The growth of minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic procedures has made it harder for surgeons to find lost needles, broken instruments, and other types of sharps and fragments. Because retained objects can cause serious harm to patients, surgeons always go to great lengths to ensure all tools are accounted for. But when dealing with an average of 300 tools per surgery, multiple rotations of staff, and parts breaking off, it is challenging to keep track of everything. While RFID technology is deployed on sponges, surgeons must rely on visual searches for any metal objects such as needles, sharps, and broken tools. If the item isn’t found, patients typically receive an X-ray scan and more anesthesia as OR staff spend more time searching—all of which significantly increases costs and risk. Robotic surgeons, Dr. Sam Weprin and Dr. Dan Eun, set out to solve this problem. With the help of biomedical engineering professor, Dr. John Noel, they invented the Melzi Sharps Finder that works on open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgeries.
