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Chapter 1: System Description
The SmartSponge
®
System is used in an operating room to detect and identify tagged surgical items for the
purpose of reconciling surgical counts. It is intended to be used as an adjunct to count policy and procedure
based on AORN Recommended Practices. The system employs radio-frequency identification (RFID)
technology to detect ClearCount SmartSponge surgical sponges and towels. The system combines the benefits
of counting and detection of surgical items (sponges, gauze, and towels) used during a surgical case. It has a
user-friendly color display that provides detailed item counts along with audible notification. The counts are
automatically updated as SmartSponge RFID-tagged sponges and towels are scanned “in” and “out” of the
surgical procedure.
This chapter includes a brief overview of the system and a detailed description of its components.
System Components
Count In Scanner
The Count In Scanner, shown in
Figure 1-1
, is used to count items into the surgical case prior to using the
items. The In-Scan Tray is located below the area marked “Touch Here to Scan”
.
The SCAN IN button is used
to activate the In-Scan Tray. As surgical sponges and towels are placed on the In-Scan Tray, it adds the tagged
items to the In-Scan Inventory. This inventory or quantity of scanned-in items appears in the IN
column of the
Count Mode screen on the display.
Table 1-1
lists the Count In Scanner components.
Figure 1-1 Count In Scanner Components
Display
In-Scan Tray
Scan In location
SCAN IN button