The patent protected product, SAFE-T Lap, provides users of the SurgiCount Safety-Sponge system with an added layer of protection and improved ease of use.

The Safety-Sponge system has proven to help eliminate retained surgical sponges and decrease the occurrence of misplaced and miscounted sponges, enabling hospitals to perform fewer X-rays related to this issue, according to the company.

Patient Safety Technologies president and chief executive officer Brian Stewart said, "Based on customer insight and demand for a surgical sponge that is more visible both during use and on X-ray, we look forward to introducing this line of lap sponges."

The company said it is introducing SAFE-T Lap at the upcoming Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) 60th Congress being held at San Diego, California, US, from 3-7 March 2013.