Intra-operative system for identifying and tracking surgical sharp objects, instruments, and sponges

A method of intra-operatively identifying a used surgical sharp, the method comprising:

• (a) obtaining an initial count and an initial type of surgical sharp objects, wherein the initial count of the surgical sharp objects comprises an initial count of each type of the surgical sharp objects;
• (b) counting and identifying used surgical sharp objects obtained from an operative sterile field to obtain a count and an identification of the type of the used surgical sharp objects, wherein for each of the used surgical sharp objects said counting and identifying comprises:
• (1) imaging a used surgical sharp object obtained from the operative sterile field with a system comprising a surgical sharp object container and an intra-operative imaging device comprising a camera to obtain an Intra-operative surgical sharp object image data of the used surgical sharp object, wherein the used surgical sharp object is one that has been received from a surgeon, the used surgical sharp object is selected from the group consisting of a scalpel blade and a needle, and the surgical sharp object container comprises a first portion comprising the intra-operative imaging device, a second portion configured to hold the used surgical sharp object, and an opening in the second portion for receiving the used surgical sharp object;
• and
• (2) identifying the used surgical sharp object from the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data with a system comprising an automated shape recognition module comprising a processor and a database of pre-existing surgical sharp object image data, wherein the automated shape recognition module counts and identifies the used surgical sharp object from the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data by comparing the intra-operative surgical sharp object image data with the pre-existing surgical sharp object image data, wherein a curvature of the imaged used surgical sharp object is used to identify the type of the used surgical sharp object via the automated shape recognition module;
• (c) comparing the count of each type of the used surgical sharp objects with the initial count of each type of the surgical sharp objects;
• (d) outputting a result corresponding to each type of the identified and counted used surgical sharp objects;
• and
• (e) activating a notification device to provide a notification if the count of each type of the used surgical sharp objects differs from the initial count of each type of the surgical sharp objects.

A method of intra-operatively identifying a used surgical sharp, the method comprising:

• (a) obtaining an initial count and an initial type of surgical sharp objects, wherein the initial count of the surgical sharp objects comprises an initial count of each type of the surgical sharp objects;
• (b) counting and identifying used surgical sharp objects obtained from an operative sterile field to obtain a count and an identification of the type of the used surgical sharp objects, wherein for each of the used surgical sharp objects said counting and identifying comprises:
• (1) detecting a used surgical sharp object obtained from the operative sterile field with a system comprising a surgical sharp object container and a detector to obtain data, wherein the used surgical sharp object is one that has been received from a surgeon, the used surgical sharp object is selected from the group consisting of a scalpel blade and a needle, and the surgical sharp object container comprises a first portion comprising the detector, a second portion configured to hold the used surgical sharp object, and an opening in the second portion for receiving the used surgical sharp object;
• and
• (2) identifying the used surgical sharp object from the data with a system comprising a surgical sharp recognition module comprising a processor and a database of pre-existing surgical sharp object data, wherein the surgical shape recognition module counts and identifies the used surgical sharp object from the data by comparing the data with the pre-existing surgical sharp object data, wherein a curvature of the detected used surgical sharp object is used to identify the type of the used surgical sharp object via the surgical sharp recognition module;
• (c) comparing the count of each type of the used surgical sharp objects with the initial count of each type of the surgical sharp objects;
• (d) outputting a result corresponding to each type of the identified and counted used surgical sharp objects;
• and
• (e) activating a notification device to provide a notification if the count of each type of the used surgical sharp objects differs from the initial count of each type of the surgical sharp objects.