Container for surgical absorbent articles

Abstract

A surgical container has more than one surgical sponge, more than one dispensing containers containing respectively the more than one surgical sponge, and more than one disposal containers each proximate to and visually associated respectively with the more than one dispensing containers to receive a used surgical sponge, wherein a selected surgical sponge is visible in one of the dispensing container or the corresponding disposal container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical container, comprising:
 more than one surgical sponge;   more than one dispensing containers containing respectively the more than one surgical sponge; and   more than one disposal containers each proximate to and visually associated respectively with the more than one dispensing containers to receive a used surgical sponge, wherein a selected surgical sponge is visible in one of the dispensing container or the corresponding disposal container.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical container of  claim 1 , wherein each dispenser container is positioned above the corresponding disposal container. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical container of  claim 2 , wherein more than one dispenser containers are inclined toward an orientation of a user. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical container of  claim 1 , wherein each dispensing container is positioned adjacent to the corresponding disposal container. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical container of  claim 1 , wherein the disposal container comprises an aperture to grip and expose a portion of a received used surgical sponge. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical container of  claim 5 , wherein the more than one dispensing container comprise a row of trays and the more than one disposal containers comprises a downward angled top that is oriented toward a user. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical container of  claim 1 , further comprising a transparent material to expose contents of each disposal container. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transparent sterile membrane that encloses each dispensing container; and   a lid sized to enclose the more than one dispensing container and to be received on a bottom of the surgical container.   
     
     
         9 . A surgical item operable for the intraoperative absorption of blood from within an open surgical site within a patient, wherein the surgical item comprises a sponge having a porous body and a marker integrated within the sponge, wherein the marker comprises an identifiable number and an identifiable color; wherein the marker is capable of functioning after enduring fluids, including blood and other bodily fluids. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical item of  claim 9  wherein the sponge is a laparotomy sponge. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical item of  claim 9  wherein the sponge includes a radio-opaque member. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical item of  claim 9  wherein the sponge comprises a bioabsorbable material. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical item of  claim 9  wherein the sponge has a thickness of about 1 to about 5 millimeters and is sufficient for fluid absorption. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical item of  claim 9  wherein the sponge further comprises material for enhancing the adherence of the sponge to human tissue in the form of a continuous or discontinuous layer on at least one surface of the sponge. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical item of  claim 9  wherein the sponge further comprises an activator or proactivator of blood coagulation. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical item of  claim 9  wherein the sponge further comprises a pharmacologically active substance. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical item of  claim 9  wherein the sponge further comprises a second marker. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical item of  claim 17  wherein the second marker is a second identifiable color. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical item of  claim 17  wherein the second marker is a remotely detectable electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag system