Abstract
A modular detection system for insertion in a strainer basket for detecting, monitoring and tracing sterile material in a sterilization circuit. The modular detection system includes a strainer basket insert which can be inserted directly in the strainer basket or arranged on a base plate. The system further includes the following individually and optionally electrically coupleable modules: a central electronic unit, a defined or freely selectable number of slots for attaching and/or connecting a predetermined number of retainer systems for retaining sterile material, each retainer system having at least one antenna system for reading a transponder in the sterile material. The system further includes a preferably defined number of conductor tracks to electrically connect the slots and/or retaining systems to one another and/or to the central electronic unit.
Claims
1.-12. (canceled)
13. A modular detection system for insertion into a sieve basket for detecting, monitoring and tracing sterile goods, the modular detection system comprising: a sieve-basket insert that is insertable into the sieve basket directly or arranged on a base plate; and a plurality of modules comprising: a central electronic unit; a number of slots that are defined or freely selectable for connecting and/or coupling a number of retainer systems that are configured for retaining sterile goods and that each include at least one antenna system for reading a transponder of the sterile goods; and a number of conducting tracks, which are configured to electrically connect the number of slots and/or the number of retainer systems to each other and/or to the central electronic unit, each of the plurality of modules being configured to be individually coupled.
14. The modular detection system according to claim 13 further comprising at least one distribution module in the central electronic unit, the at least one distribution module configured to drive at least two retainer systems via the respective antenna system.
15. The modular detection system according to claim 13, wherein multiple distribution modules are configured in such a way that they are connected/connectable in a series with the central electronic unit in order to drive the respective distribution modules in series and thus to switch through the at least one respective antenna system in order to read out the sterile goods lying on the at least one respective antenna system.
16. The modular detection system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one respective antenna system of the number of retainer systems is configured as an NFC antenna.
17. The modular detection system according to claim 13, wherein the number of retainer systems is each configured with a sensor system for detecting and temporarily storing data, wherein the sensor system has at least one sensor, a data processing unit, a temporary memory, and a rechargeable energy storage unit.
18. The modular detection system according to claim 13, wherein the central electronic unit is configured for detecting and temporarily storing data and is in communication with the sensor system of the number of retainer systems and/or with the sterile goods held in the predetermined number of retainer systems.
19. The modular detection system according to claim 13, wherein the data processing unit is adapted to detect and write data to the number of retainer systems and/or to the sterile goods held by the number of retainer systems.
20. The modular detection system according to claim 13, wherein the modular detection system is adapted to communicate and exchange data with at least a second detection system.
21. The modular detection system according to claim 13, wherein the central electronic unit is configured to read out, via the at least one distribution module, the at least one respective antenna system of the number of retainer systems and to transmit the received data and/or information to an external unit, which is configured to visually output the received data and/or information.
22. A retainer system configured to be connected to the modular detection system according to claim 1, the retainer system comprising a sensor system for autonomously detecting process steps.
23. A sieve basket system for monitoring and tracing sterile goods in a sterile goods cycle, the sieve basket system comprising: the first modular detection system according to claim 1; a second modular detection system without a central electronic unit; a first sieve basket; and a second sieve basket, the first modular detection system being insertable into the first sieve basket, the second modular detection system being insertable into the second sieve basket, and the central electronic unit of the first modular detection system being connectable to the second modular detection system.
23. A method for monitoring sterile goods cycles with at least one modular detection system according to claim 17, the method comprising the steps of: detecting and temporarily storing process steps and/or sensor values of at least one retainer system; connecting/coupling the at least one retainer system to the central electronic unit of the modular detection system via at least one data and antenna interface; transmitting data of the at least one retainer system to the central electronic unit of the modular detection system; charging the rechargeable energy storage unit; analyzing and evaluating data in the data processing unit; reading out an instrument ID for matching with a stored list for the at least one retainer system; and outputting information in case of a negative matching result.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0054] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a modular detection system according to the present disclosure;
[0055] FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the modular detection system according to the present disclosure;
[0056] FIG. 3 is a further exploded view of the modular detection system according to the present disclosure;
[0057] FIG. 4 is an illustration showing the sieve basket with the modular detection module according to the present disclosure arranged on a base plate;
[0058] FIG. 5 is an illustration showing the modular detection module according to the present disclosure arranged on a base plate;
[0059] FIG. 6 is an illustration showing the modular detection module according to the present disclosure directly inserted into the sieve basket;
[0060] FIG. 7 is an illustration showing the modular detection module according to the present disclosure;
[0061] FIG. 8 is an illustration showing the modular detection module comprising a central electronic unit and conducting tracks according to the present disclosure;
[0062] FIG. 9 is an illustration showing the modular detection module consisting of a central electronic unit and the conducting tracks arranged on the base plate according to the present disclosure;
[0063] FIG. 10 is an illustration showing the underside of the modular detection module arranged on the base plate consisting of a central electronic unit and conducting tracks according to the present disclosure;
[0064] FIG. 11 is an illustration showing a retainer system with an antenna according to the present disclosure;
[0065] FIG. 12 is an illustration showing the underside of the retainer system with an antenna and two antenna connections according to the present disclosure;
[0066] FIG. 13 is an illustration showing a retainer system with an antenna system according to the present disclosure;
[0067] FIG. 14 is an illustration showing the underside of the retainer system with an antenna system and an antenna connection according to the present disclosure;
[0068] FIG. 15 is an illustration showing a system structure of the modular detection module according to the present disclosure;
[0069] FIG. 16 is an illustration showing a simple system structure of the modular detection module with a distribution module and at least one external unit according to the present disclosure;
[0070] FIG. 17 is an illustration showing the system structure of the modular detection module with multiple distribution modules according to the present disclosure;
[0071] FIG. 18 is an illustration showing communication between two simple system structures of the modular detection module each having a distribution module according to the present disclosure;
[0072] FIG. 19 is an illustration showing the mesh network compared to a conventional network according to the present disclosure;
[0073] FIG. 20 is an illustration of an exemplary temperature and pressure curve in a sterilizer according to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0074] Preferred configuration examples of the present disclosure are described below based on the accompanying figures.
[0075] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a modular detection system according to a first configuration example of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 shows the modular detection system for insertion into a sieve basket 1 for detecting, monitoring and tracing sterile goods 2. The modular detection system is provided and configured as a sieve-basket insert 3, which is insertable into the sieve basket 1, according to a second configuration example (see FIGS. 5 and 6), directly or, according to a first configuration example (see FIGS. 1 to 4), arranged on a base plate 4. FIG. 1 shows a central electronic unit 5, a defined number of slots 6, a predetermined number of retainer systems 7 (here two retainer systems) and a defined number of conducting tracks 9.
[0076] In FIG. 1 it is shown that the base plate 3, which preferably has the same size and shape as the base area of the sieve basket 1, is inserted/insertable into the sieve basket 1. On the base plate 3, the central electronic unit 5 is arranged, which is connected to the conducting tracks 9, which in turn are connectable/connected via at least one antenna connection and data connection 13 to at least one plate-shaped/board-shaped retainer system 7. FIGS. 2 and 3 show corresponding exploded views of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 corresponds substantially to FIG. 1 without the sterile goods 2. Thus, FIGS. 2 to 4 will not be described further.
[0077] FIG. 1 shows in conjunction with FIGS. 8 and 9 the conducting tracks 9 in connection with the central electronic unit 5, which are preferably intended to have the conducting track structure shown in the Figures. It is provided that the conducting tracks 9b branch off at right angles from a conducting track 9a directly connected to the central electronic unit 5. Each conducting track 9b ends in an antenna connection and data connection 13, wherein it is further preferred that at least one further antenna connection and data connection 13 is provided on a conducting track 9b. Furthermore, it is preferred that exactly four conducting tracks 9b branching off from the conducting track 9a are provided, wherein fewer or more conducting tracks 9b may also be provided.
[0078] FIG. 1 shows in connection with FIGS. 11 to 14 the retainer systems 7 which are attached to the slots 6, wherein the slots are defined by the required number of antenna connections and data connections 13 depending on the retainer system 7. According to the present configuration examples, two differently configured retainer systems 7 are provided in the sieve basket 1, wherein each retainer system 7 is configured with a sensor unit 11, in which data and sensor values are detected and temporarily stored and which are transmitted to the central electronic unit 5 after connection to the latter.
[0079] According to FIGS. 11 and 12, a retainer system 7 is provided, which is formed with an antenna system 8 consisting of an antenna.
[0080] FIG. 11 shows an upper side of such a board-like retainer system 7, on which at least one sterile goods bearing (base/clamp) 15 is formed/arranged, into which the sterile goods 2 can be inserted according to FIG. 1. FIG. 12 shows an underside of such a retainer system 7, in which the antenna connections 14 compatible with the antenna connections and data connections 13 of the conducting tracks 9, a so-called double connection, are shown. Via this, the retainer systems 7 can be attached to or fastened on the conductor structure to an antenna connection 14 (see FIGS. 12 and 14) compatible with an antenna connection and data connection 13. In FIG. 14 it is further shown that on the underside of the retainer system 7, in addition to the antenna connections 14, a bearing means 16 is provided at each corner, which is intended to be placed on and preferably fastened to the base plate 3 or the sieve basket 1, respectively.
[0081] According to FIG. 13, a retainer system 7 is provided with an antenna system 8 formed with three antennas 8a. The retainer system 7 also has a sensor unit 11, which is formed with a distribution module 10 (not shown) in order to address each of the three antennas 8a.
[0082] FIGS. 5 to 7 are an illustration showing the modular detection module according to the second configuration example without base plate 3 and otherwise essentially corresponds to the structure of the first configuration example described above. A repeated description is therefore dispensed with at this point.
[0083] FIGS. 9 and 10 are an illustration showing the top and bottom of the modular detection module arranged on the base plate 3, consisting of a central electronic unit 5 and the conducting tracks 9 according to the present disclosure. In FIG. 10, it is furthermore shown that further bearing means (spacers/latching feet/etc.) 16 are provided on the underside of the base plate 3 for insertion and preferably for fastening in the sieve basket(s) 1.
[0084] FIG. 15 is an illustration showing a system structure of the modular detection module according to the present disclosure. In FIG. 5, the central electronic unit 5 is shown in which an energy storage unit 17, a data processing unit 18, a communication module 19 and a reading unit 20 are provided. The central electronic unit 5 is connected to multiple retainer systems 7 via a distribution module 10. Here, the first retainer system 7a has a sensor system 11a and an additional distribution module 10a which is connected to an antenna system 8, wherein the antenna system 8 consists of multiple antennas 8a, each of which is addressed by the distribution module 10a. Furthermore, a second retainer system 7b and a third retainer system 7c are provided, which each have an antenna system with several antennas 8b or 8c and a sensor unit 11b or 11c, respectively, and are each addressed by the first distribution module 10. The number of retainer systems 7 as well as the antenna systems or antennas 8 can be expanded as desired in a modular way.
[0085] FIG. 16 is an illustration showing a simple system structure of the modular detection module with a distribution module 10 and at least one external unit 12 according to the present disclosure. Here, the central electronic unit 5 controls the respective antennas 8a of the antenna system 8 via a distribution module 10 and reads them out. This information is further communicated to an external unit 12. In the case shown, the external unit 12 is an app on a smartphone that visually outputs the information about item number 21, serial number 22, antenna location 23 or respectively storage location on a display 24. Further data such as processing cycles etc. may be displayed additionally. A preferred transmission means, preferably configured bidirectionally, is in this case Bluetooth or respectively any other radio standard.
[0086] FIG. 17 is an illustration showing the system structure of the modular detection module with multiple distribution modules 10 according to the present disclosure. FIG. 17 shows the central electronic unit 5 which controls the three distribution modules 10a, 10b and 10c in series. Each distribution module 10a, 10b and 10c in turn switches through an antenna system 8 with the respective three antennas 8a, three antennas 8b, and three antennas 8c. This outputs which sterile goods 2 (medical products or instruments and/or motor systems) are located on each of the three antennas 8a, each of the three antennas 8b and each of the three antennas 8c. In this way, very complex sieves/sieve baskets 1 can be inventoried. Here, it is particularly preferable to benefit from the immediate proximity of the tags to the antenna and thus prevent incorrect inventorying.
[0087] FIG. 18 is an illustration showing the communication between two simple system structures of the modular detection module with one distribution module 10 each according to the present disclosure. FIG. 18 shows two central electronic units 5a and 5b, which can communicate with each other/among each other and exchange data via the transmission means 25, preferably via Bluetooth. The central electronic units 5a and 5b each have a distribution module 10, which in turn addresses/drives an antenna system 8 with three antennas 8a and 8b in each case.
[0088] FIG. 19 is an illustration showing the mesh network according to the present disclosure in comparison with a conventional network. On the right side of FIG. 19, a conventional network is shown in which all detection systems, referred to here simply as electronic units 5, converge at a central intermediary 26 and direct communication between the electronic units 5 is not provided. The left side of FIG. 19 shows a mesh network according to the present disclosure, in which direct communication between the electronic units 5 is possible and thus no intermediary is required.
[0089] FIG. 20 is a representation of an exemplary temperature and pressure curve in a sterilizer according to the present disclosure. Here, the upper curve represents the temperature curve (Y-axis) and the lower curve represents the pressure curve over time (x-axis) in a sterilizer.
