Sterilizer cassette handling system with dual visual code reading
First Claim
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1. A method for tracking sterilant cassettes within a sterilizer comprising the steps of:
- reading for the presence of the sterilant cassette with a cassette processing area of the sterilizer by reading a first visual code on the cassette with a scanner;
with the same scanner reading for the presence of a second visual code in a spent cassette collection box; and
upon successfully reading the second visual code determining that the spent cassette collection box is present and has capacity to receive the cassette.
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Abstract
A method for tracking sterilant cassettes within a sterilizer involves reading for the presence of a cassette within a cassette processing area of the sterilizer by reading a first visual code on the cassette with a scanner and with the same scanner reading for the presence of a second visual code in a spent cassette collection box. Upon successfully reading the second visual code it is thus known that the spent cassette collection box is present and has capacity to receive the cassette.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for tracking sterilant cassettes within a sterilizer comprising the steps of:
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reading for the presence of the sterilant cassette with a cassette processing area of the sterilizer by reading a first visual code on the cassette with a scanner; with the same scanner reading for the presence of a second visual code in a spent cassette collection box; and upon successfully reading the second visual code determining that the spent cassette collection box is present and has capacity to receive the cassette. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A sterilant cassette control system for a sterilizer comprising:
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a sterilant cassette having a first visual code thereon; the sterilizer comprising a spent cassette collection box, a scanner, and a control system; the spent cassette collection box having a second visual code thereon; the scanner for reading the first visual code and the second visual code; wherein the second visual code is located so that when the spent cassette collection box is full, view of the code from the scanner is obscured; and the control system connected to the scanner and having a control algorithm for determining the presence of a cassette when the scanner successfully reads the first visual code and for determining that the spent cassette collection box is present and has capacity to receive the cassette upon successfully reading the second visual code. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification