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.

Abstract: A system may include an exercise device and an external device. The exercise device may include a rigid rod, a plurality of light sources, at least one load sensor for detecting an applied longitudinal force, and a first processor coupled to the at least one load sensor and to the plurality of light sources and configured to obtain a signal indicating a magnitude of the applied longitudinal force, and cause a subset of the plurality of light sources to emit light. The external device may comprise a communication interface, a display, and a second processor coupled to the communication interface and to the display and configured to establish a communication link with the exercise device using the communication interface, obtain data over the communication link, and cause the display to present information associated with the exercise device.

Abstract: A system may include an exercise device and an external device. The exercise device may include a rigid rod, a plurality of light sources, at least one load sensor for detecting an applied longitudinal force, and a first processor coupled to the at least one load sensor and to the plurality of light sources and configured to obtain a signal indicating a magnitude of the applied longitudinal force, and cause a subset of the plurality of light sources to emit light. The external device may comprise a communication interface, a display, and a second processor coupled to the communication interface and to the display and configured to establish a communication link with the exercise device using the communication interface, obtain data over the communication link, and cause the display to present information associated with the exercise device.

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: An exercise device comprises a rigid rod having a first and second ends, a plurality of light sources arranged in a row along at least a portion of an axis extending between the first and second ends of the rigid rod, at least one load sensor for detecting an applied longitudinal force, and a processor coupled to the at least one load sensor and to the plurality of light sources. The processor is configured to execute machine-executable instructions that cause the processor to obtain a signal indicating a magnitude of the applied longitudinal force, and cause a subset of the plurality of light sources to emit light. A ratio of a number of light sources in the subset to a total number of the plurality of light sources represents the magnitude of the applied longitudinal force relative to a reference longitudinal force.

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: 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.

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: An exercise device comprises a rigid rod having a first and second ends, a plurality of light sources arranged in a row along at least a portion of an axis extending between the first and second ends of the rigid rod, at least one load sensor for detecting an applied longitudinal force, and a processor coupled to the at least one load sensor and to the plurality of light sources. The processor is configured to execute machine-executable instructions that cause the processor to obtain a signal indicating a magnitude of the applied longitudinal force, and cause a subset of the plurality of light sources to emit light. A ratio of a number of light sources in the subset to a total number of the plurality of light sources represents the magnitude of the applied longitudinal force relative to a reference longitudinal force.

Abstract: An exercise device comprising a rigid rod, a base, at least one load sensor inside the base or the rigid rod, the at least one load sensor for detecting a longitudinal force applied to the exercise device, and a processor coupled to the at least one load sensor, the processor for executing one or more machine-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to cause at least one of the plurality of light sources to emit light to instruct a user to apply a target longitudinal force to the exercise device, obtain a signal indicating a magnitude of the applied longitudinal force, and control at least one characteristic of at least a subset of the plurality of light sources to provide an indication of the magnitude of the applied longitudinal force relative to the magnitude of the target longitudinal force.

Abstract: An exercise device comprising a rigid rod, a base, at least one load sensor inside the base or the rigid rod, the at least one load sensor for detecting a longitudinal force applied to the exercise device, and a processor coupled to the at least one load sensor, the processor for executing one or more machine-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to cause at least one of the plurality of light sources to emit light to instruct a user to apply a target longitudinal force to the exercise device, obtain a signal indicating a magnitude of the applied longitudinal force, and control at least one characteristic of at least a subset of the plurality of light sources to provide an indication of the magnitude of the applied longitudinal force relative to the magnitude of the target longitudinal force.