Abstract: A surgical sponge and comprehensive 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 receiving surgical sponges placed into the container. A hollow spine structure includes a channel and a rod that can move in the channel. The rod transfers weight force from the support ring to a weight force sensing device. A flexure maintains the rod vertically aligned in the channel with a gap separating the length of the rod from the channel walls. A processor receives an information signal indicative of at least one of urine outflow, suction fluid outflow, irrigation fluid intake; and intravenous fluid intake, of a surgical patient. The processor accumulates a total amount of estimated net fluid volume loss for the patient from the surgical sponge, and from other measured fluid outflow and intake.

Abstract: A surgical sponge and comprehensive 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 receiving surgical sponges placed into the container. A hollow spine structure includes a channel and a rod that can move in the channel. The rod transfers weight force from the support ring to a weight force sensing device. A flexure maintains the rod vertically aligned in the channel with a gap separating the length of the rod from the channel walls. A processor receives an information signal indicative of at least one of urine outflow, suction fluid outflow, irrigation fluid intake; and intravenous fluid intake, of a surgical patient. The processor accumulates a total amount of estimated net fluid volume loss for the patient from the surgical sponge, and from other measured fluid outflow and intake.

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: 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: A container, system, method, and computer readable storage medium, for monitoring at least one of surgical object and fluid placed into the container are provided. The container includes a rigid top member including at least one port opening therein, having a recessed portion of the underside of the top member along an outer perimeter, a rigid retaining ring sized and shaped to match the size and shape of the recessed portion along the outer perimeter, and a flexible bag body having an open top portion and a sealed bottom portion, an outer perimeter of the open top portion being folded over the rigid retaining ring, the rigid retaining ring with the folded over perimeter of the open top portion of the flexible bag body being mated and locked in the recessed portion of the underside of the rigid top member along the outer perimeter in a fluid-tight seal arrangement.

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 consumer profile can store consumer presence data and restaurant transaction data, as well as financial data and other secondary data. The consumer presence data can used to detect a consumer presence at a restaurant. A corresponding transaction between the restaurant and the consumer can be automatically initiated at the restaurant in response to the detected consumer presence at the restaurant and without requiring the consumer to explicitly request the transaction be initiated. A consumer can also be presented with a personalized interface for initiating a transaction at the restaurant in response to the consumer's presence being detected at the restaurant.

Abstract: A consumer profile can store consumer presence data and restaurant transaction data, as well as financial data and other secondary data. The consumer presence data can used to detect a consumer presence at a restaurant. A corresponding transaction between the restaurant and the consumer can be automatically initiated at the restaurant in response to the detected consumer presence at the restaurant and without requiring the consumer to explicitly request the transaction be initiated. A consumer can also be presented with a personalized interface for initiating a transaction at the restaurant in response to the consumer's presence being detected at the restaurant.

Abstract: The invention is a snack style clear front merchandiser having a horizontal product column with a front opening leading into a vend space. A product mover pushes a product through the front opening and into the vend space. A retaining device, mounted to the merchandiser near the front opening and positioned in a manner such that a top of the product being vended hits the retaining device during vending, prevents the product top from moving or pitching forward during a vending process. Consequently, the vended product falls freely into the delivery hopper without bridging the vending space. A single retaining device may be used for several columns in a single tray or individual retaining devices may be used for each column. The height of the retaining device can be adjusted as required for the type of product being vended in the columns. The retaining device may be rigidly or rotationally mounted to the merchandiser.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for performing vend operations on articles selected by a purchaser. Articles to be dispensed are stored in a storage section, and purchased articles are transferred from the storage section to a vend section. A vend mechanism is provided for rapidly moving a given article from a vend-destined section to the vend section. A helical transfer member holds the articles in the storage section and is rotatable in a dispensing direction to transfer the given article from a position adjacent the vend-destined section to the vend-destined section. The helical transfer member is also rotatable in a reverse direction opposite the dispensing direction. A driver is coupled to each helical transfer member, and is actuable to rotate the helical transfer member in either the dispensing direction or the reverse direction.

Abstract: In a packaged article vending machine having a forwardly, projecting motorized helix supported on a horizontally arranged tray in a wide column delimited by side walls which are disposed substantially further apart than the helix is broad in diameter, the helix is prevented from `walking` towards the sidewall towards which it would tend to move as the helix rotates, by securing a chock to the tray so as to tangentially engage at least two turns of the helix during a portion of a 360.degree. rotation of the helix, from externally of the helix, and have its rear end located sufficiently out of the way as to avoid possibly poking contact with from the front lower part of an impounded product package being conveyed forwards to eventually become the leading package, next to be vended.

Abstract: The mounting channel for product price, product identity and/or column identity chips or cards provided across the front of a tray of a glass-front vending machine of the motorized helical mechanism type, is provided with one or more chips or cards which have a tab which protrudes upwards beyond the product support surface of the tray, at a location determined to be appropriate for intersecting a like corner of each package conveyed to the foremost position and off the front edge of that tray, for thereby predetermining the spatial orientation of the package as it begins to fall, for preventing bridging of the package between the tray and the glass front. The tabbed chip or card may also provide typical product price, product identity and/or column identity information.

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: Precontoured plating, screws, instruments and methods for osteosynthesis. Plates according to the present invention take advantage of the fact that human adult craniofacial structure and shape is highly similar among the population. The plates are thus preformed, pretempered, precontoured, and preconfigured during manufacture to fit a large proportion of the human adult population. The plates consequently require less time during surgery to twist and bend to conform to the skeletal structure and their crystalline and other structural characteristics need not be adversely affected by extensive bending, twisting and shaping in the operating room. The plates may be packaged and presented for use on forms which simulate portions of the skull so that their intended craniofacial location is easily recognized by members of the surgical team.

Abstract: An apparatus having a high center of gravity incorporating an energy absorbing device is disclosed. The energy absorbing device includes a rapidly extending shock absorbing device to absorb and thereby dampen the forward motion of an apparatus having a high center of gravity such as a vending machine subjected to a tipping force in the lateral direction. A method of fabrication for example a vending machine having an energy absorbing device is also described. In the vending machine example, the energy absorbing device prevents an individual from using a rocking motion to develop sufficient angular momentum enabling the individual to tip the vending machine into a forward position.

Abstract: A latching mechanism is disclosed for application in vending machines, or the like. In a preferred embodiment the latching mechanism is of one-piece construction. The latching mechanism comprises a ramp mounted to an outer door of the vending machine and configured such that an inner door of the vending machine remains latched to the outer door when it is pulled away from a dispenser housing to access the refrigerated compartment therein. The ramp preferably comprises a ridge on a horizontal surface thereof. When the inner door is urged against the outer door, it passes over the ridge and comes to rest on the ramp. The ridge deters the inner door from sliding off the ramp and becoming detached from the outer door. An appropriate amount of force applied to separate the two doors causes the inner door to roll over the ridge and swing away from the outer door.

Abstract: Precontoured plating, screws, instruments and methods for osteosynthesis. Plates according to the present invention take advantage of the fact that human adult craniofacial structure and shape is highly similar among the population. The plates are thus preformed, pretempered, precontoured, and preconfigured during manufacture to fit a large proportion of the human adult population. The plates consequently require less time during surgery to twist and bend to conform to the skeletal structure and their crystalline and other structural characteristics need not be adversely affected by extensive bending, twisting and shaping in the operating room. The plates may be packaged and presented for use on forms which simulate portions of the skull so that their intended craniofacial location is easily recognized by members of the surgical team.

Abstract: Apparatus for accurately and more safely monitoring blood and bodily fluids in a patient. In one embodiment, at least one load cell supports a container for receiving various sizes of sponges that hold such fluids. The sponges may be sorted into the container utilizing a sorting grip located above or forming a part of the container, and photoelectric or other sensors detect the number of sponges placed into the container via each opening in the grid. The load cells and sensors are connected to controller circuitry which counts, tracks and displays the number of each size of sponges in the container and the weight of fluid in the sponges.

Abstract: System and method for preventing multiple vends in which a customer gets more than one product for the price of one. The invention is applicable to vending machines having separate vend motors for delivering different products, with product selection switches for selectively energizing the vend motors. When one of the vend motors is energized, energization of a second vend motor is inhibited for a predetermined period of time to prevent vending of a second product.