STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING MEDICAL PRODUCTS

Abstract

A storage system for storing medical products, in particular temperature-sensitive medical products, and a method for storing medical products in such a storage system. The storage system includes a storage area with a plurality of storage spaces for a respective type of medical product and at least one sensor for detecting an ambient parameter of the storage area. The storage system has a plurality of sensors, each of which is designed as a data logger and each of which is arranged in a manner specific to the storage space to automatically detect at least one storage space-specific ambient parameter. The storage system has at least one reading device for reading the data loggers.

Claims

1. A storage system designed for storing medical products, the storage system comprising: a storage area comprising storage spaces for a respective type of said medical products; a plurality of sensors, each of which is designed as a data logger and each of which is arranged in a manner specific to the storage space, in order to automatically detect at least one storage space-specific ambient parameter; and at least one reading device for reading the data loggers, wherein the storage system is provided and designed such that a data transmission between a selected data logger of the data loggers and the at least one reading device takes place in a near region in that either a respective reading device is assigned to each individual data logger and is firmly placed in or at an associated storage space, or the at least one reading device is approached to the selected data logger by a traversing and positioning device and is positioned at a predetermined distance with respect to the selected data logger.

2. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one storage space-specific ambient parameter comprises temperature, brightness, UV radiation intensity, or air moisture.

3. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein each storage space comprises one of the data loggers such that one of the data loggers is arranged at each storage space.

4. The storage system according to claim 3, wherein one of the data loggers is firmly installed at each storage space, and/or one of the data loggers is arranged at a medical product stored in each storage space.

5. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the data loggers are each designed for a data communication by NFC and/or RFID.

6. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage spaces are each designed such that the at least one storage space-specific ambient parameter is individually adjustable.

7. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage system is a shelf storage system or a high-bay storage system and the storage spaces are each designed as a shelf compartment.

8. The storage system according to claim 1, further comprising a data processing unit to which storage space-specific data of the at least one storage space-specific ambient parameter detected by one of the data loggers and read by the reading device is transmitted, and which is designed for evaluation and processing of said storage space-specific data.

9. A method for storing medical products in a storage system according to claim 8, the method comprising the step of: detecting storage space-specific ambient parameters at defined time intervals; or reading storage space-specific data from the data loggers at defined time intervals.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising one or more of the following steps: comparing data of the at least one storage space-specific ambient parameter and a reference parameter stored in the data processing unit; and correcting or regulating the at least one storage space-specific ambient parameter based on a comparison of the at least one storage space-specific ambient parameter and the reference parameter or a trend development.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method for storing medical products is designed for temperature sensitive medical products.

12. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage system is designed to store temperature sensitive and/or light sensitive and/or moisture sensitive medical products.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0044] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a storage system in accordance with the invention in a schematic perspective view.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a mobile reading device used in the storage system of FIG. 1.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a section of the storage system of FIG. 1 with a firmly installed reading device.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a storage system in accordance with the invention in a schematic perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a storage system 1 according to the disclosure in a schematic perspective view. The storage system 1 is, for instance, destined as a high-bay storage system for a hospital or a drugstore where various products are stored jointly, and comprises, as a storage area, a shelf 2 with storage spaces/storage zones 5.sub.x,y arranged in rows 3 and columns 4. In the following description, the parameters x, y used with the reference number 5 serve for the designation of the respective column and/or row of the storage space in the shelf 2. Accordingly, pursuant to the system “storage space 5.sub.x,y in column x and row y”, the storage space 5.sub.2,3 is accordingly positioned in the second vertical column and the third horizontal row (for instance, starting out from the maximally left column and the maximally lower row). The storage spaces/zones 5.sub.x,y are each destined for the storage of medical products 6. In the illustrated embodiment these are preferably storage containers 6 such as, for instance, sterile containers or transport containers for medical instruments or implants or drugs, etc.

[0049] A traversing device 8 (for instance, a robot arm or a combined vertical/horizontal slide) is arranged at the shelf 2, at which at least one (mobile) reading device 7 is arranged. The at least one mobile reading device 7 is adapted to be positioned by means of the traversing device 8 such that the reading device 7 may approach each of the storage spaces 5.sub.x,y individually. The traversing device 8 comprises, for this purpose, a traverse 9 traversable/positionable at least in the longitudinal direction LL of the shelf 2, which is in turn held to be movable vertically, for instance, at vertical rails indicated at both sides of the traverse 9, and at which the reading device 7 is arranged/mounted to be positionable/traversable like a slide in the longitudinal direction LT of the traverse 9. Furthermore, a drive (not illustrated) for a controlled traversing of the reading device 7 along the traverse 9 and a drive (not illustrated) for a controlled traversing of the reading device 7 in the height direction are provided.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the traversing device 8 with the reading device 7 arranged thereon. It may be designed in particular as a combined reading-writing-device 7. For autonomous monitoring, the reading device (mobile reader) 7 approaches the corresponding storage spaces 5.sub.x,y and reads data loggers 10 which are each arranged at the individual storage spaces and/or storage containers 6.

[0051] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, each of the products 6, i.e., each storage container 6 or each storage space/storage zone is provided with such a data logger 10. It is adapted and designed for a detection of ambient parameters such as temperature, brightness, UV radiation values, air moisture, etc. As is indicated by way of example in FIG. 1, the reading device 7 is, by means of the traversing device 8, positioned to one of the products 6/transport containers 6 such that it can read and/or program the data logger 10 disposed there. The communication/the data exchange between the data logger 10 and the reading device takes place via NFC and/or RFID.

[0052] The storage system 1 further comprises a computing unit (computer) 11 which is, in the Figures, arranged by way of example at the shelf 2, but will in reality usually be arranged separately therefrom. The computing unit 11 is in data communication with the reading device 7 and the traversing device 8 and serves in particular for the storage of ambient parameters detected by means of the data loggers 10 and of corresponding reference parameter values, the monitoring of the storage space-specific ambient parameters and possibly their correction/regulation/control by means of the reference values stored, and possibly the general store administration with equipment, input and/or output check.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the disclosure in a section. Deviating from the embodiment of FIG. 1, here a respective stationary, firmly installed reading device 7 is arranged at each of the storage spaces 5.sub.x,y. Each of the reading devices 7 is designed to read/program the data logger 10 of the respective storage container 6 which is currently positioned in the corresponding storage space/storage zone.

[0054] FIG. 4 illustrates that, by means of the disclosure, the respective ambient parameters available at each of the storage spaces 5.sub.x,y, such as here, for example, the temperature, may be adjusted/regulated/controlled. The average storage temperature is, for instance 25° C. By means of an air conditioning unit 12 each of the storage spaces 5.sub.x,y may be air-conditioned individually and independently of the other storage spaces 5. So, the storage spaces 5.sub.1,x of the first column from the left in FIG. 4 are cooled since the products there are heat-sensitive, namely the upper storage space 5.sub.1,1 to a temperature of 5° C., the storage space 5.sub.1,2 positioned therebelow to a temperature of 10° C., and the lower storage space 5.sub.1,5 to a temperature of 15° C. The storage spaces 5.sub.2,y, however, are heated since the medical products 6 there are sensitive to coldness. The storage space 5.sub.2,2 is heated to 30° C., the storage space 5.sub.2,4 is heated to 35° C., and the storage space 5.sub.2,5 is heated to 35° C.