A machine for counting medical items including at least a support structure configured to support at least a container into which, during use, the medical items are introduced, a first detection device configured to detect at least a stream of the medical items to the container and a control and management unit connected at least to the first detection device to acquire data at least relating to the stream of medical items to the container. The control and management unit includes a printing device configured to print on a print support at least some of the data relating at least to the stream of medical items introduced into the container.

A container for disposal of medical waste is provided that comprises a receptacle with an open top. A lid is attached to the receptacle to cover the open top of the receptacle. The lid has an elongated opening sized to permit the introduction of medical waste into the receptacle. A closure flap is connected to the lid to selectively close the lid opening. The closure flap is movable between an open position, a closed position, and a locked position. The closure flap is attached to the lid by axial hubs that extend from each side of the closure flap through openings in the side walls of the lid. Covers attached to the outside of the side wall of the lid and engaged with the closure flap axial hub. The container may also include a locking external cabinet that encloses the receptacle and can be mounted to a wall.

Many variations of systems, methods and apparatus for counting medical procedure objects, reconciling same, estimating patient blood loss during and/or after a procedure, and/or communicating between medical equipment used in a medical procedure setting are disclosed and/or illustrated herein. More particularly, many systems, methods and apparatus for counting and/or reconciling medical sponges with passive or active tracking devices, properly detecting/estimating blood loss during and/or after a medical procedure to assist with transfusion decision-making and identifying or at least alerting as to post-procedure patient risks, and/or for communicating between devices used during procedures to provide a smart/connected medical procedure environment are disclosed and/or illustrated herein.

A surgical sponge counter includes a unitary molded plastic sponge tray defining a plurality of wells each sized to hold a lap sponge. Each well has a ledge defining a recess below the sponge for collecting fluid once the sponge is replaced in the tray. A needle counting receptacle tray may be nested within the sponge tray above the sponges.

A container for disposal of medical waste is provided that comprises a receptacle with an open top. A lid is attached to the receptacle to cover the open top of the receptacle. The lid has an elongated opening sized to permit the introduction of medical waste into the receptacle. A closure flap is connected to the lid to selectively close the lid opening. The closure flap is movable between an open position, a closed position, and a locked position. The closure flap is attached to the lid by axial hubs that extend from each side of the closure flap through openings in the side walls of the lid. Covers attached to the outside of the side wall of the lid and engaged with the closure flap axial hub. The container may also include a locking external cabinet that encloses the receptacle and can be mounted to a wall.

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.

A container for disposal of medical waste is provided that comprises a receptacle with an open top. A lid is attached to the receptacle to cover the open top of the receptacle. The lid has an elongated opening sized to permit the introduction of medical waste into the receptacle. A closure flap is connected to the lid to selectively close the lid opening. The closure flap is movable between an open position, a closed position and a locked position. The closure flap is attached to the lid by axial hubs that extend from each side of the closure flap through openings in the side walls of the lid. Covers attached to the outside of the side wall of the lid and engaged with the closure flap axial hub. The container may also include a locking external cabinet that encloses the receptacle and can be mounted to a wall.

System, methods and apparatus related to surgical sponges and surgical sponge counting and detection systems. The system, methods and apparatus may include features such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) scanner adapted to detect entry and exit of a surgical sponge RFID identifier associated with each of a plurality of surgical sponges. In addition, an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) scanner may be included that is adapted to detect the presence of a surgical sponge having an EAS identifier associated with each of the plurality of surgical sponges. A control circuit may be configured to determine and provide an indication that all the sponges have been removed from the patient, or that one or more sponges still remain in the patient.

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.

A height-adjustable bucket or height-adjustable stand is adapted to carry a medical object. The bucket includes a receptacle for carrying the medical object, a base, and a support member coupled to the base. The bucket also includes a carrier movably coupled to the support member and for supporting the receptacle and a lifting member slidably coupled to the carrier and configured to move between a raised position and a lowered position. The lifting member includes a first end portion comprising a handle and a second end portion, and a retainer selectively coupling the carrier to the support member and configured to selectively retain the carrier in the relatively high position. The lifting member is configured to be in the lowered position when the carrier is in the relatively high position and when the carrier is in the relatively low position.