Apparatus and methods for monitoring objects in a surgical field

A method for monitoring sponge usage during a surgical procedure using a monitoring system where a package comprising a plurality of surgical sponges is provided, each of the plurality of surgical sponges comprising an RFID tag, each RFID tag storing unique RFID data representing a one of the plurality of surgical sponges, the method comprising:

• providing a handheld scanner adapted for use in a plurality of operating modes in a surgical procedure, the scanner comprising an antenna capable of emitting a radio frequency detection field, and control circuitry operable to control the handheld scanner;
• selectively operating the handheld scanner in a first operating mode to scan in sponges to the surgical procedure;
• selectively operating the handheld scanner in a second operating mode to scan out sponges from the surgical procedure;
• receiving a signal from a user control disposed on the handheld scanner, the signal instructing the control circuitry to selectively operate the handheld scanner in the first operating mode or to selectively operate the handheld scanner in the second operating mode;
• storing, with the control circuitry, count-in data representing the plurality of surgical sponges entering the surgical procedure or count-out data representing the plurality of surgical sponges exiting the surgical procedure.

A system for monitoring sponge usage during a surgical procedure, the system comprising:

• a handheld scanner adapted for use in a plurality of operating modes in a surgical procedure, the scanner comprising an antenna capable of emitting a radio frequency detection field;
• and
• control circuitry in communication with the handheld scanner and configured to:
• operate the handheld scanner in a first operating mode to scan in a sponge to the surgical procedure;
• and
• operate the handheld scanner in a second operating mode to scan out the sponge from the surgical procedure;
• the handheld scanner comprising a user control to selectively toggle the handheld scanner into the first operating mode and selectively toggle the handheld scanner into the second operating mode;
• wherein the control circuitry is configured to store count-in data representing the sponge scanned in the first operating mode and count-out data representing the sponge scanned in the second operating mode.