Endoscope storage cabinet, tracking system, and signal emitting member

An endoscope tracking system, comprising:

• at least one computing device having a machine-readable storage medium containing instructions that, if executed, enable a processor to:
• process at least one of the following:
• signals from at least one signal emitting member associated with at least one endoscope, data associated with the signals from the at least one signal emitting member associated with the at least one endoscope, or any combination thereof;
• identify at least one attribute associated with the at least one endoscope;
• and
• cause at least one locking arrangement to be actuated based at least partially on at least one of the following:
• a user identification, a user authority level, a user finger print, a user thumb print a user retina scan a user authentication card an RFID transponder or an combination thereof, wherein the at least one locking arrangement facilitates access to at least one endoscope storage cabinet.

An endoscope storage cabinet for use with at least one endoscope having at least one signal emitting member associated therewith, the at least one signal emitting member configured to emit a signal indicative of at least one attribute of the at least one endoscope to which it is associated, the cabinet comprising:

• an enclosed structure formed by a plurality of walls defining an inner area, wherein the inner area is accessible by at least one door;
• at least one hanger arrangement configured to support at least a portion of at least one endoscope positioned thereon;
• at least one hook arrangement positioned below the at least one hanger arrangement, the at least one hook arrangement comprising a plurality of hooks spaced apart and configured to retain at least a portion of the at least one endoscope and to separate the at least one endoscope from at least one other endoscope;
• at least one signal receiving device associated with the enclosed structure and configured to receive the signal emitted by the at least one signal emitting member;
• and
• a local control device in communication with the at least one signal receiving device and configured to receive and process the signal emitted by the at least one signal emitting member.

An endoscope storage cabinet for use with at least one endoscope having at least one signal emitting member associated therewith, the at least one signal emitting member configured to emit a signal indicative of at least one attribute of the at least one endoscope to which it is associated, the cabinet comprising:

• an enclosed structure formed by a plurality of walls defining an inner area, wherein the inner area is accessible by at least one door;
• at least one hanger arrangement configured to support at least a portion of at least one endoscope positioned thereon;
• at least one signal receiving device associated with the enclosed structure and configured to receive the signal emitted by the at least one signal emitting member;
• a local control device in communication with the at least one signal receiving device and configured to receive and process the signal emitted by the at least one signal emitting member;
• and
• at least one display device in communication with the local control device, the at least one display device configured to display at least one of the following:
• the at least one attribute, identifying information for the at least one endoscope, a status of the at least one endoscope, a previous use of the at least one endoscope, a challenge screen, or any combination thereof.