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Surgical Tools to Include RFID

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the now-just-remember-to-use-the-wand dept.

andrewman327 writes "Reuters is reporting that hospitals are considering embedding RFID tags in surgical tools to prevent leaving them in patients. After closing a patient, doctors would wave a receiver over the body to look for the chips which would indicate that something was left inside. The biggest current stumbling block is the chip's size, though scientists hope they will continue shrinking as the state of the art advances."

14 of 272 comments (clear)

  1. A better idea... by KingSkippus · · Score: 5, Funny
    After closing a patient, doctors would wave a receiver over the body to look for the chips which would indicate that something was left inside.

    I have a better idea.

    Before closing a patient, doctors would wave a receiver over the body to look for the chips which would indicate that something was left inside.

    The timing would be a little better, don't you think?

    1. Re:A better idea... by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 2, Funny

      That would explain why WalMart keeps trying to charge me $59.95 for a hemostat every time I shop there.

    2. Re:A better idea... by teledyne · · Score: 2, Funny

      Doctor: "Okay... time to check if we left any tools inside. I will need the RFID scanner."

      Nurse: "Uh... I can't find it."

      Doctor: "What? Oh shit..."

  2. What Happens... by dduardo · · Score: 5, Funny

    What happens if they forget the reciever inside the person?

    Doctor: Nurse, hand me the wand.
    Nurse: Don't know where it is.
    Doctor: Oh well, I'm sure I didn't leave anything inside.

  3. My Dog by lbmouse · · Score: 3, Funny

    My dog has a very small RFID that I had the Vet intentional leave in him (name, address & phone number)... now my dog is suing me for violating his rights for privacy.

  4. Re:AFTER they close the patient?-for repairs. by gardyloo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Anyway put the patient on a non-metallic table and run a metal detector over them.

        Doctor: "Where's the table?"
        Nurse: "It was right here under the patient, who seems to be lying on the floor... "
        Doctor: "Oh... Where shall we have lunch?"

  5. So that's why... by digitaldc · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...I keep getting an unexplained $248.99 charge at the Target express line!

    --
    He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
    1. Re:So that's why... by powerlord · · Score: 2, Funny
      ...I keep getting an unexplained $248.99 charge at the Target express line!
      ... and you wondered why it kept showing up on the receipt as "SURGCL STEEL CHST SPRDR"
      --
      This space for rent. All reasonable inquiries will be entertained at proprietors discretion.
  6. The new trend: by gardyloo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Warwalking. "Hm... Spidey-sense tingling. w00t! Free wireless!"

  7. Let's compare this to.... by TheDarkener · · Score: 3, Funny

    A computer technician. I know, I know, they are very much different...but they're actually the same, too. ;)

    Tech 1: Ok, just got done replacing the power supply in this bad boy, let's fire it up.

    Tech 2: Hey, where's my screwdriver....

    *ZOT*

    Tech 1: Oh, wait a minute.... oh, ok here's the problem, I left this screwdriver lying on the motherboard and it fried the motherboard!

    Tech 2: Shouldn't you have looked inside the case before you put the cover back on?

    Tech 1: Maybe we should put RFID tags on our tools so I won't do this again...

    Tech 2: .... *SLAP*

    How about, stop smoking the sticky-icky right before you work on very important things (I.E. computers, human bodies)...

    --
    It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
  8. Re:My Dog - not in patient... by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 2, Funny
    My dog has a very small RFID...

    This will definitely help keep your dog from being left inside a patient...
    Doctor: Dog?
    Nurse: Check.

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  9. Re:Do you not think it is strange... by Dun+Malg · · Score: 4, Funny
    Auto mechanics seem to know how to keep from leaving a wrench inside the engine that they had in pieces.
    I have a really nice 3/8" drive Snap-On ratchet, extension, and 13mm socket that say otherwise.
    --
    If a job's not worth doing, it's not worth doing right.
  10. Re:Common occurrence? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Common enough that I personally know 3 people who've had things left inside them.

    Are you counting your sister as one of the three? I left something inside her last night...

  11. Candy RFIDs? by Slur · · Score: 2, Funny

    And of course, Junior Mints should come with RFIDs just to be safe.

    --
    -- thinkyhead software and media