# US 10,945,893 B1 · Surgical sponge locator system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,893 B1 - Document ID: US10945893B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/032,075 - Filed: 2020-09-25 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-25 - Applicants: Peter Piro - Inventors: Peter Piro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945893B1 ## CPC - A61B 5/061: {Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body (A61B1/00158 takes precedence)} - A61F 13/44: with radio-opaque material or signalling means for residual material - A61B 50/37: for absorbent articles, e.g. bandages, garments, swabs or towels - A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders - A61F 13/14: specially adapted for the breast or abdomen (corsets or bandages for support of breast or abdomen A61F5/03) - A61B 5/0059: {using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence (photoacoustic A61B5/0093; optical measurement of heart rate A61B5/02416; optical measurement of blood flow A61B5/0261; optical measurement of analytes A61B5/1455)} - A61B 7/00: Instruments for auscultation - A61B 90/39: {Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers} - A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output} - A61B 2017/00221: {with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves} - A61B 2050/006: {perpendicular to the lid plane, e.g. by a downward movement} - A61B 2050/3008: {having multiple compartments} - A61B 2050/375: {for sponges} - A61B 2090/0805: {automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors} - A61B 2090/3945: {Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes} - A61B 2090/3995: {Multi-modality markers} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A surgical sponge locator system for locating sponges after surgery for removal includes a base having a sponge portion and a housing portion. A plurality of surgical sponges is coupled within the base. Each surgical sponge has a signal receiver and a sound emitter in operational communication with the signal receiver. An antenna is coupled to the base and is in wireless communication with the signal receiver of each surgical sponge. A plurality of batteries is coupled within the base. A battery activator is coupled within the base. The battery activator selectively interrupts or allows operational communication between the plurality of batteries and the antenna. A sound activation lever is coupled to the housing portion and is in operational communication with the antenna. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical sponge locator system comprising: a base, the base having a sponge portion and a housing portion; a plurality of surgical sponges coupled within the base, each surgical sponge being selectively engageable with the sponge portion, each surgical sponge having a signal receiver and a sound emitter in operational communication with the signal receiver; an antenna coupled to the base, the antenna being in wireless communication with the signal receiver of each surgical sponge; a plurality of batteries coupled within the base, the plurality of batteries being coupled within the housing portion and being in operational communication with the antenna; a battery activator coupled within the base, the battery activator selectively interrupting or allowing operational communication between the plurality of batteries and the antenna; a microprocessor coupled to the base, the microprocessor being coupled within the housing portion and being in operational communication with the antenna; and a sound activation lever coupled to the base, the sound activation lever being coupled to the housing portion and being in operational communication with the antenna. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical sponge locator system of claim 1 further comprising each surgical sponge having a light emitter in operational communication with the signal receiver; a light activation lever coupled to the base, the light activation lever being coupled to the housing portion and being in operational communication with the antenna. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical sponge locator system of claim 2 further comprising the light activation lever being pivotably coupled within a light activator depression of a housing top side of the housing portion, the light activation lever moving from a disactivated light position flush within the light activator depression and an activated light position extending perpendicularly from the housing top side, the light activator depression having a round light head portion to allow easier manipulation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical sponge locator system of claim 1 further comprising the sound activation lever being pivotably coupled within a sound activator depression of a housing top side of the housing portion, the sound activation lever moving from a disactivated sound position flush within the sound activator depression and an activated sound position extending perpendicularly from the housing top side, the sound activator depression having a round sound head portion to allow easier manipulation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical sponge locator system of claim 1 further comprising the antenna being hingingly coupled to the housing portion of the base. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical sponge locator system of claim 1 further comprising the sponge portion of the base having a plurality of sponge recessions, each of the plurality of surgical sponges being selectively engageable within the plurality of sponge recessions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surgical sponge locator system of claim 1 further comprising a lid, the lid being rectangular and selectively engageable with the base to cover the sponge portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical sponge locator system of claim 1 further comprising the battery activator having a rectangular tab portion and a semicircular grip portion, the tab portion being selectively engageable within a tab slot extending through a housing top side of the housing portion. ### Claim 9 A surgical sponge locator system comprising: a base, the base having a sponge portion and a housing portion, the sponge portion of the base having a plurality of sponge recessions; a plurality of surgical sponges coupled within the base, each of the plurality of surgical sponges being selectively engageable within the plurality of sponge recessions, each surgical sponge having a light emitter and a sound emitter in operational communication with a signal receiver; a lid, the lid being rectangular and selectively engageable with the base to cover the sponge portion; an antenna coupled to the base, the antenna being hingingly coupled to the housing portion of the base, the antenna being in wireless communication with the signal receiver of each surgical sponge; a plurality of batteries coupled within the base, the plurality of batteries being coupled within the housing portion and being in operational communication with the antenna; a battery activator coupled within the base, the battery activator having a rectangular tab portion and a semicircular grip portion, the tab portion being selectively engageable within a tab slot extending through a housing top side of the housing portion, the battery activator selectively interrupting or allowing operational communication between the plurality of batteries and the antenna; a microprocessor coupled to the base, the microprocessor being coupled within the housing portion and being in operational communication with the antenna; a light activation lever coupled to the base, the light activation lever being coupled to the housing portion and being in operational communication with the antenna, the light activation lever being pivotably coupled within a light activator depression of the housing top side of the housing portion, the light activation lever moving from a disactivated light position flush within the light activator depression and an activated light position extending perpendicularly from the housing top side, the light activator depression having a round light head portion to allow easier manipulation; and a sound activation lever coupled to the base, the sound activation lever being coupled to the housing portion and being in operational communication with the antenna, the sound activation lever being pivotably coupled within a sound activator depression of the housing top side of the housing portion, the sound activation lever moving from a disactivated sound position flush within the sound activator depression and an activated sound position extending perpendicularly from the housing top side, the sound activator depression having a round sound head portion to allow easier manipulation.