the surgical articles are collected and the electronic labels read and compared to the initial list to determine if there are any unaccounted individual surgical articles. The UHF RFID tag may then be used to determine a location of the unaccounted article outside the patient’s body.

Abstract: System, methods and apparatus related to surgical articles used during surgery. The system, methods and apparatus may include features such as an element/substrate added to surgical articles which enables the recognition by human visualization of the surgical articles when left inside patient bodies when viewed with medical imaging technologies. The element/substrate may include a plurality of three dimensional objects. Alternatively, the element/substrate may comprise a ribbon of radiopaque material having cut-puts or other radiolucent regions which provide image artifacts observable under fluoroscopic imaging.

Abstract: Surgical articles, such as sponges, are provided in a pack which contains individual surgical articles having UHF RFID or other electronic labels which provide both (a) unique identification information for each article as well as (b) unique identification information for all articles in the pack. Prior to the surgical procedure, the labels are scanned and the identification information for all articles in the pack uploaded to a processor to create a list of available individual surgical articles. At the end of the surgical procedure, the surgical articles are collected and the electronic labels read and compared to the initial list to determine if there are any unaccounted individual surgical articles. The UHF RFID tag may then be used to determine a location of the unaccounted article outside the patient's body.

Abstract: System, methods and apparatus related to surgical articles used during surgery. The system, methods and apparatus may include features such as an element/substrate added to surgical articles which enables the recognition by human visualization of the surgical articles when left inside patient bodies when viewed with medical imaging technologies. The element/substrate may include a plurality of three dimensional objects. Alternatively, the element/substrate may comprise a ribbon of radiopaque material having cut-puts or other radiolucent regions which provide image artifacts observable under fluoroscopic imaging.

Abstract: System, methods and apparatus related to surgical articles used during surgery. The system, methods and apparatus may include features such as an element/substrate added to surgical articles which enables the recognition by human visualization of the surgical articles when left inside patient bodies when viewed with medical imaging technologies. The element/substrate may include a plurality of three dimensional objects. Alternatively, the element/substrate may comprise a ribbon of radiopaque material having cut-puts or other radiolucent regions which provide image artifacts observable under fluoroscopic imaging.

Abstract: Surgical articles, such as sponges, are provided in a pack which contains individual surgical articles having UHF RFID or other electronic labels which provide both (a) unique identification information for each article as well as (b) unique identification information for all articles in the pack. Prior to the surgical procedure, the labels are scanned and the identification information for all articles in the pack uploaded to a processor to create a list of available individual surgical articles. At the end of the surgical procedure, the surgical articles are collected and the electronic labels read and compared to the initial list to determine if there are any unaccounted individual surgical articles. The UHF RFID tag may then be used to determine a location of the unaccounted article outside the patient's body.

Abstract: Surgical articles, such as sponges, are provided in a pack which contains individual surgical articles having UHF RFID or other electronic labels which provide both (a) unique identification information for each article as well as (b) unique identification information for all articles in the pack. Prior to the surgical procedure, the labels are scanned and the identification information for all articles in the pack uploaded to a processor to create a list of available individual surgical articles. At the end of the surgical procedure, the surgical articles are collected and the electronic labels read and compared to the initial list to determine if there are any unaccounted individual surgical articles. The UHF RFID tag may then be used to determine a location of the unaccounted article outside the patient's body.

Abstract: System, methods and apparatus related to surgical articles used during surgery. The system, methods and apparatus may include features such as an element/substrate added to surgical articles which enables the recognition by human visualization of the surgical articles when left inside patient bodies when viewed with medical imaging technologies. The element/substrate may include a plurality of three dimensional objects. Alternatively, the element/substrate may comprise a ribbon of radiopaque material having cut-puts or other radiolucent regions which provide image artifacts observable under fluoroscopic imaging.

Abstract: Surgical articles, such as sponges, are provided in a pack which contains individual surgical articles having UHF RFID or other electronic labels which provide both (a) unique identification information for each article as well as (b) unique identification information for all articles in the pack. Prior to the surgical procedure, the labels are scanned and the identification information for all articles in the pack uploaded to a processor to create a list of available individual surgical articles. At the end of the surgical procedure, the surgical articles are collected and the electronic labels read and compared to the initial list to determine if there are any unaccounted individual surgical articles. The UHF RFID tag may then be used to determine a location of the unaccounted article outside the patient's body.

Abstract: A surgical sponge comprises a sheet of absorbent material having at least one elongated radiopaque element heat sealed thereto. The sponge is folded and sewn in particular ways to assure that the radiopaque length of material remains firmly secured to the sponge with enhanced visibility under fluoroscopic imaging.

Abstract: Surgical sponges and other articles are provided with machine-readable information which provides a serial number or other unique identification of the sponge. In addition, the machine-readable information will provide the type of article and/or a characteristic visual motif associated with the article. That way, by scanning in the machine-readable information from the sponges or other articles prior to a procedure, the computer or other digital processor can determine which articles may be missing after the procedure and alert the surgical team as to the type and/or characteristic visual motif of the missing article.

Abstract: Surgical sponges and other articles are provided with machine-readable information which provides a serial number or other unique identification of the sponge. In addition, the machine-readable information will provide the type of article and/or a characteristic visual motif associated with the article. That way, by scanning the machine-readable information from the sponges or other articles prior to a procedure, the computer or other digital processor can determine which articles may be missing after the procedure and alert the surgical team as to the type and/or characteristic visual motif of the missing article.

Abstract: Surgical sponges and other articles are provided with machine-readable information which provides a serial number or other unique identification of the sponge. In addition, the machine-readable information will provide the type of article and/or a characteristic visual motif associated with the article. That way, by scanning the machine-readable information from the sponges or other articles prior to a procedure, the computer or other digital processor can determine which articles may be missing after the procedure and alert the surgical team as to the type and/or characteristic visual motif of the missing article.

Abstract: An automatic identification system for accounting for and identifying a plurality of surgical sponges used during a surgical procedure. Machine-readable information is located on a plurality of surgical sponges. Each sponge of the plurality of surgical sponges has unique machine-readable information located thereon. The unique machine-readable information is unique for at least one surgical procedure.