RFID-based SmartSponge System

ClearCount Medical Solutions has selected NXP RFID solutions to enable its SmartSponge System. The SmartSponge System detects and accounts for surgical sponges placed in a patient's body when undergoing surgery, so that no items are "left behind" for patient safety.

The SmartSponge System is comprised of RFID-enabled surgical sponges, an embedded RFID reader within automated software accounting system, an accompanying SmartWand to detect sponges accidently retained within the body and a disposal system to account for discarded sponges.

Each surgical SmartSponge is uniquely identifiable with a serial number that can be acquired wirelessly, even if accidently left within the body, by waving the SmartWand over the patient. RFID-enabled SmartSponges are packaged in pre-defined quantities. As the package is waved over an RFID reader, the unique serial numbers of the SmartSponges are read and the system ensures a match with the pre-determined package count. A SmartBucket configured with an RFID reader enables the ClearCount system to directly account for and reconcile all sponges entering into and exiting the sterile field.