Patent ID: 8597228

Claim:
A method of monitoring a fluid deficit in a fluid management system, the method comprising: measuring an initial weight held by a fluid supply container support, the fluid supply container support supporting a first fluid supply container; measuring an initial weight held by a fluid collection container support, the fluid collection container support supporting a first fluid collection container; calculating an initial reference total weight, the initial reference total weight including a sum of the initial weight held by the fluid supply container support and the initial weight held by the fluid collection container support; supplying fluid from the first fluid supply container to a site, said site being a surgical site or a patient; collecting at least some of the fluid from the site into the first fluid collection container; measuring a first current weight held by the fluid supply container support; measuring a first current weight held by the fluid collection container support; calculating a first current total weight, the first current total weight including a sum of the first current weight held by the fluid supply container support and the first current weight held by the fluid collection container support; and calculating a first fluid deficit by determining a difference between the first current total weight and the initial reference total weight.