Abstract: Systems and methods for managing surgical sponges. A dispenser assembly coupled to a main support includes an internal or first storage location to removably receive a carton of sponge sorters, and an external or second storage location to removably support a carton of surgical draping. At least one arm may be supported on the housing and movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position. The arm may include weighing means to measure a weight of the surgical sponge being disposed in a sponge sorter supported by the arm. The arm may be a cantilever and abeam load cell may be disposed within a channel of a beam. A processor may determine fluid weight based on measured weight and dry weight correlated with the surgical sponge being counted out as detected with a data reader. The processor may estimate blood loss to be displayed on a display.

Abstract: A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system includes a helmet over which a hood or a toga suspended. The helmet has a chin bar that extends forward of the face of the individual wearing the system. At least one manually actuated control for regulating one aspect of operation of the system is mounted to the chin bar. Sometimes the control is a button that is depressed to control the operation of a helmet mounted fan that draws air into the hood or toga. A microphone may also be mounted to the chin bar.

Abstract: A cassette for collecting a tissue sample. The cassette includes a housing configured to be removably coupled with a manifold receiver of a medical fluid collection system. The housing defines a first void space, a second void space, and an outlet opening. A catch tray is removably positionable within the first void space and includes a screen defining porous features for collecting the tissue sample. A filter element separate from the catch tray is disposed within the second void space. The housing may include a cap portion defining the first void space, and a shell portion coupled to the cap portion and defining the second void space. The cassette may be simultaneously operable in a tissue collection mode in which fluid is suctioned across the catch tray to collect the tissue sample, and a bypass mode in which the fluid is not suctioned across the catch tray.

Abstract: A head unit system for a head of a user, including a headpiece including a support structure shaped to be worn over the head. A shield mount attached to the support structure is arranged for supporting a face shield adjacent to the head. A headpiece connector is attached to the support structure and has a headpiece contact configured for electrical connection. A peripheral device provided for being secured to the headpiece for concurrent movement, the peripheral device having a device connector with a device contact configured for electrical connection. The device connector and the headpiece connector cooperate to releasably attach the peripheral device to the headpiece in a secured configuration with the respective headpiece contact and the device contact abutting in the secured configuration so as to facilitate electrical connection between the headpiece and the peripheral device.

Abstract: A waste disposal system for receiving pharmaceutical waste material including at least one of a solid phase pharmaceutical waste material and a liquid phase pharmaceutical waste material is provided. The waste receiver includes a receiver body defining an opening. The waster receiver further includes an inner surface defining a container volume in fluid communication with the opening, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The outer surface defines a lock passageway separate from the opening. The system further includes a bracket adapted to be secured to a fixed surface and a locking assembly coupled to the bracket and adapted to releasably secure the waste receiver to the fixed surface. The locking assembly includes a lock housing sized to be removably positioned at least partially within the lock passageway.

Abstract: A surgical protection system to define a barrier between the user and the external environment. The surgical protection system comprising a helmet assembly, a hood and a transparent face shield. The helmet including a shell, a face frame coupled to the shell, a static tab, a first fastener disposed on the face frame; and a fan mounted to the shell and configured to circulate air about the user. The hood may include a first material defining an opening. The shield may be formed from flexible material and disposed within the opening of the hood. The shield may further include a tab extending from a top portion of the shield and define an opening configured to receive the static tab of the helmet to align the shield to the helmet. The first fastener disposed on the face frame may be configured to facilitate removable attachment of the shield to the helmet.

Abstract: Quantifying blood loss with a medical waste collection system including a receiver with which a manifold is removably coupled. The manifold and/or the medical waste collection system is coupled with a fluid characterization module having a sensor assembly to detect a characteristic indicative of a blood concentration within fluid. The sensor assembly may include emitters, and sensors to detect light transmitted and scattered by the fluid in a suction path or a detection window. A first emitter may be a visible-light LED, and a second emitter an infrared LED. A fluid director may provide a tortuous path within the manifold and facilitate separation of gas and liquid within the fluid. Quantifying the blood loss volume may include determining the blood concentration within the fluid, and determining a volume of the collected fluid. Gain of the sensors may be adjusted based on the transmissivity of the collected fluid.

Abstract: A waste receiver for receiving pharmaceutical waste material and adapted to be releasably secured to a fixed surface is disclosed. The waste receiver comprises a receiver body with a fluid absorber and a chemical composition disposed within the receiver body. The receiver body defines an opening for receiving the pharmaceutical waste material and comprises an inner surface defining a container volume in fluid communication with the opening, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface with the outer surface defining a lock passageway through the receiver body and a keyway comprising a portion of the lock passageway. The lock passageway is adapted to receive a locking assembly and the keyway is adapted to receive an engagement feature of the locking assembly to releasably secure the waste receiver to the locking assembly in a single orientation. The waste receiver also comprises a cover adapted to be coupled with the receiver body.

Abstract: A collapsible detection antenna to detect electromagnetic tags of surgical articles in an operating room includes an antenna assembly configured to detect the electromagnetic tags. The antenna assembly is configured to move between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the antenna assembly forms an antenna loop configured to detect the electromagnetic tags. The antenna assembly has a greater detection range in the deployed configuration than in the collapsed configuration. The deployed configuration corresponds to a tuned shape of the antenna assembly sufficient to detect the electromagnetic tags in the deployed configuration.

Abstract: A surgical protection system to define a barrier between the user and the external environment. The surgical protection system comprising a helmet assembly, a hood and a transparent face shield. The helmet including a shell, a face frame coupled to the shell, a static tab, a first fastener disposed on the face frame; and a fan mounted to the shell and configured to circulate air about the user. The hood may include a first material defining an opening. The shield may be formed from flexible material and disposed within the opening of the hood. The shield may further include a tab extending from a top portion of the shield and define an opening configured to receive the static tab of the helmet to align the shield to the helmet. The first fastener disposed on the face frame may be configured to facilitate removable attachment of the shield to the helmet.

Abstract: A collapsible detection antenna (10) to detect electromagnetic tags (12) of surgical articles (14) in an operating room (16) includes an antenna assembly (18) configured to detect the electromagnetic tags (12). The antenna assembly (18) is configured to move between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the antenna assembly forms an antenna loop (20) configured to detect the electromagnetic tags (12). The antenna assembly (18) has a greater detection range in the deployed configuration than in the collapsed configuration. The deployed configuration corresponds to a tuned shape of the antenna assembly (18) sufficient to detect the electromagnetic tags (12) in the deployed configuration.

Abstract: A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system may include a head unit over which surgical garment such as a hood or a toga may be suspended over. The surgical garment may include a sterile material and a shield configured to be disposed in front of the wearers face when disposed over the head unit. The shield may comprise an anti-reflective coating configured to reduce the glare observed by the individual through said shield. The head unit may comprises a light assembly that is disposed on the wearers side of the surgical garment, and an inner surface of said surgical garment may comprise a light reflective material configured to reduce the amount of light emitted from said light assembly that is reflected back toward the individual.

Abstract: A height-adjustable kick bucket is disclosed. The kick bucket includes a receptacle, a base having one or more wheels, a support member that is extendable between a first length and a second length such that a height of the receptacle is adjustable between a minimum height and a maximum height, and a pedal movable between a first position when the receptacle is at a maximum height of the receptacle and a second position when the receptacle is at a minimum height. Additionally, a distance between the minimum height and the maximum height of the receptacle is at least twice as large as the pedal stroke.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of locating and/or counting one or more surgical articles, wherein the surgical article may comprise a surgical sponge comprising a counting element and/or detecting element. The counting element and/or detecting element may comprise an RFID tag encapsulated in a housing or pouch that is coupled to the surgical sponge. The RFID tag may further comprise unique identification and/or location information relative to the surgical sponge. The RFID tag may be coupled to the sponge at an attachment position and/or oriented on the surgical sponge relative to a defined set of reference lines. The attachment position and/or orientation of the RFID tag on the surgical sponge may be configured to improve the accuracy of scanning the RFID tag. A plurality of surgical articles (i.e. surgical sponges) comprising RFID tags may be packaged or bundled via a strap or within a container.

Abstract: A height-adjustable bucket or height-adjustable stand is adapted to carry a medical object. The bucket includes a receptacle for carrying the medical object, a base, and a support member coupled to the base. The bucket also includes a carrier movably coupled to the support member and for supporting the receptacle and a lifting member slidably coupled to the carrier and configured to move between a raised position and a lowered position. The lifting member includes a first end portion comprising a handle and a second end portion, and a retainer selectively coupling the carrier to the support member and configured to selectively retain the carrier in the relatively high position. The lifting member is configured to be in the lowered position when the carrier is in the relatively high position and when the carrier is in the relatively low position.

Abstract: System and method of managing one or more surgical articles, wherein the surgical article can include a surgical sponge comprising an identification element, and wherein managing can include counting, locating, or both. The identification element can be a RFID tag. The RFID tag stores unique identification information relative to the surgical sponge. The system and method for detecting RFID tags may include a hand-held RFID reader operable in a first count-in mode and in a second count-out mode; the hand-held RFID reader may be receivable in a cradle that can determine the presence of the hand-held RFID reader in the cradle; and where operation of the hand-held RFID reader in the second count-out mode is enabled when the hand-held RFID reader is present in the cradle and the second count-out mode is disabled when the hand-held RFID reader is absent from the cradle.

Abstract: A waste receiver for receiving pharmaceutical waste material and adapted to be releasably secured to a fixed surface is disclosed. The waste receiver comprises a receiver body with a fluid absorber and a chemical composition disposed within the receiver body. The receiver body defines an opening for receiving the pharmaceutical waste material and comprises an inner surface defining a container volume in fluid communication with the opening, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface with the outer surface defining a lock passageway through the receiver body and a keyway comprising a portion of the lock passageway. The lock passageway is adapted to receive a locking assembly and the keyway is adapted to receive an engagement feature of the locking assembly to releasably secure the waste receiver to the locking assembly in a single orientation. The waste receiver also comprises a cover adapted to be coupled with the receiver body.

Abstract: System and method of managing one or more surgical articles, wherein the surgical article can include a surgical sponge comprising an identification element, and wherein managing can include counting, locating, or both. The identification element can be a RFID tag. The RFID tag stores unique identification information relative to the surgical sponge. The system and method for detecting RFID tags may include varying the power level of the RFID interrogator to improve the accuracy of scanning the RFID tag or tags. A plurality of the RFID-tagged surgical articles (i.e., surgical sponges) may be packaged or bundled via a strap or within a container.