Electronic system for tracking and monitoring articles to be sterilized and associated method
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsRoland C. Kippenhan, Steven S. Kirckof, Phillip A. Bolea, Richard M. Rumble
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A electronic system for tracking and monitoring articles to be subjected to a sterilization cycle is disclosed. The method uses a sterilization indicator and electronically links sterilization information with the articles subjected to the sterilization process. The indicator allows a sterilization cycle to be monitored without the need for a user to subjectively distinguish between color, quality or intensity of display patterns.
Claims31
A method of monitoring articles to be subjected to a sterilization process comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a sterilization indicator capable of providing information relating to the efficacy of a sterilization process, an article to be subjected to said sterilization process, a reading device capable of obtaining information from said sterilization indicator, and processing means for processing information associated with said sterilization indicator and said article;
- b) subjecting said sterilization indicator and said article to said sterilization process;
- c) reading information from the sterilization indicator with said reading device;
- and
- d) associating information from said sterilization indicator with said article by said processing means.
A method of monitoring articles to be subjected to a sterilization process at a healthcare facility comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a chemical indicator forming at least a portion of a code on a label, the chemical indicator being capable of providing information relating to the efficacy of a sterilization process, an article to be subjected to a sterilization process, a reading device capable of reading said chemical indicator, and computer means for managing information associated with said chemical indicator and said article;
- b) subjecting said chemical indicator and said article to a sterilization process;
- c) reading the code on the label to obtain information relating to the efficacy of the sterilization process with said reading device;
- d) communicating information from said reading device to said computer means.
A method of tracking articles to be subjected to a sterilization process comprising the steps of:
- providing a sterilization indicator capable of indicating whether a sterilization process has failed;
- providing a computer;
- storing information relating to the articles within memory of the computer;
- placing the articles and the sterilization indicator within a substantially opaque sterilization pack and closing the pack;
- subjecting the sterilization pack to a sterilization procedure;
- reading the results of the sterilization indicator with a reading device;
- determining whether the sterilization procedure has failed;
- and
- controlling the use of said article based upon the determination of whether the sterilization process has failed.
A system for monitoring an article to be subjected to a sterilization process comprising:
- a) storage means for storing data on a storage medium;
- b) first means for reading sterilization indicator data from a sterilization indicator under scrutiny and storing the sterilization indicator data in said storage medium;
- c) second means for receiving inventory data associated with an article to be subjected to a sterilization cycle and storing the inventory data in said storage medium;
- d) third means for establishing a relationship between said sterilization indicator data and said inventory data, and
- e) processing means for determining whether the article to be subjected to a sterilization cycle may be used.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.