ID technology traces hospital instruments

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 3, 2008

Each filter can hold around 50 to 100 instruments and each of these filters is marked with a barcode which allows clinic personnel to know that a filter has been correctly packed

ID technologies that have already proven themselves in other industries are opening up previously untapped potential in hospitals.

Ulrich Swiss has developed the Kenus system using Cognex In-Sight vision systems.

Hospitals need to be able to know which instrument was used to operate on which patient long after the event, in order to identify the source of any infectious particles.

Instruments are stored in filters, which are like small buckets or sieves.

Each filter can hold around 50 to 100 instruments and each of these filters is marked with a barcode which allows clinic personnel to know that a filter has been correctly packed with the specific instruments for a particular department.

When the Kenus system was first being developed, Ulrich was still using cameras with a link to a PC that was running code reading software.

The company needed to find something that would make the system more powerful and flexible.

The In-Sight 5400S vision system has made the Kenus system much simpler to operate.

The In-Sight 5400S can manage jobs that were previously reserved for PC-based systems.

The robust stainless steel housing allows the In-Sight 5400S to be used even in the toughest of environments.

The IP68 (NEMA 6P) rating allows safe operation even in the most hygiene-conscious environments.

Its high resolution guarantees reliable code reading, while the powerful integrated processor allows a high read rate.

Powerful machine vision tools such as IDMax are available for enhanced code reading.

Each filter is fitted with a barcode, read using the handheld reader.

The clinic staff see a picture of the filter on their workstation monitor, showing with which registered instruments it can be loaded.

This rules out errors resulting from human carelessness.

Only instruments that are intended for this specific filter can be read.

Each correct reading is displayed immediately on the monitor.

Unintentional duplicate assignment of instruments is ruled out, because the In-Sight 5400S code reader will not register the second identical read operation.

Implementing a traceability program within instrument management means that central sterilisation can be sure that their filters contain the correct instruments.

This is crucial for safety and legal evidence when faced with claims for damages.

Also, clear identification and documentation allows for improved advance planning for operations.

Each instrument is permanently marked with 2D Datamatrix code, 100% reliable when it comes to counterfeit-proof identification codes.

The code contains the information necessary to keep track of the instrument.

A drill is used to incorporate the dots of the matrix code into an additional recessed surface on the instruments, making the code damage-resistant.

The matrix code used in the Kenus system requires an area of just 0.8 x 1.6mm, so even the smallest instruments used in clinics can be marked and identified.

The Datamatrix code can record extensive information in a tiny area, while the codes can still be read and verified reliably.

By marking each instrument with a data matrix code it is possible to have a permanent record of each instrument and detailed documentation of the complete and correctly stocked filter.

This rules out a situation in which several sterile filters have to be opened until the required instrument is available.

The data management functions allow staff to identify how often an instrument has been sterilised and used.

For example, code reading indicates that a pair of scissors has been used too often and needs to be sent for an audit and regrinding.

A reading is confirmed by an acoustic signal, a visual signal and on the monitor.

The code reader stands on the desk.

Instruments loaded by hand do not need to be precisely positioned when the code reader is used, as it automatically detects the matrix code in the subject field.

The In-Sight can perform around 40 readings per second.