Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems for supporting medical fluid bags and related methods. In some implementations, a system includes a curved tray configured to support a medical fluid bag during a medical treatment, the curved tray including a plurality of openings therethrough, a medical fluid collection basin removably coupled to the curved tray and configured to collect medical fluid leaked from the medical fluid bag during the medical treatment, a leak detector coupled to a surface of the medical fluid collection basin and configured to detect fluid as leaked from the medical fluid bag into the medical fluid collection basin, and a control unit configured to receive treatment data related to the medical treatment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a medical adherence device. A medical adherence device includes a sharps bin, and an enclosure, the enclosure configured to display information on an output screen, receive medical waste and record information about the medical waste as the medical waste drops into the sharps bin.

Abstract: A surgical sponge and fluid monitoring system and method are provided. The system (100) includes a support ring (104) for securely supporting a container (101) with at least one port opening (206) for placing sponges (204) into the container through the at least one port opening. The support ring includes RFID communication circuitries (305, 307) that interrogate an RFID device (205) in the sponge (204) and an RFID device in the container. The support ring is mechanically linked to a load cell (706, 1329) in the system. The processor (1302) reliably detects when a sponge is placed into the container through the at least one port opening, identifies the type of sponge placed into the container, counts the number of sponges in the container, sorts the types of sponges, and calculates fluid loss for a patient in a surgical procedure. A user interface (1308, 114) keeps the medical professionals informed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a self-service device (“SSD”) purge-bin weighing scale are provided. The SSD may include a dispenser. The dispenser may disburse one or more tangible items to a customer. The dispenser may retract at least one of the tangible items disbursed to the customer. The SSD may include a purge-bin. The purge-bin may hold at least one tangible item. The purge-bin may hold the tangible item after the tangible item is retracted by the dispenser. The SSD may include a scale. The scale may measure a weight. The weight may be the weight of at least one tangible item. The scale may measure the weight after the tangible item is retracted by the dispenser. The scale may measure the weight of the tangible item prior to a transfer of the tangible item to the purge-bin.

Abstract: A weigh system for a mobile farm implement including a plurality of sensors and an indicator. The indicator may receive signals directly from each individual sensor related to the weight or load at the location of the sensor. The indicator may then use the information to determine if the mobile farm implement is in danger of hitch overload or rollover.

Abstract: A surgical sponge and fluid monitoring system and method are provided. The system includes a support ring for securely supporting a container with at least one port opening for placing sponges into the container through the port opening with the aid of gravity. The support ring includes IR emitters and sensors that blanket IR beams across the port opening. The support ring is mechanically linked to a load cell in the system. The processor, with novel methods, reliably detects when sponges are placed into the container through the port opening, counts the number of sponges in the container, sorts the types of sponges, and calculates fluid loss for a patient in a surgical procedure. A user interface in the monitoring system keeps the medical professionals in the OR fully informed.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus (100) comprise a large throw-in weighing hopper (21) which is fed with objects having a weight which is less than a target weight of the objects, holds the objects which are weighed, and discharges the weighed objects; a plurality of medium throw-in weighing hoppers (64, 65, 66, 44) which are respectively fed with the objects having weights adjusted with a different ratio, hold the objects for which combination calculation is performed based on the weights of the objects, and discharge the objects based on a result of the combination calculation; and a loss-in hopper (42) which is used in loss-in weighing and performs loss-in discharge of the objects.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A viscous material processing system comprises a feed system controller having a set of instructions to store an input set point weight or amount; sense a progressing weight or amount of material fed by the feed system; compare the progressing weight with the set point weight or amount and terminate feed from the system when the compared progressing weight is substantially equal to the set point weight or amount; and a vicious material compounding system connected to the feed system to receive material fed by the feed system.

Abstract: A viscous material processing system comprises a feed system controller having a set of instructions to store an input set point weight or amount; sense a progressing weight or amount of material fed by the feed system; compare the progressing weight with the set point weight or amount and terminate feed from the system when the compared progressing weight is substantially equal to the set point weight or amount; and a viscous material compounding system connected to the feed system to receive material fed by the feed system.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Automated tracking devices for counting, sorting, weighing, and containing articles, such as sponges that contain fluids from patients undergoing surgery. Devices according to the present invention employ a suspended container for receiving and sorting the articles. The cumulative weight of the container contents is sensed accurately and registered reliably after an appropriate settling period via a load cell structure which is aimed at eliminating bending moments and non-vertical force components imposed by the container and its contents. Automatic sensing of the presence of the container allows continuous, rather than solely end-point, fluid monitoring during the surgical procedures and allows this monitoring to continue as successive containers are changed during an operation. Appropriate warnings occur after a predetermined number of articles have been introduced into the container, in order to indicate that a container change is due.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the true loss of blood from a patient during a surgical operation, comprises a blood container on a weighing means, that provides an output signal equal to the total weight on the weighing means. A weight register is maintained, to be updated periodically to the output of the weighing means. At scheduled periodic times the new weight reading of the weighing means is compared to the previous weight as indicated by the weight register. Any difference, if positive, indicates additional input to the blood container on the weighing means. This positive difference goes to update the weight register, and also to update a blood register indicating total blood loss. If the difference between the new electrical weight signal and the previous (old) electrical weight signal is negative, then an equal number of units is withdrawn from the weight register, to bring it into agreement with the new weight on the weighing means.

Abstract: A device for measuring sponges comprising, a measuring device for indicating the weight of an applied object, a retaining device applied to the measuring device for retaining a plurality of wetted sponges, and a determining device associated with the measuring device for determining the total weight of liquid in the retained sponges.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for weighing railroad cars coupled together and in motion is disclosed which eliminates the necessity for special scales and, in particular, can be retrofitted and used in conjunction with most existing weigh bridges regardless of the length of the weight bridge, without any modification of the physical construction thereof, and with most existing weigh mechanisms.Generally, the apparatus provides two types of weighing, summation of axle weights and full draft. In addition, combinations of each are possible. During weighing by the summation of axle weights, as each axle enters the weigh bridge, a weight measurement is made and stored in memory. Cars with up to a maximum of nine axles (this is limited by the requirement rather than the electronics) are weighed by adding the axle weights, when the last car axle has entered the weigh bridge. A printer provides a hard copy record of car weights.