INTERCHANGEABLE LABELLING PLATE

Abstract

A labelling system includes a labelling plate being adapted to be removably connected with a sterile container, wherein the labelling plate includes interfaces for at least one label (e.g. barcode) and at least one identification tag (e.g. RFID). The interfaces can removably hold the at least one identification tag and/or the at least one label at the separate labelling plate.

Claims

1. A labelling plate adapted to be removably connected with a sterile container, the labelling plate comprising individual interfaces for at least one label and at least one identification tag, the interfaces comprising a first interface and a second interface, the first and second interfaces designed for removably holding at least one of the at least one identification tag and the at least one label at the labelling plate.

2. The labelling plate according to claim 1, wherein the first interface is or comprises a retaining clip or brace.

3. The labelling plate according to claim 2, wherein the retaining clip has a shape of a paper clip comprising a fixed clip leg fixedly connected with the labelling plate and a movable clip leg elastically movable relative to a front side of the labelling plate to be able to clamp a label between the movable clip leg and the front side of the labelling plate.

4. The labelling plate according to claim 1, wherein the second interface comprises at least one retaining hole or recess adapted to removably receive an elastic tag connection or catch mechanism in the form of an engaging pawl, notch or cone, said mechanism formed or provided at the at least one identification tag.

5. The labelling plate according to claim 1 comprising a uniform or standard plate connection or catch mechanism adapted to be removably engaged with a uniform or standard plate interface.

6. A sterile container comprising a basis pan or trough and a lid or cover that are connectable with each other to form a closable container compartment for accommodating at least one instrument tray therein, the sterile container having a uniform or standard plate interface adapted to removably receive a connection or catch mechanism of the labelling plate according to claim 5, such that the labelling plate is temporarily connectable to the sterile container.

7. A sterile container set comprising: a labelling plate; and a sterile container; the labelling plate comprising individual interfaces for at least one label and at least one identification tag, the interfaces comprising a first interface and a second interface, the first and second interfaces designed for removably holding at least one of the at least one identification tag and the at least one label at the labelling plate, the labelling plate comprising a uniform or standard plate connection or catch mechanism adapted to be removably engaged with a uniform or standard plate interface, the sterile container having a basis pan or trough and a lid or cover, the basis pan or trough connectable with the lid or cover to form a closable container compartment for accommodating at least one instrument tray therein, the sterile container having a first uniform or standard plate interface adapted to removably receive the uniform or standard plate connection or catch mechanism of the labelling plate such that the labelling plate is temporarily connectable to the sterile container.

8. The sterile container set according to claim 7, further comprising at least one instrument tray adapted to be accommodated within the container compartment of the sterile container, wherein the at least one instrument tray has a second uniform or standard plate interface adapted to removably receive the uniform or standard connection or catch mechanism of the labelling plate such that the labelling plate is temporarily connectable to the at least one instrument tray.

9. A labelling method for sterile containers in the event of disinfection processing cycles, the method comprising the following steps: fixing a transparent or colored labelling plate according to claim 1 on or at a first sterile container using a click-on mechanism, the first sterile container comprising an instrument tray contained in the first sterile container; adding at least one identification tag and at least one label on a front side of the labelling plate at the first and second interfaces provided on the labelling plate; processing the sterile container and instrument tray contained therein to or in an operation room; processing back the first sterile container to a sterile processing department after use in the operation room, opening the first sterile container and removing the instrument tray; removing the labelling plate from the first sterile container, removing the identification tag from the labelling plate, and connecting the labelling plate at or on the instrument tray removed from the first sterile container for clean processing the instrument tray and labelling plate together; merging the instrument tray together with a cleaned second sterile container, removing the labelling plate from the instrument tray and connecting said labelling plate at or on the second sterile container and connecting the identification tag being cleaned separately to the second sterile container and instrument tray at or on the labelling plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0030] The present invention will be described in more detail below on the basis of a preferred embodiment by reference to the enclosed figures, according to which:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a lower shell of a sterile container already equipped with a labelling plate according to an embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view, wherein an upper shell can have substantially the same shape and is, therefore, not individually shown anymore[[,]];

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a length section of the labelling plate in a connected state with the sterile container;

[0033] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a tag connection/catch mechanism and a plate connection/catch mechanism in enlarged view, respectively

[0034] FIGS. 4a to 4d show the labelling plate according to an embodiment in different views being equipped with an (one) information tag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] According to FIG. 1, a lower shell (or basis pan/trough) 1a of a sterile container 1 is shown in detail forming a container compartment 2 into which a tray 4 as indicated in FIG. 3a can be inserted wherein the lower shell 1a can be air-tightly closed by an upper shell 1b (as indicated in FIG. 1) which may have a shape substantially similar to the lower shell.

[0036] In the preferred embodiment the lower shell 1a comprises a plate receiving interface 6 preferably in the form of two parallel distanced groove-like recesses 6a being pressed into a side wall of the lower shell 1a. Alternatively, instead of grooves also hole-like recesses could be formed. Besides, instead of or in addition to the lower shell 1a also the upper shell 1b could be formed with a plate receiving interface 6 of this kind.

[0037] In general, the plate receiving interface 6 is intended to have a standard or uniform shape at each sterile container 1 being manufactured in future. In case of already existing sterile containers an adapter element (not shown) could be provided which is connectable to the (existing) sterile container, for example by gluing or welding, and which has the (standard) receiving interface 6 on its free side.

[0038] As can be seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b, a (separate) labelling plate 8 is provided which is substantially adapted in its outer shape to the side wall of the sterile container 1 such that it can be attached to the side wall of the sterile container 1 (lower shell 1a) in a tight manner. In order to achieve a fixed but detachable connection between the sterile container 1 and the labelling plate 8 at least two (preferably four) parallel extended borders or hooks 10 are formed thereon representing a plate connection or catch mechanism which are designed to elastically engage with the recesses 6a of the sterile container 1. As can be seen especially in FIG. 3b, each recess 6a of the sterile container 1 forms an undercut into which the borders or hooks 10 are elastically pressed to hold the labelling plate 8 at the side wall of the container 1 substantially by form fit.

[0039] The labelling plate 8 comprises at least two interfaces 12, 14 at its (free) front side which are adapted to detachably hold at least one information tag 16 and at least one card-like label 18. As can be seen especially in FIG. 3a the one interface 12 for the information tag 16 comprises preferably two holes or recesses 12a forming undercuts respectively. The information tag 16, therefore, comprises a tag connection/catch mechanism, preferably in the form of, for example two cone-like (notch-like) protrusions 16a which are elastically deformable and which are designed to engage with the holes or recesses 12a at the labelling plate 8 such that a detachable form fit is generated in between.

[0040] According to FIGS. 4a and 4b, the other interface 14 for the label 18 comprises a clip or brace (preferably in the form of a paper clip) 20 having two clip legs 20a, 20b wherein one clip leg 20a is fixedly connected with the labelling plate 8 and the other one 20b is freely hold above/along the front side of labelling plate 8 such that the label 18, for example in the form of a credit card, can be sandwiched between the freely hold clip leg 20b (being elastic) and the front side of the labelling plate 8.

[0041] It shall be pointed out here, that the labelling plate 8 may have more interfaces for additional information tags and/or labels which are just indicated in the front side of the labelling plate 8 by through holes as shown especially in FIGS. 4c and 4d.

[0042] With the labelling system comprising the labelling plate 8 the information tag 16 and the label 18 as described above the interchangeable (front) labelling plate 8 for tags and (barcode) labels is used made from materials which are compatible with reprocessing methods in sterile processing like stainless steel, plastic like PEEK or PPSU, etc. (irrespective to the materials of the tag and/or the label). Accordingly the use of such a labelling system in processing cycles for disinfection is as follows (starting in the clean section of the SPD): [0043] A transparent or coloured labelling plate 8 is (detachably) fixed on/at the sterile container 1 (preferably its lower shell 1a) wherein the click-on mechanism as described above is used. [0044] Additional smaller identification tag(s) 16 and (batch control) label(s) 18 are added on the front side of the labelling plate 8 using the at least two (individual) interfaces 12, 14 provided thereon. [0045] The thus labelled and sterilized container 1 (into which an instrument tray 4 was inserted before) are then processed to an operation room for its use. [0046] In the operation room (barcode) labels 18 can be removed and, for example, be glued into the patient's documentation. Also at least parts of the labels 18 can be disposed. Alternatively, at least parts of the labels 18 can be maintained at the sterile container 1 after use. [0047] After use in the operation room the sterile container 1 is generally processed back to the SPD. [0048] In the SPD the container 1 is opened and the used instrument tray(s) 4 is/are removed from the sterile container 1. [0049] The instrument tray(s) can then be processed together with the already removed labelling plate 8, for example, in a washer/disinfector. Here, the labelling plate 8 can optionally be connected to the instrument try 4 at the respective (uniform) interface 4a being provided at the tray 4 and having the same shape and size than the plate interface 6 at the sterile container 1. [0050] After the cleaning process is finished the instrument tray(s) 4 is/are merged together with any container (having the right size) because the containers are un-labelled at this stage. [0051] Finally, the labelling plate 8 which has been processed together with the tray(s) 4 is connected on the selected (available) sterile container 1 into which the tray(s) 4 is/are inserted.

[0052] The above-described procedure allows at any time during the sterile processing cycle to identify the content of an instrument set inside and outside the container. At the clean section of the sterile processing department (SPD) any container of the right size can be used for merging with an instrument tray regardless its former content.

[0053] Different from using single use barcode labels the identification of the instrument tray during cleaning and disinfection is possible because the labelling plate holding the label can be connected at the instrument tray for the cleaning process.

[0054] The use of different additional tags on the labelling plate allows also the break-up of the content of the sterile container into different instrument trays for cleaning and disinfection.