Medline has been named as the exclusive distributor for the SmartWand-DTX and SmartSponge System, the only FDA-cleared systems using radio-frequency identification to both count and locate surgical sponges.

The systems, created by ClearCount Medical Solutions, use a technology featuring chip-embedded sponges to count and locate sponges during surgery which, in turn, helps eliminate surgical errors and improve patient safety.

The company claims that SmartSponge System can read and record the ID number of each sponge as it comes out of its packaging in the OR, as it is used in the patient, and as it is removed and disposed of. Both the SmartSponge and SmartWand-DTX count multiple sponges and read through blood and tissue, and can locate a missing tagged sponge using radio waves to signal the RFID tag to identify itself.

Both systems also use the same RFID-tagged consumables, providing hospitals for the first time with a choice of devices to best address the conditions of each OR.