A wristband to prevent wrong-site surgery, which occurs in 1 in 17,000 operations:

Chole's invention consists of a wristband embedded with a miniature, disposable electronic device--like the anti-theft chips attached to consumer items--plus a marker pen with a specialized sticker that deactivates the chip. When the surgeon or another designated staff member marks the patient's surgical site, in consultation with the patient or the patient's family, he or she removes the sticker from the pen and places it on the patient's wristband to deactivate the chip.

If these steps aren't followed, the wristband will set off a detector placed in the hallway between the preoperative area and the operating suite. The detector can be set up to give a visual or auditory signal and to page hospital personnel.

"It's a simple way to remind surgeons to mark the site," says Chole, a Washington University ear specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. "The band and pen are very simple to use and just add the small extra step of placing the deactivation sticker on the wristband."

"The system makes everyone more aware, and the wristband is a good way to get the patient engaged with the process, too," says Edna Woods, R.N., Surgical Services Administrator at the Center for Advanced Medicine.

("Smart wristband designed to prevent wrong-site surgery", Medical News Today, Aug.10)