METHOD FOR TRACKING THE USE OF A MEDICAL APPARATUS

• US 20100145721A1
• Filed: 04/03/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Germitec SA
• Original Assignee: Germitec SA
• Inventors: Deshays, Clement
• Granted Patent: US 8,673,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/081 for contamination or dirt
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

The method of the invention comprises the following steps: during the disinfection (A) of the apparatus, recording (1) with an acquisition and processing system the disinfection date and data relative to the apparatus disinfection type and level together with identification information of said apparatus; during the use (C) of the apparatus on a patient, recording (5) with said system the date and information concerning the apparatus type of use and the patient together with identification information of said apparatus; sequencing with the acquisition and processing system the information on the disinfection and use on a patient together with identification information of said apparatus; before each use, developing using the acquisition and processing system an instruction allowing or forbidding (6) the use of the apparatus based on the sequencing.

Claims

1. Method for tracking the use of a probe-type medical apparatus in order to determine whether this apparatus can be safely used from a hygienic standpoint, wherein said apparatus comprises means for identifying said apparatus and the method uses an information acquisition and processing system comprising means for acquiring information identifying said apparatus, means for acquiring information regarding the disinfection and use of said apparatus, and means for associating the identification and use information for said apparatus, wherein the method comprises:

when the apparatus is disinfected, the acquisition and processing system records the date of disinfection and disinfection information regarding the type and degree of disinfection of the apparatus, in conjunction with the identification information for said apparatus,

when the apparatus is used on a patient, the acquisition and processing system records the date and information on use regarding the type of use of the apparatus and regarding the patient, in conjunction with the identification information for said apparatus,

the acquisition and processing system sequences the disinfection information and the information about use on a patient in conjunction with the identification information for the apparatus,

prior to each use, the acquisition and processing system produces an order authorizing or prohibiting the use of the apparatus based on the sequencing, with its use being authorized if, following a particular use, an appropriate disinfection process for this use has taken place, and its use being prohibited otherwise.

2. Tracking method according to claim 1, which additionally comprises a stage in which information regarding the apparatus storage time is recorded by the acquisition and processing system, wherein said storage information is sequenced in with the disinfection and use information, and the acquisition and processing system produces a disinfection order if the storage time exceeds a predetermined threshold and an order prohibiting the use of the apparatus if it is not disinfected.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein recording the disinfection information about the type and degree of disinfection includes recording the active principle used for disinfection, the length of time the apparatus was exposed to this active principle, the disinfection temperature and/or the active principle dosage.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the acquisition and processing system produces a notice of adequate or inadequate disinfection based on the disinfection information about the type and degree of disinfection, and if the notice of inadequate disinfection is issued, the system produces an order prohibiting the use of the apparatus.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein, while the apparatus is being disinfected, the identity of the operator performing the disinfection is recorded.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein recording the use information regarding the type of use of the apparatus includes recording the identity of the attending physician, the identity of the patient, the type of treatment for which the apparatus is used, the type of pathology of the patient, the length of time the apparatus is used, the information on the environment in which the apparatus is used and/or the information on the system in which the apparatus is used.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition and processing system records a history tracking the use of the medical apparatus and the legitimacy of its use.

8. System for tracking the use of a probe-type medical apparatus that makes it possible to implement the method according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises identification means associated with the medical apparatus, an information acquisition and processing system comprising means for acquiring the information identifying said apparatus, means for acquiring use information regarding the use of said apparatus, date and time recording means, and means for associating identification and use information for said apparatus with date and time information.

9. Tracking system according to claim 8, wherein the means for acquiring the identification information, the means for acquiring use information regarding the use of said apparatus, and the date and time recording means are assembled within an independent, portable device able to communicate with an information processing system.

10. Tracking system according to claim 8, wherein the identification means associated with the medical apparatus comprise an RFID chip permanently fixed on said apparatus.

11. Tracking system according to claim 8, wherein the means for acquiring the medical apparatus identification information from the acquisition and processing system comprise means for remotely scanning an RFID chip.

12. Tracking system according to claim 8, which comprises means for measuring the degree of disinfection provided by a disinfection enclosure.

13. Tracking system according to claim 8, which comprises means for entering information regarding the use of the medical apparatus.

14. Tracking system according to claim 8, which comprises means for storing information acquired and processed by the acquisition and processing system.