Integrated system for cleaning medical instruments

An integrated system for reprocessing contaminated medical instruments, said system comprising:

• (a) a first reprocessing unit and a second reprocessing unit, said first and second reprocessing units being capable of operating at the same time, each of said first and second reprocessing units being adapted for receiving therein a medical instrument carrier, said medical instrument carrier being adapted to receive at least one of a predetermined type of contaminated medical instruments for the reprocessing thereof;
• (b) electronic controller means including electronic processor means and associated memory means, said controller means being operably coupled to each of said first and second reprocessing units to enable simultaneous and/or individual control of the operation of said first and second reprocessing units;
• (c) a control program for said controller means for disposition in said memory means, said control program establishing respective protocols of processing steps for effecting the reprocessing of the medical instruments in each of said first and second reprocessing units, said respective protocols being preestablished in accordance with the specific type of medical instrument to be reprocessed in the associated reprocessing unit;
• and,
• (d) said respective protocols comprising a first protocol of processing steps for effecting the reprocessing of contaminated medical instruments in said first reprocessing unit and a second protocol of processing steps for effecting the reprocessing of contaminated medical instruments in said second reprocessing unit, said first protocol of processing steps being different from said second protocol of processing steps.