Systems And Methods For Enhancing The Visibility Of Medical Items

Abstract

Systems and methods make medical items more visible during a medical procedure. An example medical item includes an absorbent material adapted to absorb fluid during a medical procedure, the absorbent material having an outer surface that reflects one or more first wavelengths of light to provide the absorbent material with one or more first colors. The medical item may include one or more enhancing materials disposed on at least one portion of the outer surface of the absorbent material, the one or more enhancing materials reflecting or emitting one or more second wavelengths to provide the enhancing materials with one or more second colors. Alternatively, an enhancing device is coupled to the absorbent material, the enhancing device reflecting or emitting one or more second wavelengths, the one or more second wavelengths being different from the one or more first wavelengths of the absorbent material.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A medical item, comprising:
 a mass of absorbent material having a shape, the mass of absorbent material being adapted to absorb fluid during a medical procedure;   a bead having a plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sides having a label disposed thereon, the label being configured to identify the medical item as a particular one of a set of medical items; and   a tether coupling the bead to the mass of absorbent material.   
     
     
         22 . The medical item of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of sides includes six sides. 
     
     
         23 . The medical item of  claim 22 , wherein the label includes a number from a set of numbers, each of the numbers in the set of numbers corresponding to a single one of the medical items in the set of medical items. 
     
     
         24 . The medical item of  claim 21 , wherein the bead includes acrylic configured to repel fluid, thereby aiding in making the bead visible during use of the medical item during a surgical procedure. 
     
     
         25 . The medical item of  claim 21 , wherein the mass of absorbent material is a sponge. 
     
     
         26 . The medical item of  claim 21 , wherein the mass of absorbent material is a towel. 
     
     
         27 . The medical item of  claim 21 , wherein the tether includes a reflective material. 
     
     
         28 . The medical item of  claim 21 , wherein the tether is configured to reflect or emit one or more wavelengths of light to provide the tether one or more colors. 
     
     
         29 . The medical item of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more wavelengths are between approximately 485 nm to approximately 590 nm. 
     
     
         30 . The medical item of  claim 29 , wherein the mass of absorbent material has an outer surface that reflects one or more second wavelengths of light to provide the mass of absorbent material one or more second colors that are different than the one or more colors of the tether. 
     
     
         31 . The medical item of  claim 21 , further comprising a pair of separate and distinct strips of enhancing material coupled to the mass of absorbent material, the pair of separate and distinct strips of enhancing material reflecting or emitting one or more wavelengths to provide the pair of separate and distinct strips of enhancing material with one or more colors, the one or more wavelengths being between approximately 485 nm to approximately 590 nm. 
     
     
         32 . The medical item of  claim 31 , wherein the pair of separate and distinct strips of enhancing material includes silicone and is configured to repel the fluid such that the pair of separate and distinct strips of enhancing material continues to reflect or emit the one or more colors when the pair of separate and distinct strips of enhancing material is exposed to fluid.