US3749237A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bag strip for handling soiled surgical sponges
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-08-16
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Granted: 1973-07-31
•
Expires: 1991-08-16
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure concerns an apparatus for handling soiled surgical sponges. The blood soaked sponges are deposited seriatim in transparent bags interconnected in flat vertical strips which preferably are suspended from a scale. After counting or counting and weighing of the sponges, the bag strips containing the sponges are discarded. The bags preferably are made up in a continuous length provided with uniformly spaced weakened connections, which permit separation of individual strips, and with indicia which provide a visual indication that all strips contain the prescribed number of bags. Each bag may also be divided by a rupturable internal seam into two compartments which are used individually for small sponges or joined to receive large sponges.
Inventors
- 👤 H Dorton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/20; A61B; A61B50/00; A61B50/30; A61B50/36; A61B50/37; A61B90/00; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for handling soiled surgical sponges comprising a. plurality of bags joined together in an elongated flat strip and each of which has at least one transparent wall through which a sponge placed therein can be viewed, b. the bags being separable from the strip in groups comprising a uniform number of bags by reason of an interconnection between the last bag of each group and the first bag of the next following group which is weaker than the interconnections between the other bags, and c. the bags having open mouths all of which face in the same direction with respect to the strip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for handling soiled surgical sponges comprising a. plurality of bags joined together in an elongated flat strip and each of which has at least one transparent wall through which a sponge placed therein can be viewed, b. the bags being separable from the strip in groups comprising a uniform number of bags by reason of an interconnection between the last bag of each group and the first bag of the next following group which is weaker than the interconnections between the other bags, and c. the bags having open mouths all of which face in the same direction with respect to the strip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which each group of bags has indicia at its opposite ends which provide a visual indication of the uniformity of the number of bags in the groups separated from the strip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which a. the indicia at one end of the each group is a reinforced region of one bag; and b. the indicia at the other end of each group is a mark having a color different from that of the bag material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which each bag has a. front and rear panels; and b. an easily rupturable, internal connection between said panels which divides the bag into two compartments which communicate with the open mouth, c. said connection serving normally to enable the bag to receive and effectively segregate two small sponges, but being capable of being broken manually to adapt the bag to receive a single large sponge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which each easily rupturable connection is a centrally located seam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for handling soiled surgical sponges comprising a. a plurality of bags joined together in an elongated flat strip and each of which has front and rear panels, the bags having open mouths all of which face in the same direction with respect to the strip, b. at least one panel of each bag affording a transparent wall through which the contents of the bag may be viewed, and c. the front and rear penels of each bag being joined by an easily rupturable internal connection which divides the bag into two compartments which communicate with the open mouth, said connection serving normally to enable the bag to receive and effectively segregate two small sponges, but being capable of being broken manually to adapt the bag to receive a single large sponge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for handling soiled surgical sponges comprising a. a plurality of bags joined together in an elongated flat strip and each of which has front and rear panels, the bags having open mouths all of which face in the same direction with respect to the strip, b. at least one panel of each bag affording a transparent wall through which the contents of the bag may be viewed, and c. the front and rear penels of each bag being joined by an easily rupturable internal connection which divides the bag into two compartments which communicate with the open mouth, said connection serving normally to enable the bag to receive and effectively segregate two small sponges, but being capable of being broken manually to adapt the bag to receive a single large sponge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which each easily rupturable connection is a centrally located, longitudinal seam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which the bags are made of transparent, thermoplastic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for handling soiled surgical sponges comprising a. a pair of elongated, superposed, flat, flexible panels which are joined together to define a bag strip including a series of bags, b. one panel being continuous, and the other being provided with longitudinally spaced, transverse cuts which form mouths for the bags which face toward one end of the strip, c. at least one of the panels affording transparent walls through which the contents of the bags may be viewed; and d. an easily rupturable, internal connection between the panels at each bag which divides the bag into two compartments which communicate with the mouth, said connection serving normally to enable the bag to receive and effectively segregate two small sponges, but being capable of being broken manually to adapt the bag to receive a single large sponge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for handling soiled surgical sponges comprising a. a pair of elongated, superposed, flat, flexible panels which are joined together to define a bag strip including a series of bags, b. one panel being continuous, and the other being provided with longitudinally spaced, transverse cuts which form mouths for the bags which face toward one end of the strip, c. at least one of the panels affording transparent walls through which the contents of the bags may be viewed; and d. an easily rupturable, internal connection between the panels at each bag which divides the bag into two compartments which communicate with the mouth, said connection serving normally to enable the bag to receive and effectively segregate two small sponges, but being capable of being broken manually to adapt the bag to receive a single large sponge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which each easily rupturable connection is a centrally located, longitudinal seam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said one panel is pierced by a mounting hole which is located at the end of the strip toward which the mouths of the bags face and which is reinforced.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said panels are made of transparent, thermoplastic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for handling soiled surgical sponges comprising a. a pair of elongated, superposed, flat, flexible panels made of transparent, thermoplastic materIal and joined together to define a bag strip including a series of bags, b. one panel being provided with longitudinally spaced, transverse cuts which form mouths for the bags which face toward one end of the strip, and the other panel being continuous and being pierced by a mounting hole which is located at the end of the strip toward which the bag mouths face and which is reinforced, c. each bag having an easily rupturable, internal connection between the two panels which normally enables the bag to receive and effectively segregate two small sponges, but which can be broken manually to adapt the bag to receive a single large sponge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for handling soiled surgical sponges comprising a. a pair of elongated, superposed, flat, flexible panels made of transparent, thermoplastic materIal and joined together to define a bag strip including a series of bags, b. one panel being provided with longitudinally spaced, transverse cuts which form mouths for the bags which face toward one end of the strip, and the other panel being continuous and being pierced by a mounting hole which is located at the end of the strip toward which the bag mouths face and which is reinforced, c. each bag having an easily rupturable, internal connection between the two panels which normally enables the bag to receive and effectively segregate two small sponges, but which can be broken manually to adapt the bag to receive a single large sponge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which each easily rupturable connection is a centrally located, longitudinal seam.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |