Device For Receiving Of Disposable Items For An Operating Room

• US 20110036738A1
• Filed: 08/12/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Hiltl, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 9,078,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/459.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0805 automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/0046 the partitions being movable, e.g. for varying the volume of the compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1484 relating to the adaptation of receptacles to carry identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1638 Electromechanically operated lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2001/008 Means for automatically selecting the receptacle in which refuse should be placed
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/112 Coding means to aid in recycling
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/1123 Bar-codes
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/128 Data transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/144 Level detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/182 Volume determining means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/184 Weighing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/10 Waste collection, transportation, transfer or storage, e.g. segregated refuse collecting, electric or hybrid propulsion

Abstract

A system for receiving of disposable items in an operating room, where the objects that are to be disposed of and which are equipped with a data carrier are automatically acquired and electronically registered in databases. The data carrier on the objects can be RFID tags or a barcode. The data read out are used in particular to individually recognize the type, quantity, and value of an object and to be able to document and display the type, quantity, and value of an object by using an electronic inventory and value determination process.

Claims

1. A device for receiving of disposable items for an operating room, comprising a container equipped with an opening, wherein an identification unit is positioned in the area of the opening by means of which objects equipped with one or more data carriers can be processed.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the identification unit is equipped with at least one reader head, which is capable of acquiring the data carriers and reading out the data from the data carrier.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein a reader head covers the entire opening of the container with its detection area in such a way that objects equipped with data carriers are completely acquired.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the identification unit comprises two or more reader heads that are distanced and positioned from one another in such a way that the detection areas of the reader heads overlap.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one reader head is at least one of a barcode scanner and an RFID reader and can read data carriers that are configured as at least one of barcodes and RFID tags.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the identification unit can be connected by a communication link with a remote evaluation unit outside of the operating room.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the remote evaluation unit is connected with a central database to depict the material flow.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a connection device with at least one data input for the connection of a hand device for entering object-related data and/or for reading out the data acquired, evaluated, or stored by the identification unit and/or for the connection of a hand reader device for acquiring and reading data carriers that are connected with objects to be disposed of.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein it is equipped with a filler level detection device which acquires the volume and/or weight of inserted objects and in particular, from this data, computes, emits, or stores in a storage device the total weight and/or total volume of all inserted objects.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interior space of the container includes one or more dividing walls in such a way that the container is divided into individual compartments for receiving various objects.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises one or more lids to cover the opening of the at least one container and/or the opening of one compartment, such that an automatic opening and closing of at least one lid of the container and/or compartment occurs under the control of the identification unit.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the area of the opening a sorting device, controlled as needed, is positioned, which controlled by the identification unit, conducts an object that is to be disposed of to a compartment corresponding to its sorting category on the basis of acquired data.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein a ring-shaped cap is provided on the container, where said cap contains the identification unit and can be positioned in the area of the opening of the container so that it can be removed and replaced.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein in addition a video camera is provided which acquires the area of the opening and is equipped to identify objects to be disposed of.

15. The device according to claim 3, wherein the reader head is at least one of a barcode scanner and an RFID reader and can read data carriers that are configured as at least one of barcodes and RFID tags.

16. The device according to claim 4, wherein at least one on the reader heads is at least one of a barcode scanner and an RFID reader and can read data carriers that are configured as at least one of barcodes and RFID tags.