Information management and material distribution for sterilization facilities

• US 6,991,761 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Hehenberger, Rodney K., Nees, Terry S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chin, Brad Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/029,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/28, 705/1, 422/105, 422/119, 707/1, 707/10
• US Class Current: 422/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

An automated system for management of information and distribution of materials associated with sterilization procedures includes a network server and client computers that communicate via a computer network. The client computers are distributed among sterilization facilities that require sterilization services. The network server exchanges a variety of information with the sterilization facilities. In response to information from client computers, the network server may trigger distribution of materials to sterilization facilities, and generates reports for record-keeping or cost-accounting purposes. The information distributed by the network server may pertain to the operation, maintenance and control of sterilization equipment, characteristics and capabilities of sterilization materials, and expert technical advice. The information received from sterilization facilities includes requests for information, orders for purchase and delivery of materials, and sterilization process information documenting sterilization procedures performed within a sterilization facility.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving sterilization process information from a sterilization facility via a computer network, wherein the sterilization process information includes characteristics of a sterilization process;

identifying a type of a sterilization material based on the characteristics of the sterilization process;

determining consumption of a quantity of the sterilization material by the sterilization facility based on the sterilization process information; and

processing an order for delivery of an additional quantity of the sterilization material to the sterilization facility based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sterilization material includes at least one of sterilant, pack material, and indicators.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sterilization material includes electronic information for generation of a printed indicator, the method further comprising transmitting the electronic information to the client via the computer network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sterilization material includes self-indicating ink, the method further comprising delivering a quantity of the ink to a client.

5. A system comprising:

a client computer, associated with a sterilization facility, that transmits sterilization process information via a computer network, the sterilization process information including characteristics of a sterilization process; and

a network server that receives the sterilization process information from the client computer via the computer network, identifies a type of a sterilization material based on the characteristics of the sterilization process, determines consumption of a quantity of the sterilization material by the sterilization facility based on the sterilization process information, and processes an order for delivery of an additional quantity of the sterilization material to the sterilization facility based on the determination.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the sterilization material includes at least one of sterilant, pack material, and indicators.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the sterilization material includes electronic information for generation of a printed indicator, and the network server transmits the electronic information to the client via the computer network.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the sterilization material includes self-indicating ink, and the network server processes an order for delivery of a quantity of the ink to the client.

9. A method comprising:

receiving sterilization process information from a sterilization facility via a computer network, wherein the sterilization process information includes characteristics of a sterilization process;

identifying a type of a sterilization material based on the characteristics of the sterilization process;

determining consumption of a quantity of the sterilization material by the sterilization facility based on the sterilization process information;

processing an order for delivery of an additional quantity of the sterilization material to the sterilization facility based on the determination;

scheduling maintenance for sterilization equipment associated with the sterilization facility based on the sterilization process information;

generating a report that indicates compliance with sterilization process standards based on the sterilization process information; and

providing a reviewer with access to the report via the computer network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the reviewer is a regulatory agency or an audit organization.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the report identifies individual sterilization loads and load contents, and the report includes sterilization processing characteristics for the individual sterilization loads, the sterilization processing characteristics for each load including type of sterilizer, sterilizer identification, cycle time, sterilization time, temperature, and pressure.

12. A system comprising:

a client computer, associated with a sterilization facility, that transmits sterilization process information via a computer network, the sterilization process information including characteristics of a sterilization process; and

a network server that;

identifies a type of a sterilization material based on the characteristics of the sterilization process,

determines consumption of a quantity of the sterilization material by the sterilization facility based on the sterilization process information;

processes an order for delivery of an additional quantity of the sterilization material to the sterilization facility based on the determination;

schedules maintenance for sterilization equipment associated with the sterilization facility based on the sterilization process information;

generates a report that indicates compliance with sterilization process standards based on the sterilization process information; and

provides a reviewer with access to the report via the computer network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the reviewer is a regulatory agency or an audit organization.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the report identifies individual sterilization loads and load contents, and the report includes sterilization processing characteristics for the individual sterilization loads, the sterilization processing characteristics for each load including type of sterilizer, sterilizer identification, cycle time, sterilization time, temperature, and pressure.