iCount - The Safety Belt for surgical swabs

Ensuring Every Count, Protecting Every Patient

iCount is a simple swab docking system that helps clinical teams visually account for every swab throughout the procedure.

Its a physical checklist with optional AI technology that facilitates WHO checklists and UK national safety standards (NatSSIPs 2) in childbirth and surgery to prevent swab retention

The innovative patented technology is designed to eliminate retained swabs, protect lives, and enhance healthcare outcomes.

Smarter Surgical Safety Starts Here

The Problem & The iCount Solution

The Problem – “Never Events” That Should Never Happen

NHS England Data shows maternity settings experience the highest rate of swab retention.
Swab retention events happen a week in the NHS and there is associated litigation
1 in 8 procedures have swab count discrepancies.
88% of cases occur despite "correct" counts being registered. Staff are also affected.
Existing tech (RFID/barcodes are expensive and hence underused)

The iCount Solution – Intelligent, Affordable, Effective

Real-time tracking to eliminate manual count discrepancies
Easy to integrate with existing hospital protocols and systems
Prevents re-intervention, improves patient safety, reduces legal risk and overall costs
More cost-effective than RFID or barcode alternatives

Product details

Key Features

Accuracy

Early evaluations (BMJ Innovations, 2024) show improved accuracy and confidence. Randomised clinical evaluation to be done soon in the NHS (NCT06570304 and NCT05373342)

Compliance

Supports Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSSIB 2024) and National Safety Standards in Invasive Procedures (NatSSIPs) guidance compared to existing human memory-based systems.

Precision

Aligns with WHO strategy for patient safety, making it easy for staff ‘to do the right thing’ (BMJ). Offers Robust Documentation

Clinician-Centric Design

Co-designed by medical and human factors experts and Patient and public involvement.

Ease of Integration

Extensive usability testing done by NIHR Healthtech Research Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham. Users believe iCount to be a viable alternative to manual counting with greater time efficiency and perceived safety (BMJ,2024).

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Unisurge is our preferred partner

Never Events Across the UK, How Rare are They

This live map shows reported retained swab Never Events across NHS England. Red crosses mark cases where this directly contributed to a patient’s death. Explore the data. Drive safer care.