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: 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: Methods for operating a medical waste collection system. The medical waste collection system includes a waste canister, a vacuum source, a user interface, and a controller. The controller operates the vacuum source so that an actual vacuum level does not exceed a suction limit set by the user through the user interface. A suction limit lock may be activated to permit the user to adjust the suction limit up to the suction limit lock and to prevent the user from adjusting the suction limit above the suction limit lock. If the user provides an input that indicates an attempt to adjust the suction limit above a selected vacuum level associated with the suction limit lock, then the user interface may display a prompt with an option to disable the suction limit lock.