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: 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.