STERILE CONTAINER WITH AN NFC MODULE

Abstract

A sterile container for sterilizable medical goods includes a receiving space for the medical goods and a data acquisition unit for acquiring parameter data of influencing variables that act on the sterile container. The sterile container includes an NFC module with at least one sensor for acquiring sterility-relevant and/or sterilization-relevant data and a data logger for recording and storing data from the sensor at a recording interval. The sterile container can be monitored by a method that is automatic and sterile-container-specific.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A sterile container for medical goods, the sterile container comprising: a receiving space for the medical goods; a data acquisition unit for acquiring parameter data of influencing variables that act on the sterile container; and an NFC module comprising: at least one sensor for acquiring sterility-relevant and/or sterilization-relevant data; and a data logger for recording and storing data from the at least one sensor at a recording interval.

13. The sterile container according to claim 12, wherein the sterile container is a screen basket or an outer packaging.

14. The sterile container according to claim 12, wherein the NFC module comprises at least one of: an energy storage adapted to be charged by NFC or energy harvesting; a battery or an accumulator; and an energy generating unit.

15. The sterile container according to claim 12, wherein the NFC module comprises a battery or an accumulator that comprises a high temperature button cell.

16. The sterile container according to claim 12, wherein the NFC module comprises an energy generating unit comprising a Peltier element, a solar cell, or a turbine.

17. The sterile container according to claim 12, wherein the NFC module comprises a control unit adapted for autonomous acquisition, storage, and evaluation of data acquired by the at least one sensor.

18. The sterile container according to claim 17, wherein the control unit is a micro controller.

19. The sterile container according to claim 12, wherein the NFC module comprises a fluid-tight outer sheath and/or a thermal insulation.

20. The sterile container according to claim 12, wherein the NFC module comprises a fluid-tight outer sheath made of an epoxy resin.

21. The sterile container according to claim 12, wherein the NFC module comprises a thermal insulation comprising an aerogel insulation.

22. The sterile container according to claim 12, wherein the NFC module is injected into a container panel.

23. The sterile container according to claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a temperature sensor and an acceleration sensor.

24. The sterile container according to claim 21, wherein the acceleration sensor is a passive acceleration sensor.

25. The sterile container according to claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of: a pressure sensor; a moisture sensor; a pH sensor; and a gas sensor.

26. The sterile container according to claim 12, wherein the NFC module comprises an NFC interface adapted for data communication with a reading unit/programming unit.

27. The sterile container according to claim 26, wherein the reading unit/programming unit is an NFC interface that is compatible with a smart phone.

28. A method for automatic and sterile-container-specific monitoring of a sterile container according to claim 12, the method comprising at least one of the following steps: retrieving sterility-relevant and/or sterilization-relevant data from the at least one sensor at time intervals with the data logger; and retrieving sterility-relevant and/or sterilization-relevant data continuously from the at least one sensor.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the step of retrieving sterility-relevant and/or sterilization-relevant data from the at least one sensor at time intervals with the data logger comprises the step of retrieving at least one of: temperature values; pressure values; moisture values; and pH values.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the step of retrieving sterility-relevant and/or sterilization-relevant data continuously from the at least one sensor comprises the step of retrieving acceleration values.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0042] Further features and advantages of the present invention result from the following exemplary and non-limiting description of the Figures. They are merely of schematic nature and only serve for the understanding of the invention.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an NFC module with a battery in two perspective representations from different directions of view,

[0044] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an NFC module with a Peltier element in two perspective representations from different directions of view,

[0045] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an NFC module with a solar cell in a perspective representation,

[0046] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an NFC module with a turbine in a perspective representation,

[0047] FIG. 5 shows an NFC module integrated in a container membrane,

[0048] FIG. 6 shows an NFC module integrated in a housing for mounting to a screen basket,

[0049] FIG. 7 shows an NFC module with sensors and a data logger, and

[0050] FIG. 8 shows a sterile container with a receiving space and a data acquisition unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The NFC module 1 in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises an electronic circuit 2 and an energy supply unit 3. The circuit 2 is formed on a printed circuit board 4 and comprises—not characterized in detail in the Figures—a data logger, a sending/receiving circuit, especially in the form of an NFC interface, a storage unit, and a micro controller. The energy supply unit 3 serves for an energy supply of the electronic circuit. As is illustrated in particular in FIG. 6, the NFC module 1 is received in a housing 5. It surrounds the NFC module 1 in a hermetically sealed/fluid-tight manner.

[0052] In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the energy supply unit is implemented in the form of a micro button cell 6. It may be designed as an accumulator 6 chargeable especially by means of nearfield communication (wireless charging). In the case of a battery 6 the housing 5 is accessible so as to be able to exchange same. Moreover, the housing 5 is thermally insulating, so that the battery 6 and/or the accumulator 6 is protected from harmful temperature influences which may, for instance, occur in the scope of sterilizations.

[0053] In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the energy supply unit is implemented in the form of a Peltier element 7 arranged on the underside of the printed circuit board 4 and electrically connected with the circuit 2. In this embodiment the housing 5 may be designed to be hermetically sealed without access possibility, but it is only insulated such that process heat of a cleaning process or of a sterilization process may act on the Peltier element 7 and may be used for energy supply of the circuit 2.

[0054] In the embodiment of FIG. 3 at least a part of the printed circuit board 4 is designed as an indoor solar cell 8 which is electrically connected to the circuit 2. The housing 5 is in this case light-permeable at least in the region of the solar cell 8.

[0055] The embodiment of FIG. 4 possesses, as an energy supply unit 3, a turbine 9 arranged at the edge of the printed circuit board 4 and connected electrically with the circuit 2. The turbine 9 is either arranged externally of the housing 5 or accessible from outside at the input 10 and output 11 thereof.

[0056] By means of the NFC module 1 it is possible to monitor sterile goods in a particular simple, sterile good-specific and permanent fashion. Specifically, sterilizations may be counted and possible damages may be detected. Due to its flat structure with small dimensions it is particularly easy to mount at sterile containers, screen baskets, or outer packaging.

[0057] FIG. 5 illustrates a variant in which the NFC module 1 is implemented, here injected, with the housing 5 or without the housing 5 in a panel 12 of a sterile container not shown in the Figures. The NFC module 1 with the micro controller, a temperature sensor, and a passive acceleration sensor is sheathed with an aerogel insulation 13. In order to protect it from pressure variations, the hosing 5 is designed in the form of a sheath 14 of epoxy resin. The NFC module 1 is subsequently injected in a container panel. During a transportation of the sterile container it may thus be monitored easily whether critical stresses with possible damages of the sterile container and/or the sterile good received therein occur. This is effected by means of he passive acceleration sensor which sends a signal to the micro controller from a defined (limit) acceleration on. Impacts, downfalls, and rollovers which possibly damage the container and/or the sterile good may thus be recognized reliably. By means of the NFC interface and/or by means of possibly existing optical or acoustic signal output devices such an event may be indicated to a user. The user may then carry out an additional optical check of the sterile container and/or the sterile good. The warning may subsequently be reset with an NFC-capable device.

[0058] In order to be able to detect a sterilization or cleaning in the cleaning and disinfection device, the NFC module may measure the ambient temperature by means of the data logger at predetermined intervals. The intervals may be chosen such that as little energy as possible is consumed, on the one hand, and a significant increase of the temperature may be detected, on the other hand. If a predetermined limit/limit temperature has been exceeded, the temperature data may be acquired at shorter intervals. By a comparison with previously defined temperature curves and a tolerance range it may be determined whether a successful cleaning or sterilization took place. Since the two processes differ significantly from each other, a differentiation by the micro controller may take place. In the case of a successful sterilization an internal counter may be increased. This counter may indicate the number of all sterilizations acquired so far, and may thus serve to control how often the container and/or the associated instrument set was in use. After the cleaning/sterilization the NFC module may again acquire the temperature at larger intervals, and incorrect accelerations may be acquired. By means of a reading unit, for instance, a packing space in the central sterile supply department, data like the number of sterilizations, possible damages, and/or an identification number may be read and be transferred to a management system.

[0059] FIG. 7 shows an NFC module with sensors and a data logger. FIG. 8 shows a sterile container with a receiving space and a data acquisition unit.