Surgical sponge counting device and method

Abstract

The present invention is a device for displaying and assisting a user in counting used surgical sponges and the like. The device includes integral sets of holders arranged around an exterior edge of the device. Each set of holders is arranged away from the other sets of holders such that a user can practice a method of easily and accurately accounting for used surgical sponges.

1 . A counting device for keeping track of used surgical sponges during operations, said counting device having an interior edge and an exterior edge and comprising:
 a plurality of projections extending from the exterior edge of the counting device, said plurality of projections arranged in sets of five projections and having a first distance being defined between each projection within a set of projections and a second distance between each set of projections and adjoining sets of projections, wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance; and,   a support structure for bearing a weight of used sponges, said support structure comprising at least a first reinforcing rod extending within the interior edge of the counting device and at least a second reinforcing rod extending within the interior edge of the counting device, said second reinforcing rod perpendicularly intersecting said first reinforcing rod.   
   
   
       2 . The counting device of  claim 1  wherein said exterior edge is circularly shaped. 
   
   
       3 . The counting device of  claim 1  wherein said exterior edge is formed in the shape of a parallelogram. 
   
   
       4 . The counting device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 first and second sides that are arrange on opposite sides of the exterior edge of the device, said first and second sides being parallel to one another;   third and fourth sides that are arranged on opposite sides of the exterior edge of the device, said third and fourth sides being parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first and second sides;   a first plurality of five rods that extends from the first side to the second side, each of said five rods being arranged a uniform distance from one another and being parallel to one another;   a second plurality of five rods that extends from the first side to the second side, each of said five rods being arranged a uniform distance from one another and being parallel to one another, said second plurality of five rods being parallel to the first plurality of five rods;   a third plurality of five rods that extends from the third side to the fourth side, each of said five rods being arranged a uniform distance from one another and being parallel to one another;   a fourth plurality of five rods that extends from the third side to the fourth side, each of said five rods being arranged a uniform distance from one another and being parallel to one another, said fourth plurality of five rods being parallel to the third plurality of five rods; and,   wherein the third and fourth plurality of five rods are perpendicular to the first and second plurality of five rods.   
   
   
       5 . The counting device of  claim 4  wherein adjoining rods in a plurality of five rods are separated by a one-inch gap. 
   
   
       6 . The counting device of  claim 4  wherein the first, second, third and fourth plurality of five rods are arranged to form a square opening in a center of the counting device that is two inches by two inches. 
   
   
       7 . The counting device of  claim 4  wherein the first plurality of five rods are separated from the second plurality of five rods by two inches. 
   
   
       8 . The counting device of  claim 1  further comprising four reinforcing bars arranged on the exterior edge of the counting device. 
   
   
       9 . The counting device of  claim 8  further comprising four connecting bars, each connecting bar having a first end and a second end, said first end connecting to a first reinforcing bar and said second end connecting to a second reinforcing bar, such that the connecting bars are arranged between the reinforcing bars. 
   
   
       10 . A counting device for keeping track of used surgical sponges during operations, said counting device having an interior edge and an exterior edge and four sides, said counting device comprising:
 a first plurality of five rods that extends from a first side to a second side of the device, each of said five rods being arranged a uniform distance from one another and being parallel to one another;   a second plurality of five rods that extends from the first side to the second side of the device, each of said five rods being arranged a uniform distance from one another and being parallel to one another, said second plurality of five rods being parallel to the first plurality of five rods;   a third plurality of five rods that extends from a third side to a fourth side of the device, each of said five rods being arranged a uniform distance from one another and being parallel to one another;   a fourth plurality of five rods that extends from the third side to the fourth side, each of said five rods being arranged a uniform distance from one another and being parallel to one another, said fourth plurality of five rods being parallel to the third plurality of five rods;   a plurality of projections extending from the exterior edge of the counting device, said plurality of projections arranged in sets of five projections and having a first distance being defined between each projection within a set of projections and a second distance between each set of projections and adjoining sets of projections, wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance; and,   wherein the third and fourth plurality of five rods are perpendicular to the first and second plurality of five rods.   
   
   
       11 . The counting device of  claim 10  wherein adjoining rods in a plurality of five rods are separated by a one-inch space. 
   
   
       12 . The counting device of  claim 10  wherein the first, second, third and fourth plurality of five rods are arranged to form a square opening in a center of the counting device that is two inches by two inches in size. 
   
   
       13 . The counting device of  claim 10  wherein the first plurality of five rods are separated from the second plurality of five rods by two inches. 
   
   
       14 . The counting device of  claim 10  further comprising four reinforcing bars arranged on the exterior edge of the counting device. 
   
   
       15 . The counting device of  claim 14  further comprising four connecting bars, each connecting bar having a first end and a second end, said first end connecting to a first reinforcing bar and said second end connecting to a second reinforcing bar, such that the connecting bars are arranged between the reinforcing bars. 
   
   
       16 . A counting device for keeping track of used surgical sponges during operations, said counting device having an interior edge and an exterior edge, said counting device comprising:
 a circular base member that encloses a circular opening;   a plurality of sets of projections extending outwardly from the circular opening, said projections being substantially one-inch in length and provided in sets of five;   a first reinforcing rod that intersects the circular opening and divides it into two regions; and,   a second reinforcing rod that is perpendicular to the first reinforcing rod.   
   
   
       17 . The counting device of  claim 16  wherein a diameter of the circular opening is substantially fifteen inches. 
   
   
       18 . The counting device of  claim 16  wherein the second reinforcing rod divides the circular opening into four equal quadrants. 
   
   
       19 . A system for counting and keeping track of used surgical sponges during operations, said system comprising:
 a counting device having an interior edge and an exterior edge, said counting device comprising a plurality of projections extending from the exterior edge of the counting device, said plurality of projections arranged in sets of five projections and having a first distance being defined between each projection within a set of projections and a second distance between each set of projections and adjoining sets of projections, wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance and a support structure for bearing weight of used sponges, said support structure comprising at least a first reinforcing rod extending within the interior edge of the counting device and at least a second reinforcing rod extending within the interior edge of the counting device, said second reinforcing rod perpendicularly intersecting said first reinforcing rod;   a ring stand; and,   an impervious covering draped across the ring stand for preventing body fluids from dripping onto the ring stand and a floor upon which the ring stand rests.   
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the impervious covering further comprises a raised edge arranged along the bottom of the ring stand.