USER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM OF A REPROCESSING APPARATUS

Abstract

A user assistance system of a reprocessing apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting at least one surgical instrument arranged in a cleaning basket, the user assistance system including: at least one electronically controlled display device; and a controller coupled with the at least one electronically controlled display device, the at least one electronically controlled display device being integrated in a loading station and being configured for arranging the cleaning basket on one side of the display device during the loading of the cleaning basket, the controller being configured to control the display device such that image information is displayed in an actual size and position which indicates a predetermined arrangement within the cleaning basket of the surgical instrument that is to be reprocessed.

Claims

1. A user assistance system of a reprocessing apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting at least one surgical instrument arranged in a cleaning basket, the user assistance system comprising: at least one electronically controlled display device; and a controller coupled with the at least one electronically controlled display device, the at least one electronically controlled display device being integrated in a loading station and being configured for arranging the cleaning basket on one side of the display device during the loading of the cleaning basket, the controller being configured to control the display device such that image information is displayed in an actual size and position which indicates a predetermined arrangement within the cleaning basket of the surgical instrument that is to be reprocessed.

2. The user assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a flat display that is integrated in a working surface of the loading station, the working surface being configured for the placement of the cleaning basket during a loading process.

3. The user assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electronically controlled display device comprises a first flat display and a second flat display, each of the first and second flat displays being coupled to the control unit, the controller being configured to display, on the first flat display, first image information that relates to a top view in a direction of the first flat display and, on the second display, second image information that relates to a side view in a direction of the second flat display.

4. The user assistance system according to claim 3, wherein the first flat display and the second flat display are positioned at an angle of at least 90° relative to each other.

5. The user assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electronically controlled display device is one of a flat screen, a 3D screen or a holographic display.

6. The user assistance system according to claim 1, further comprising a protective glass recessed into the working surface of the loading station, wherein the protective glass shields the at least one electronically controlled display device from shock and liquids.

7. The user assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electronically controlled display device is a transparent display, the transparent display being integrated into the loading station in that the cleaning basket is arranged below the transparent display.

8. The user assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electronically controlled display device is a projector integrated into the loading station above a working surface where the cleaning basket is placed during a loading process, a projection direction of the projector being oriented towards the cleaning basket, image information generated by the projector is projected into the cleaning basket from a side of the cleaning basket that is provided for loading of the at least one surgical instrument.

9. The user assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to use the at least one electronically controlled display device to reproduce dynamic and photorealistic image information for assisting a user in arranging the at least one surgical instrument in the cleaning basket.

10. A reprocessing apparatus comprising: the cleaning basket, the loading station; and the user assistance system according to claim 1.

11. A medical workstation comprising the reprocessing apparatus according to claim 10.

12. A method for cleaning and disinfecting at least one surgical instrument in a reprocessing apparatus, the at least one surgical instrument being arranged in a cleaning basket during reprocessing, the method comprising: arranging the cleaning basket on one side of an electronically controlled display device during the loading of the cleaning basket, the electronically controlled display device being integrated in a loading station, displaying a predetermined arrangement of the at least one surgical instrument to be reprocessed in the cleaning basket in its actual size and position, arranging the at least one surgical instrument in the cleaning basket, and performing a reprocessing of the surgical instrument.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the electronically controlled display device is a flat display integrated in a working surface of a loading station and the working surface is configured for placement of the cleaning basket during the loading process.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the electronically controlled display device comprises first and second flat displays, wherein the displaying comprises displaying first image information that relates to a top view in a direction of the first flat display on the first flat display and displaying second image information that relates to a side view in a direction of the second flat display on the second flat display.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the displaying comprises displaying dynamic and photorealistic image information for arranging the at least one surgical instrument in the cleaning basket on the electronically controlled display device.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the displaying comprises displaying one of 3D image data, stereoscopic image data or holographic image data on the electronically controlled display device.

17. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that cause a computer to perform, for cleaning and disinfecting at least one surgical instrument in a reprocessing apparatus where the at least one surgical instrument being arranged in a cleaning basket during reprocessing: arranging the cleaning basket on one side of an electronically controlled display device during the loading of the cleaning basket, the electronically controlled display device being integrated in a loading station, displaying a predetermined arrangement of the at least one surgical instrument to be reprocessed in the cleaning basket in its actual size and position, arranging the at least one surgical instrument in the cleaning basket, and performing a reprocessing of the surgical instrument.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Further features will become clear from the description of embodiments together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments can encompass individual features or a combination of multiple features.

[0040] The embodiments will be described below, without restricting the general intent of the invention, based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, whereby express reference is made to the drawings with regard to the disclosure of all details that are not explained in greater detail in the text. Wherein:

[0041] FIG. 1 illustrates a medical workstation comprising a reprocessing apparatus with a user assistance system in a schematic, simplified and perspective view, and

[0042] FIGS. 2-4 illustrate various user assistance systems in a schematically simplified view.

[0043] In the drawings, the same or similar elements and/or parts are provided with the same reference numbers in order to prevent the item from needing to be reintroduced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic, simplified and perspective view of a medical workstation 2 comprising a reprocessing apparatus 4. Said apparatus comprises a cleaning basket 6, which is configured to receive at least one surgical instrument, such as an endoscope, a clamp, forceps or the like. A preparation process of cleaning and disinfecting takes place in an interior 8 of the reprocessing apparatus 4. The interior 8 is closed by a door 10 on the front side of the reprocessing apparatus 4. The reprocessing apparatus 4 is operated by means of an operating unit 12, for example.

[0045] To ensure a safe and reliable preparation of the surgical instruments in accordance with guidelines, it is important for them to be inserted correctly into the cleaning basket 6 and, if appropriate, to be connected to the provided connectors. The user of the reprocessing apparatus 4 is supported during the insertion of the surgical instrument or the surgical instruments into the cleaning basket 6. The present loading station 14 next to the reprocessing apparatus 4 has a user assistance system for this purpose.

[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates a user assistance system 20 in a schematically simplified view. It comprises at least one electronically controlled display device and, in the exemplary embodiment shown here, a first flat display 16a and a second flat display 16b. The loading station 14 (cf. FIG. 1) comprises a working surface 18 for the placement of the cleaning basket 6 during the loading process. The first display 16a, which is e.g. a flat screen, is integrated into this working surface 18. The cleaning basket 6 is placed immediately above an active side of the first display 16a while it is loaded with the surgical instrument 28. A protective glass, which shields the display screen beneath it from shock and liquids in its surroundings, is preferably recessed into the working surface 18 of the loading station 14, especially the upper side of the working surface 18. The protective glass can be wipe-disinfected.

[0047] The second flat display 16b is located in a rear part of the loading station 14. Its active side faces toward the first display 16a. If the cleaning basket 6 is placed on the first display 16a, the active side of the second display 16b faces toward the cleaning basket 6. The active side of the first display 16a and the active side of the second display 16b enclose an angle of at least approximately 90°.

[0048] In order to aid the user in inserting the surgical instrument 28, such as an endoscope, into the cleaning basket 6, the first and second displays 16a, 16b are controlled such that image information is displayed in the actual size and position, which indicates a predetermined arrangement within the reprocessing basket 6 of the surgical instrument that is to be reprocessed. This is exemplified in FIG. 2.

[0049] For the sake of clarity, the first display 16a and the second display 16b are shown next to each other in one plane in FIG. 2. While a top view is displayed on the first display 16a, the second display 16b displays a side view. The user is given intuitive instructions as to how to insert the pictured endoscope into the cleaning basket 6. In addition to the displays 16a, 16b, the user assistance system 20 comprises a control unit (controller) 22, which is coupled with it so as to control the first and second displays 16a, 16b. Suitable connection lines 24a, 24b are provided for this purpose. The cleaning basket 6, which is likewise shown in a top view on the first display 16a and in a side view on the second display 16b, is positioned within the markings 26, one of which has been given a reference sign as an example. The surgical instrument 28, the endoscope in the exemplary embodiment shown here, is displayed realistically in its size and position on the displays 16a, 16b. The image information can be a photorealistic image.

[0050] The user is given an intuitive and simple visual representation of what position and in what way the surgical instrument 28 is to be placed in the cleaning basket 6. The top view displayed on the first display 16a and the side view displayed on the second display 16b complement each other in this context. For instance, it is possible to see on the second display 16b how the imaged endoscope is inserted into the mount 30 in the cleaning basket 6 and, if necessary, is attached to the provided adapter.

[0051] The control unit 22 of the user assistance system 20 has a memory containing a database 32, in which are stored the configurations in which the surgical instruments 28 can be inserted into the cleaning basket 6. For example, the database comprises all configurations of all surgical instruments that can be employed in a particular institution, such as a hospital.

[0052] It is necessary only to detect the type of surgical instrument 28 and optionally the type of cleaning basket 6, and the control unit 22 then provides the associated image information on the displays 16a, 16b. For this purpose, the control unit 22 also has a central processing unit (CPU) 34. To identify them, the surgical instrument 28 and optionally the cleaning basket 6 have machine-readable identifiers, such as a RFID tag, a bar code, a UDI code or a QR code.

[0053] The user assistance system 20 can be configured to represent dynamic, such as photorealistic, image information on the displays 16a, 16b. This information s relates to the process of arranging the surgical instrument 28 in the cleaning basket 6. In other words, a film or a moving video representation illustrating the process of inserting the surgical instrument 28 into the cleaning basket 6 can be reproduced on the displays 16a, 16b.

[0054] The user assistance system 20 can further comprise a camera or another suitable image capturing system, which is not shown here, with which the cleaning basket 6 and optionally also the surroundings of the cleaning basket 6 can be recorded. The control unit 22 is then configured to evaluate the recorded image information and determine, for example, a loading state of the cleaning basket 6. Likewise, a movement of the user's hands can be identified and analyzed. As a result, it can be determined whether the at least one surgical instrument 28 is or has been inserted into the cleaning basket 6 correctly and how far the process of inserting it into the cleaning basket 6 has progressed. It becomes possible in this way, for example, to adapt the speed of a video representation to the speed at which the user is able to arrange the surgical instrument 28 in the cleaning basket 6. Moreover, an incorrect loading of the cleaning basket 6 can be detected and the user can be prompted to correct the situation, possibly by means of a warning message. It is likewise provided that particular sequences of the process of handling the surgical instrument 28 are repeated during the process of inserting it into the cleaning basket 6.

[0055] The display or displays 16a, 16b can be a screen, such as a flat screen. An active side of the display 16a, 16b is that side on which the image information is reproduced. A flat screen can be used, such as those known from entertainment electronics or as computer screens. Furthermore, the display or displays 16a, 16b can be a 3D screen. This type of screen can be configured to display pairs of stereoscopic images that can be viewed by the user with a suitable aid, such as a pair polarizing 3D glasses. A 3D image can improve the intuitive representation of the process of inserting the surgical instrument 28, since, in addition to the image information, depth information relating to the position of the surgical instrument 28 is displayed. This also applies to the case according to a further exemplary embodiment, in which the display 16a, 16b is a holographic display.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a simplified schematic perspective view of a loading station 14, such as a table, that has a transparent display 16c recessed into its working surface 18. This is integrated into the loading station 14 in such a way that the cleaning basket 6 is or can be arranged below the display 16c. For this purpose, appropriate mounting brackets 36 are located on the lower side of the working surface 18. A free space between an upper edge of the cleaning basket 6 and a lower side of the working surface 18 is selected to be large enough that a user is capable of comfortably reaching his or her hands into this intermediate space and arranging a surgical instrument 28 in the cleaning basket 6.

[0057] During insertion of the surgical instrument(s), the user matches the e.g. photorealistic representation of the instruments on the transparent display 16c with the instruments visible below it. The displayed arrangement of the surgical instruments 28 in the cleaning basket 6 can be optimized with regard to the efficiency of the reprocessing apparatus 4 by the user assistance system. Thus it can display how an optimal number of surgical instruments 28 should be arranged in the cleaning basket 6, with the hygienic requirements being optimally satisfied while a maximum number of surgical instruments 28 are reprocessed in a single cleaning process. Naturally, this range of functions applies to all of the exemplary embodiments.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows a further schematic and perspective view of a loading station 14, which has a projector 16d as the display device. A cleaning basket 6 is arranged on a working surface 18. The cleaning basket 6 is placed there during the loading process. The projector 16d projects in a direction toward the cleaning basket 6. In this way, image information indicating the arrangement of the surgical instruments 28 in the cleaning basket 6 can be projected into the cleaning basket 6 by means of the projector 16d. If the image or the outline of a surgical instrument 28 is projected directly onto the surgical instrument itself, then a user can assume that he or she has arranged the instrument properly in the cleaning basket 6.

[0059] In one method for cleaning and disinfecting a surgical instrument 28 in the reprocessing apparatus 4, the cleaning basket 6 is arranged e.g. on the upper side of the first display 16a (FIG. 1). The predetermined arrangement of the surgical instrument 28 to be reprocessed in the reprocessing basket 6 is then represented in its actual size and position on this display 16a. The user arranges the surgical instrument 28 in the reprocessing basket 6 and introduces it into the interior 8 of the reprocessing apparatus 4 to perform the preparation process.

[0060] The same procedure can also be carried out in the apparatuses shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the difference being that the cleaning basket 6 is arranged below a transparent display 16c (FIG. 3) or that an image is projected into the cleaning basket 6 from the upper side (FIG. 4).

[0061] To represent the image information on the display(s) 16a, 16b, a computer program product is also provided, which enables the user assistance system 20 to carry out the method. The corresponding computer program product can be provided in the database 32 and is executed by the central processing unit 34 of the control unit 22.

[0062] While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0063] 2 Medical workstation [0064] 4 Reprocessing apparatus [0065] 6 Cleaning basket [0066] 8 Interior [0067] 10 Door [0068] 12 Operating unit [0069] 14 Loading station [0070] 16a, 16b Flat display [0071] 16c Transparent display [0072] 16d Projector [0073] 18 Working surface [0074] 20 User assistance system [0075] 22 Control unit [0076] 24a, 24b Connecting lines [0077] 26 Marking [0078] 28 Surgical instrument [0079] 30 Mount [0080] 32 Database [0081] 34 Central processing unit [0082] 36 Mounting bracket