Surgical sponge and needle counter
A surgical sponge counter includes a unitary molded plastic sponge tray defining a plurality of wells each sized to hold a lap sponge. Each well has a ledge defining a recess below the sponge for collecting fluid once the sponge is replaced in the tray. A needle counting receptacle tray may be nested within the sponge tray above the sponges.
1. A combination surgical sponge counter and needle tray comprising
a unitary molded plastic sponge tray defining a plurality of wells, each of said wells being sized to hold a respective lap sponge,
each well having a ledge defining a recess below its respective sponge for collecting fluid once a used sponge is replaced in the tray,
a needle tray defining plurality of wells for holding used hypodermic needles and sharps,
said needle tray nesting within a top portion of the sponge tray, and
a film seal covering all said wells in the needles tray, whereby needles and sharps may be inserted through the film into the wells.
2. A combination surgical sponge counter and needle tray as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a cover comprising a plate with at least one hole therein for holding a hypodermic needle cap.
3. A combination surgical sponge counter and needles tray as recited in claim 2 , wherein said plate has two opposed edges with flanges formed thereon, each of said flanges having a bead which snaps over a peripheral edge of the sponge tray to hold the cover and the sponge tray together as an assembly.
4. A combination surgical sponge counter and needle tray as recited in claim 3 , wherein the peripheral edge of the sponge tray has a peripheral flange formed thereon, said peripheral flange forming a groove for receiving the beads of the flanges.
5. A combination surgical sponge counter and needle holder as recited in claim 1 , wherein both the sponge tray and the needle tray are transparent.