Patent ID: 6998541
Filing Date: 2006-02-14
Classification: A61B,A61M,G01G,G06M

Abstract:
1. A sponge bucket apparatus for receiving and automatically counting used surgical sponges of different size and shapes, each sponge having an indicating means thereon for identifying the sponge, the apparatus comprising: a) a bucket container body having an interior for containing used surgical sponges, the container having an upper end with a single opening through which used surgical sponges enter the container, a lower end with a base and a side wall; b) a non-optical scanner positioned next to the opening for detecting a surgical sponge entering the container through the opening; c) a display on the container body for displaying the number of sponges which have entered the container through the opening since a predetermined time; d) wherein the scanner automatically determines the type of sponge which enters the container body through the opening, even if sponges of different sizes and shapes pass through the opening in sequence; and e) the first display having indicia that indicates the number of each different type of sponge which has entered the container body through the single opening in a predetermined time frame.