Method and device for sterilizing medical objects

• US 20070202005A1
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Maschke, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/708,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20070202005A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A method for sterilizing medical objects in a sterilization device is described. A read facility of the sterilization device first reads a machine-readable information code by means of electromagnetic waves from an identification element associated with the medical object. The number of sterilization cycles already undergone by the medical object in question is determined on the basis of the information code. The number of sterilization cycles already undergone is compared with the maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles the medical object in question is allowed to undergo and a warning signal is automatically triggered and/or the function of the sterilization device is restricted, if the number of sterilization cycles undergone reaches or exceeds the maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles. A corresponding sterilization device and a medical object are also described.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method for sterilizing a medical object in a sterilization device, comprising:

reading a machine readable information code by an electromagnetic wave from an identification element of the medical object via a read unit of the sterilization device;

determining a number of sterilization cycles of the medical object that has undergone to date based on the information code;

comparing the number of sterilization cycles with a maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles that the medical object is allowed to undergo;

automatically triggering a warning signal if the number of sterilization cycles reaches the maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles; and

automatically overwriting the number of sterilization cycles of the medical object if the number of sterilization cycles has not reached the maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles and the medical object undergoes a further sterilization.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein additional information about the medical object is determined from an external data source based on the information code and is sent to the sterilization device.

23. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the information code comprises the maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles that the medical object is allowed to undergo.

24. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein a corresponding new medical object is automatically ordered when the medical object has undergone a specific replacement limit number of sterilization cycle.

25. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the information code of the medical object is automatically captured when the medical object is placed in a sterilization area of the sterilization device.

26. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the medical object undergoes a defined sterilization process as a function of the information code.

27. The method as claimed in claim 21,

wherein the sterilization device verifies if a plurality of medical objects are located in one sterilization area of the sterilization device based on information code of each respective medical object,

wherein a combined sterilization process is performed that is suitable to each of the medical objects based on the information code of each respective medical object, and

wherein the combined sterilization process is selected from the group consisting of:

sterilizing, automatically triggering the warning signal, and automatically restricting a function of the sterilization device.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27,

wherein the sterilization area of the sterilization device is divided into a plurality of sub-areas,

wherein a plurality of read units are arranged at the sub-areas, and

wherein locations of the medical objects in the sub-areas are determined based on identification elements of the medical objects and the read units arranged at the sub-areas.

29. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein information about the medical object determined based on the information code is displayed on a display unit.

30. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the warning signal is automatically triggered if the number of sterilization cycles exceeds the maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles.

31. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein a function of the sterilization device is restricted if the number of sterilization cycles reaches or exceeds the maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles.

32. A sterilization device for sterilizing a medical object, comprising:

a read unit that reads a machine readable information code by an electromagnetic wave from an identification element associated with the medical object;

an evaluation unit that determines a number of sterilization cycles that the medical object has undergone based on the information code;

a comparator unit that compares the number of sterilization cycles with a maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles that the medical object is allowed to undergo;

a control unit that automatically triggers a warning signal if the number of sterilization cycles exceeds the maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles; and

a transmit unit that changes the information code of the medical object if the number of sterilization cycles has not exceeded the maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles and the medical object undergoes a further sterilization.

33. The sterilization device as claimed in claim 32, further comprising:

a data interface that determines additional information about the medical object from an external data source based on the information code and the additional information is sent to the sterilization device,

a display unit that displays the information about the medical object, and

a sealable disinfection chamber and an activation unit that automatically activates the read unit when the disinfection chamber is opened.

34. The sterilization device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the read unit is an RFID unit and automatically captures the information code of the medical object when the medical object is placed in a sterilization area of the sterilization device.

35. The sterilization device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the control unit activates the sterilization device as a function of the information code of the medical object such that the medical object located in a sterilization area of the sterilization device undergoes a defined sterilization process.

36. The sterilization device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the warning signal is automatically triggered if the number of sterilization cycles exceeds the maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles.

37. The sterilization device as claimed in claim 32, wherein a function of the sterilization device is restricted if the number of sterilization cycles reaches or exceeds the maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles.

38. A medical object to be sterilized, comprising:

an identification element that comprises a machine readable information code,

wherein the information code comprises a number of sterilization cycles that the medical object has undergone, and

wherein the information code is subsequently changed by an electromagnetic wave.

39. The medical object as claimed in claim 38, wherein the information code comprises a maximum number of permitted sterilization cycles the medical object is allowed to undergo and comprises information to control a sterilization process to sterilize the medical object.

40. The medical object as claimed in claim 38, wherein the identification element comprises an RFID tag.