Method for identifying and reprocessing medical device and reprocessing machine itself

Abstract

Systems and techniques for reprocessing a medical device equipped with an electromagnetic tag may include opening an access door of a reprocessing machine, and passing the medical device through an entrance opening toward an interior of a wash chamber of the reprocessing machine. The systems and techniques may also involve energizing an electromagnetic tag carried by the medical device with an energizing power supply of the reprocessing machine. When the medical device passes through the inlet opening (EO) towards the interior of the wash chamber and in response to the excitation, the system may receive an identification electromagnetic signal transmitted by the excited electromagnetic tag with a receiver of the reprocessing machine. Information associated with the identifying electromagnetic signal may be used to select and / or control washing parameters of the reprocessing machine.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 63 / 499,086 filed on April 28, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of machines for reprocessing medical devices, such as endoscopes. Such reprocessing machines comprise a tank delimiting a washing chamber, a passage door configured to close an access opening of the tank for the medical device, and a fluid circuit comprising one or several pumps, one or several valves. Such reprocessing machines are commonly referred to in the art as Automatic Endoscope Reprocessors (“AER”).

[0003] Once the medical device is inserted in the tank, such machines enable cleaning of the outer surface by spraying a cleaning solution or by immersing the medical device in a cleaning solution. The reprocessing machine can generally be configured to clean the inner surface of the medical device. To this end, the inner lumen of the medical device can be coupled to a coupling hole of the reprocessing machine by a flexible tube, thereby enabling circulation of the cleaning solution through the inner lumen.

[0004] To cope with safety reasons, it is known in the prior art to equip: - the medical device with an electromagnetic tag containing information about the medical device, - the reprocessing machine with a reader comprising an excitation power allowing to excite the electromagnetic tag, and a receiver enabling to receive an identification signal transmitted by the tag in response to the excitation. BACKGROUND

[0005] According to the knowledge of the inventor, and according to a first prior art, the reprocessing machine is equipped with a proximity reader technology (RFID) and the reader of the tag is located behind a side wall of the tank.

[0006] Once the medical device is inserted into the washing chamber, to allow the reader to read the tag, this first prior art forces the operator to grasp the medical device from the tray and to displace it against the side wall where the reading zone of the reader is located.

[0007] According to the inventor, this first prior art has the following drawbacks: - it is necessary to have a side wall made of a material such as plastic, which is permeable to the electromagnetic signals of the reader and of the tag; in other words, it is forbidden to have a metallic side wall when the metallic wall separates the reader and the tag, since the electromagnetic signals of the reader and of the tag cannot pass through the metallic wall and thereby the tag cannot be read.

[0008] - the operator has to manually grasp the medical device, which is not ideal since the medical device is usually covered with infectious organic material.

[0009] According to EP3226918 Al, a second prior art is known, in which the preparation system comprises a preparation device, the preparation chamber of which is closed by a door.

[0010] The sensor operating in a contactless manner is designed to detect a machine-readable ID feature attached to the medical device to implement a movement analysis based on time-dependent position coordinates. It is determined whether the medical device is moving towards the door of the preparation device, and if so, a door opening signal is generated and the treatment chamber is made accessible by opening the door.

[0011] The ID feature can be an RFID tag, and in particular a remote RFID tag, in order to implement the movement analysis when the ID feature is displaced towards the door.

[0012] According to the inventors, this second prior art using remote RFID technology is not ideal for safety reasons, since once the door is opened, it enables a user to insert a second medical device into the treatment chamber of the preparation device, whereas the door has already been opened due to the detection of the ID feature of the first medical device. It can therefore lead to a serious error of traceability.

[0013] This safety problem is particularly exacerbated in a confined environment, usually in a small room. SUMMARY

[0014] According to a first aspect, a method for identifying and reprocessing a medical device equipped with an electromagnetic tag comprising an antenna and a memory including information about the medical device is proposed, The method comprises: / A / opening a passage door of a reprocessing machine comprising a tank delimiting a washing chamber, the passage door being configured to close an entry opening of the tank to pass the medical device through the entry opening; / B / exciting the electromagnetic tag with an excitation power of the reprocessing machine located at the passage door and outside the washing chamber when the medical device passes through the entry opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber; / C / receiving, with a receiver of the reprocessing machine located at the passage door and outside the washing chamber, an identification electromagnetic signal transmitted by the excited electromagnetic tag when the medical device passes through the entry opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber, and in response to the excitation.

[0015] The following features of the first aspect can optionally be implemented, alone or in combination with each other: The method further comprises supporting the medical device with a carrier device and sliding the carrier device along a support rail inside the cabinet to pass the medical device through the access opening.

[0016] The medical device ED is an endoscope having a plurality of lumens, and wherein the method further comprises, before opening the access door; - coupling the plurality of lumens on a coupling block of the carrier device, the coupling block having a plurality of through holes having an inlet side fluidically coupled to a corresponding lumen of the plurality of lumens and an outlet side configured to be coupled to a plurality of holes of the reprocessing machine.

[0017] The method can further comprise; - amplifying, with a relay antenna of the carrier device, the signal of the energizing power source so as to generate an amplified energizing signal reaching the electromagnetic tag, the relay antenna being located between the identification electromagnetic tag and the energizing power source, when the medical device passes through the access opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber.

[0018] The electromagnetic tag is an RFID tag, in particular the RFID tag can be a short-range RFID tag operating at 13,56 MHz.

[0019] The method can further comprise: - / D / closing the access door in response to passing the medical device through the access opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber; - / E / washing the medical device by applying a washing cycle via a control fluid circuit comprising one or several pumps, one or several valves and a sprayer device located inside the washing chamber, in response to closing the door.

[0020] The method can further comprise: - / F / removing the washed medical device through an exit door located opposite the access door with respect to the washing chamber.

[0021] The method can further comprise, in response to receiving the identification electromagnetic signal, reading the identification information of the medical device and comparing the identification information with stored information to determine whether the medical device is authorized for cleaning.

[0022] The method can further comprise, in response to receiving the identification electromagnetic signal, reading the identification information of the medical device and comparing the identification information with stored information to select washing parameters associated with the specific medical device inserted into the washing chamber.

[0023] The method can further comprise: - displaying on a screen of a user interface of the reprocessing machine the selected washing cycle associated with the selected washing parameter, and waiting for a user confirmation to initiate the selected washing cycle; - in response to the user confirmation on the user interface, initiating the selected washing cycle.

[0024] The method can further comprise: - in response to the user discarding the confirmation of the selected washing cycle, displaying on the screen of the user interface a change of washing parameter of the washing cycle, and allowing the user to select one or several changes of the parameter of the washing cycle, - in response to the change of the parameter, initiating the washing cycle after the user confirmation on the user interface.

[0025] According to a second aspect, there is presented a reprocessing machine configured to clean a medical device, the medical device being equipped with an electromagnetic tag, the reprocessing machine comprising: - a tank delimiting a washing chamber, and a passage door configured to close an access opening of the tank for the medical device; - a fluid circuit comprising one or several pumps, one or several valves and a sprayer device inside the washing chamber; - an excitation power supply configured to excite the identification electromagnetic tag, and a receiver configured to receive an identification electromagnetic signal of the electromagnetic tag in response to the excitation, the excitation power supply and the receiver being located at the passage door, outside the washing chamber; - a control device comprising a processor, a storage means and a set of instructions, the control device being configured to implement a method according to the disclosure, including receiving an identification electromagnetic signal during the displacement of the medical device through said access opening towards the interior of the washing chamber when the passage door is open.

[0026] According to a third aspect, there is presented a reprocessing machine configured to clean a medical device, the medical device being equipped with an electromagnetic tag, the reprocessing machine comprising: - a tank delimiting a washing chamber, and a passage door configured to close an access opening of the tank for the medical device, - a fluid circuit comprising one or several pumps, one or several valves and a sprayer device inside the washing chamber, - an excitation power supply configured to excite the identification electromagnetic tag, and a receiver configured to receive an identification electromagnetic signal of the electromagnetic tag in response to the excitation, the excitation power supply and the receiver being located at the passage door, outside the washing chamber, - a control device comprising a processor and a storage device and a set of instructions configured to cooperate with the processor and the storage device to: / a / opening the passage door of the reprocessing machine; / b / exciting the identification electromagnetic tag with the excitation power when the medical device crosses the entry opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber, and / c / receiving, with the receiver, an identification electromagnetic signal transmitted by the excited electromagnetic tag when the medical device crosses the entry opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber, and in response to the excitation of the identification electromagnetic tag.

[0027] The following features of the second or third aspect can optionally be implemented, alone or in combination with each other: The reprocessing can further comprise a carrier device for the medical device and a support rail inside the tank to pass the medical device through the entry opening towards the interior of the washing chamber.

[0028] The reprocessing can further comprise a relay antenna of the carrier device, located between the identification electromagnetic tag and the excitation power when the medical device crosses the entry opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber, so as to generate an amplified excitation signal reaching the electromagnetic tag.

[0029] The medical device can be an endoscope having a plurality of lumens, and wherein the carrier device can have a coupling block having a plurality of through holes having an inlet side fluidically coupled to a corresponding lumen of the plurality of lumens and an outlet side configured to be coupled to a plurality of holes of the reprocessing machine.

[0030] The sprayer device can comprise a rotating sprayer arm located: - below the carrier device supported by the support rail, and - horizontally above the excitation power and the receiver.

[0031] The excitation power can be located at a vertical distance (L) from a support surface of the carrier device supported by the rail, the vertical distance being greater than 4 cm and less than 10 cm.

[0032] The excitation power and the receiver can be fixed to a lower beam of a door frame of the passage door.

[0033] According to a fourth aspect, there is presented a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control unit of a reprocessing machine comprising a processor and a storage device, cause the computer to implement a method according to the present disclosure.

[0034] According to a sixth aspect, there is presented a computer readable medium on which the computer program of the present disclosure is stored.

[0035] According to a seventh aspect, there is presented a non-transitory machine readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor, the machine readable storage medium comprising: - instructions for opening the access door of the reprocessing machine, - instructions for exciting the electromagnetic tag with the excitation power when the medical device passes through the entry opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber, - instructions for receiving, with the receiver, an identification electromagnetic signal transmitted by the excited electromagnetic tag when the medical device passes through the entry opening and inside the washing chamber, and in response to the excitation of the identification electromagnetic tag.

[0036] The following features of the seventh aspect can optionally be implemented, alone or in combination with each other: The machine readable storage medium can further comprise instructions for: - closing the access door, - washing the medical device by applying a washing cycle via a control fluid circuit, the fluid circuit comprising one or several pumps, one or several valves and a sprinkler device located inside said washing chamber.

[0037] The machine readable storage medium can further comprise instructions for: - reading the identification information of the medical device in response to receiving the identification electromagnetic signal, and - comparing the identification information with stored information to determine whether the medical device is authorized for cleaning.

[0038] The machine readable storage medium can further comprise instructions for: - reading the identification information of the medical device in response to receiving the identification electromagnetic signal and, - comparing the identification information with stored information to select washing parameters associated with the specific medical device inserted into the washing chamber.

[0039] The machine readable storage medium can further comprise instructions for: - displaying on a screen of a user interface of the reprocessing machine the selected washing cycle associated with the selected washing parameters and waiting for a user confirmation to initiate the selected washing cycle; - initiating the selected washing cycle in response to the user confirmation on the user interface.

[0040] The machine-readable storage medium can also include instructions for updating the traceability value file by changing the status of the corresponding identified medical device to a cleaned medical device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0041] Other features, details, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of the reprocessing machine during the insertion of a medical device supported by a carrier device through an access opening opened by a passage door, in a position in which a reader, comprising an excitation power supply and a receiver, is configured to read a tag of the medical device, the reader being located outside the washing chamber, at the level of the passage door so as to enable reading of the tag and in particular without the electromagnetic signal between the tag and the reader having to pass through the wall of the tank.

[0042] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a non-limiting example of the present disclosure, in which the operator initiates the insertion of the medical device supported by the carrier device by manually grasping the carrier device once the passage door has been opened.

[0043] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the Figure 2 succession of views of the

[0044] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the Figure 3 succession of views of the

[0045] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a coupling block on one side of the carrier device, the coupling block comprising a plurality of through holes having an inlet side intended to be fluidically coupled to a corresponding lumen of the plurality of lumens of the medical device and an outlet side configured to be coupled to a plurality of holes of a corresponding block of the reprocessing machine and in a position in which the coupling block of the carrier device and the corresponding block of the reprocessing machine are aligned to enable coupling of the outlet side.

[0046] Figure 6 is a diagram showing the blocks of the method according to the present disclosure.

[0047] Figure 7 is a diagram showing the blocks of the method according to the example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] As Figure 1 illustrated, the disclosure relates to a reprocessing machine 10 configured to clean a medical device. The medical device can be an endoscope.

[0049] The medical device is equipped with an electromagnetic tag.

[0050] The electromagnetic tag comprises an antenna and a memory comprising information about the medical device. The information can comprise specific data enabling to identify the medical device. The information can also contain specific data enabling to identify one or several patients on which the medical device has been used by a physician. The information contained in the tag can be used to ensure traceability procedures.

[0051] The reprocessing machine comprises: - a tank 11 delimiting a washing chamber, and a passage door 12 configured to close an entrance opening of the tank for the medical device ED, - a fluid circuit comprising one or several pumps, one or several valves and a sprinkler device inside the washing chamber.

[0052] The passage door is configured to pass from an open position to a closed position, and from a closed position to an open position. The passage door can be for example a pivoting door or a sliding door, or even a door with more complex film of opening and closing. The sliding door can slide in the vertical direction Z, for example according to Figure 1 , or in the horizontal direction, for example according to Figure 4 the direction Y on

[0053] The tank 11 can be plastic, or metal, or of other material. According to an advantageous embodiment, the tank is metal. A metal tank can be advantageous compared to a plastic tank. It can for example enable to reach higher temperatures compared to the temperatures reachable with a plastic tank.

[0054] The reprocessing machine further comprises an excitation power source 13 configured to excite the identification electromagnetic tag 1, and a receiver 14 configured to receive an identification electromagnetic signal of the electromagnetic tag in response to the excitation.

[0055] The excitation power source 13 and the receiver 14 are generally located locally on the same place at the passage door 12 outside the washing chamber W. The excitation power source 13 and the receiver 14 are components of a reader configured to read the electromagnetic tag.

[0056] The reprocessing machine according to the disclosure enables to implement a method for identifying and reprocessing a medical device ED, the method comprising: / A / opening the passage door of the reprocessing machine 10 / B / when the medical device ED crosses the entrance opening EO and moves towards the interior of the washing chamber W, the electromagnetic tag 1 is excited with the excitation power 13 of the reprocessing machine located at the passage door and outside the washing chamber W; / C / when the medical device ED crosses the entrance opening EO and moves towards the interior of the washing chamber W, and in response to the excitation, the identification electromagnetic signal transmitted by the excited electromagnetic tag 1 is received by the receiver 14 of the reprocessing machine located at the passage door 12 and outside the washing chamber W.

[0057] By "passage door"; the disclosure means that the excitation power 13 and the receiver 14 are positioned to read the electromagnetic tag 1 when the tag of the medical device ED passes the level of the entrance opening EO.

[0058] As shown for example in Figure 1 , the excitation power 13 and the receiver 14 are positioned to read the electromagnetic tag 1 when the medical device is displaced along the direction X towards the interior of the washing chamber. This reading position is also shown in Figure 3

[0059] The excitation power 13 and the receiver 14 belonging to the reader can be positioned in a fixed position with respect to the door frame of the passage door 12, possibly fixed to the lower beam of the door frame, as shown for example in Figure 2

[0060] Since the antenna of the electromagnetic power 13 and the receiver of the reader 14 can generally be polarized, the antenna of the reader is generally oriented so that the maximum detection zone of the reader is located in the zone at the level of the entrance opening EO. For example, when the reader is fixed to the lower frame, the antenna is oriented so that the maximum detection is located vertically above the lower frame according to the direction Z.

[0061] The position of the excitation power 13 and the receiver 14 according to the disclosure enables the reader to read the tag without the electromagnetic signal between the electromagnetic tag and the reader having to pass through the wall of the cabinet. Thus, the cabinet can be entirely metallic, which means that the cabinet does not need to have a portion of the wall in plastic (passable for the electromagnetic signal) to enable reading. It is advantageous to be able to make the cabinet entirely in metal compared to the mentioned first prior art which requires a plastic wall to read the tag.

[0062] The technology used between the electromagnetic tag and the reader (including the excitation power and the receiver) is a short-range technology. The short-range technology enables efficient and reliable reading of the tag only when the electromagnetic tag is close to the reader; generally, the reader and the tag are less than 15 cm apart, generally less than 10 cm.

[0063] ​​For example, for RFID tags, the orientation (pitch, yaw and roll) of the tag relative to the antenna of the reader can influence the ability of the reader to detect and read the electromagnetic tag. At least according to the example, the technology used should be able to detect the tag in different orientations (pitch, yaw and roll) of the tag relative to the antenna of the reader 13, 14. The operator does not have to focus on a specific orientation of the tag with the tag so that it can be reliably read when passing through the detection area of the reader.

[0064] Advantageously, the short-range technology prohibits or at least strongly limits the reader to detect and read electromagnetic tags of medical devices that can be displaced in the same room where the reprocessing machine is located, but that are not inserted through the entry opening EB of the medical device. This is advantageous because it limits the traceability errors compared to the mentioned second prior art where the tag of the medical device is read when the passage door is closed, far before the medical device is inserted into the bin through the entry opening.

[0065] For example, the electromagnetic tag can be an RFID tag, which typically works at 13,56 MHz (standard) for short-range applications. In the above sense, the frequency of the RFID tag can deviate from 13.56 MHz as long as it enables a short-range functionality.

[0066] The reprocessing machine can typically comprise a control device comprising a processor and a storage device and a set of instructions configured to cooperate with the processor and the storage device to: / a / open the passage door 12 of the reprocessing machine; / b / energize the identification electromagnetic tag 1 with an energizing power 13 when the medical device ED passes through the entry opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber, and / c / receive, with a receiver, the identification electromagnetic signal transmitted by the energized electromagnetic tag when the medical device passes through the entry opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber, and in response to the energizing of the identification electromagnetic tag.

[0067] The instructions according to / a / for opening the passage door 12 can be instructions to control a motorized actuator (e.g. a motorized sliding door) configured to open the door. For example, the instructions according to / a / can be triggered by an operator (or user) through a user interface. Advantageously, the door is motorized opened from its closed position to its open position. For example, the operator does not need to touch the door. If the passage door is opened manually, the instructions according to / a / can typically be instructions to unlock a motorized lock of the door. Once the motorized lock is opened, the reprocessing machine can typically display a message or pictogram informing the operator that he can manually open the door.

[0068] The user interface for triggering the opening of the gate (or lock) can advantageously be a non-contact interface. For example, the operator can have a personal tag (such as RFID, NFC, barcode, QR code) which can be read by a second reader of the reprocessing machine. The motorized opening of the gate (or the motorized opening of the lock) can be triggered by a downwardly pointing optical sensor when the foot of the operator passes through the detection beam of the optical sensor. Such triggering techniques for initiating the opening of the passage gate are advantageous because they do not require the operator to touch the reprocessing machine. However, the opening can also be triggered by having the operator touch a pedal with his foot or by having the operator press a button or by having the operator touch a screen display.

[0069] After opening the passage gate, the instructions for energizing the power supply according to / B / and the instructions for receiving the identification according to / C / are implemented. When the passage gate is closed, the reader can typically be in a sleep mode, for example to reduce the electrical energy consumption of the reprocessing machine.

[0070] Figure 6 The diagram of / A / shows: - the opening according to / A / on block 100, - the energizing according to / B / on block 101, - the receiving according to / C / on block 103.

[0071] As an example, the reprocessing machine 10 can also comprise a carrier device Tr for the medical device ED and a support rail 15 inside the tank to pass the medical device through the inlet opening OE towards the interior of the washing chamber.

[0072] The carrier device is typically a basket or a perforated element having voids (or holes) which enable the cleaning of the lower outer surface of the medical device resting on the carrier device by spraying from below through the voids (or holes) of the support surface of the carrier device.

[0073] As shown in the example of / A / or Figure 1 , or in the example of / B / and / C / , Figure 2 , Figure 3 The tank has a support rail 15 oriented so that the carrier device Tr can slide through the inlet opening EO. The sliding is oriented along the direction X on Figure 1 The support rail 15 is typically positioned at a certain distance from the reader (comprising the energizing power supply 13 and the receiver 14) along the vertical direction Z to enable the reading of the electromagnetic tag according to / B / and / C / of the method when the medical device rests on the support surface of the sliding carrier device Tr.

[0074] The method according to the present disclosure can also comprise supporting the medical device with the carrier device Tr and sliding the carrier device along the support rail 15 inside the tank 11 to pass the medical device through the inlet opening EO.

[0075] Such carrier device Tr and support rail 15 enable an operator to insert a medical device ED through the entrance opening EO by manually grasping the carrier device Tr and thus enable the electromagnetic tag 1 to be read by the readers 13, 14 without having to manually grasp the medical device ED. This is advantageous compared to a first prior art which requires the operator to grasp the medical device and displace it against a reading zone of a tank wall of a side of the wash chamber. In such examples of the present disclosure, the operator does not have to touch the medical device to insert it in the wash chamber W.

[0076] For example, the medical device ED is an endoscope having a plurality of lumens. The carrier device can have a coupling block CB that enables fluid connection of the inner lumens with at least a portion of a fluid circuit that enables cleaning of the inner surfaces of the endoscope.

[0077] The coupling block CB has a plurality of through-holes having an inlet side fluidically coupled to a corresponding lumen of the plurality of lumens and an outlet side configured to be coupled to a plurality of holes of a reprocessing machine.

[0078] The method according to the present disclosure can further comprise, prior to opening the passage door according to / A / ; - coupling the plurality of lumens on a coupling block CB of the carrier device, the coupling block CB having a plurality of through-holes having an inlet side fluidically coupled to a corresponding lumen of the plurality of lumens and an outlet side configured to be coupled to a plurality of holes of a reprocessing machine.

[0079] Once the carrier device is inserted in the wash chamber W, the method can comprise connecting the through-holes of the coupling block CB with the holes of the reprocessing machine. The holes of the reprocessing machine are in communication with a portion of a fluid circuit comprising valves and pumps to enable circulation of a cleaning solution through the inner lumens of the endoscope. The set of instructions can further comprise instructions for coupling the holes of the reprocessing machine with the outlets of the through-holes, for example by motorized coupling.

[0080] The sprayer device can comprise a lower sprayer device to a lower surface of the medical device ED.

[0081] The lower sprayer device can comprise a rotating sprayer arm 17. The rotating sprayer arm is located below the carrier device Tr supported by the support rail 15. The rotating sprayer arm rotates generally according to a vertical rotation axis.

[0082] The rotating sprayer arm 17 can be located above the level of the energizing power source 13 and the receiver 14 according to a vertical direction Z.

[0083] The sprayer device can further comprise an upper sprayer device fixed on the top of the tank in the wash chamber. The upper sprayer device sprays downwards to clean the upper outer surfaces of the medical device. The upper sprayer device and the lower sprayer device enable mechanical spraying of all outer surfaces of the medical device.

[0084] According to an example, and for example due to the under-spraying device, and in particular to the rotating sprayer arm, the energizing power 13 (and generally the receiver 14, and more generally the reader) is located at a vertical distance L from the support surface of the carrier device Tr supported by the track. The vertical distance can generally be greater than 4 cm and less than 10 cm, for example about 7 cm.

[0085] In particular due to this distance, the carrier device can further comprise a relay antenna RA. The relay antenna is generally a passive antenna amplifier located between the identification electromagnetic tag 1 and the energizing power 14, as shown in Figure 1 .

[0086] The relay antenna is configured to amplify the electromagnetic signal between the power 13 and the electromagnetic tag 1 when the medical device passes through the entrance opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber, but also to amplify the electromagnetic signal between the electromagnetic tag 1 and the receiver 14.

[0087] The method according to the disclosure can further comprise amplifying, with the relay antenna RA of the carrier device Tr, the signal of the energizing power to generate an amplified energizing signal reaching the electromagnetic tag when the medical device passes through the entrance opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber, and in particular during the energizing according to / B / .

[0088] The method according to the disclosure can further comprise amplifying, with the relay antenna RA of the carrier device Tr, the identification signal of the energized electromagnetic tag to generate an amplified identification signal reaching the receiver 14 when the medical device passes through the entrance opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber, and in particular during the reception according to / C / .

[0089] The antenna of the relay tag can be embedded in plastic, for example overmolded by plastic. The plastic covering of the antenna protects the antenna from the cleaning liquid. The relay antenna RA and its plastic embedding can form a mesh (with holes or voids) that enables the diffusion of the cleaning liquid from below to clean the lower outer surface of the medical device.

[0090] The amplification as an optional amplification is illustrated in dashed lines in block 102 of Figure 6 .

[0091] The support wall of the carrier can thus comprise a plastic mesh containing the antennas, which extends in the horizontal direction (along the directions X and Y) to the metal support. Four edges can vertically protrude (along the direction Z) on the four sides of the support wall of the carrier device, in order to maintain the medical device on the support surface of the support wall.

[0092] The method for identifying and reprocessing the medical device ED can further comprise: / D / closing the passage door 12 in response to passing the medical device through the entrance opening and towards the interior of the washing chamber; - washing the medical device by applying a washing cycle via control of a fluid circuit comprising one or several pumps, one or several valves and sprayer devices located inside said washing chamber W, in response to the closing of the door.

[0093] Figure 6 The diagram on figure shows: - the closing according to / D / on block 104.

[0094] - the washing according to / E / on block 105.

[0095] The washing of the medical device according to / E / can comprise, at least in a first phase, spraying a cleaning solution with an upper sprayer device and a lower sprayer device enabling to mechanically clean the outer surface of the medical device with at least a first part of the fluid circuit.

[0096] The washing of the medical device according to / E / can further comprise, at least in a first phase, circulating the cleaning solution into a plurality of lumens of the endoscope, in particular with a coupling block BC fluidically connected to the lumens at the entrance of a plurality of through-holes and to the holes of the reprocessing machine at the exit of the plurality of through-holes. The holes of the reprocessing machine are in communication with a second part of the fluid circuit, generally independent from the first part of the circuit.

[0097] The closing of the access door 12, in a similar way as the opening, can be manually operated or a motorized action.

[0098] The second phase of the washing cycle can comprise a drying step, in which air is blown onto the outer and inner surfaces of the medical device to dry the surfaces, in particular by means of the fluid circuit.

[0099] The machine-readable storage medium can thus further comprise instructions for: - closing the access door, - washing the medical device by applying a washing cycle via control of a fluid circuit comprising one or several pumps, one or several valves and sprayer devices located inside said washing chamber.

[0100] In general, the method for identifying and reprocessing a medical device ED can comprise, in response to receiving an identification electromagnetic signal, reading identification information of the medical device and comparing the identification information with stored information to determine whether the medical device is authorized for cleaning.

[0101] The machine-readable storage medium can thus further comprise instructions for: - in response to receiving an identification electromagnetic signal, reading identification information of the medical device and - comparing the identification information with stored information to determine whether the medical device is authorized for cleaning.

[0102] If the medical device is not an authorized medical device, in response to the comparison, the washing according to the / E / is prevented, and possibly also the closing of the access door. The method can comprise displaying on a screen of the user interface information that the medical device should be removed from the cabinet.

[0103] In general, the method for identifying and reprocessing a medical device ED can advantageously comprise, in response to receiving the identification electromagnetic signal, reading identification information of the medical device, and comparing the identification information with stored information to select washing parameters associated with the specific medical device inserted into the washing chamber.

[0104] Thus, the machine readable storage medium can further comprise instructions for: - reading identification information of the medical device in response to receiving the identification electromagnetic signal, and - comparing the identification information with stored information to select washing parameters associated with the specific medical device inserted into the washing chamber.

[0105] Figure 7 The diagram of the figure shows: - the reading on block 200, - the comparison on block 201.

[0106] The washing parameters can for example comprise all or part of: - the duration of the washing cycle, - the duration of the spraying / circulation of cleaning solution into the lumen, - the duration of the drying - the number of lumens - the pressure / flow rate of the cleaning liquid… Thus, the machine readable storage medium can comprise instructions for: - reading identification information of the medical device in response to receiving the identification electromagnetic signal, and - comparing the identification information with stored information to select washing parameters associated with the specific medical device inserted into the washing chamber.

[0107] According to one example, the selected washing cycle comprising the selected parameters can be initiated without confirmation of the user / operator.

[0108] According to another example, the selected washing cycle is initiated only after confirmation of the user / operator. In this case, the method can further comprise: - displaying on a screen of the user interface of the reprocessing machine the selected washing cycle associated with the selected washing parameters, and waiting for a user confirmation to initiate the selected washing cycle; - initiating the selected washing cycle in response to a user confirmation (typically on the user interface).

[0109] The user's confirmation is illustrated on block 203. Figure 7

[0110] The user interface for the user's confirmation can be a non-contact interface, such as having a personal user electromagnetic tag (such as an RFID tag) read by a second reader.

[0111] The machine-readable storage medium can comprise instructions for: - displaying on a screen of the user interface of the reprocessing machine the selected washing cycle associated with the selected washing parameters, and waiting for a user confirmation to initiate the selected washing cycle; - initiating the selected washing cycle in response to a user confirmation (typically on the user interface).

[0112] Typically, the closing of the passage door according to / D / can be triggered by a user confirmation.

[0113] If the user drops the confirmation, the method can enable the user to deviate from the selected washing cycle. The method can further comprise: - in response to the user dropping the confirmation of the selected washing cycle, displaying on a screen of the user interface a change of washing parameters of the washing cycle, and allowing the user to select one or several changes of parameters of the washing cycle.

[0114] - initiating the washing cycle in response to the change of parameters after a user confirmation on the user interface.

[0115] The machine-readable storage medium can comprise instructions for: - in response to the user dropping the confirmation of the selected washing cycle, displaying on a screen of the user interface a change of washing parameters of the washing cycle, and allowing the user to select one or several changes of parameters of the washing cycle.

[0116] - initiating the washing cycle in response to the change of washing parameters after a user confirmation on the user interface.

[0117] In general, the machine-readable storage medium can further comprise instructions for updating the traceability numerical file by changing the status of the corresponding identified medical device to a cleaned medical device.

[0118] Once the washing cycle is completed, the method can further comprise: - / F / taking out the washed medical device through an exit door. According to an example not illustrated, the exit door can be the same door as the passage door 12.

[0119] ​According to another example, the exit door 16 is distinct from the passage door 12, and is positioned opposite the passage door with respect to the washing chamber W. Once opened, the exit door releases the exit opening, authorizing the withdrawal of the medical device.

[0120] The reprocessing machine can be a straight-through machine, the inlet opening communicating with a first chamber (typically a dirty chamber), the opposite outlet communicating with a second chamber (typically a clean chamber) (for which the controlled atmosphere is typically purified by filtration, and is at (slight) overpressure with respect to the dirty chamber), the reprocessing machine being located in an orifice in the wall separating the two chambers.

[0121] As regards the closing or opening of the passage door, the closing and opening of the exit door can be operated manually, in particular once the motorized lock has been opened. Advantageously, the closing and opening of the exit door 16 can be motorized to pass from the open position to the closed position, or conversely from the closed position to the open position.

[0122] In general, the method and the reprocessing machine have been described and illustrated for washing a single medical device in the washing chamber of the reprocessing machine.

[0123] The method and the reprocessing machine are not limited to washing a single medical device, as the disclosure can make it possible to wash several medical devices (for example two endoscopes) simultaneously into the washing chamber, in particular both of them resting on a carrier device.

[0124] As a best mode, the method for identifying and reprocessing a medical device, as well as the reprocessing machine itself, can make it possible for the operator (or user) to achieve Figure 6 all the blocks (100 to 106) of the diagram, without the operator having to touch the medical device or the reprocessing machine, in particular if the operator accepts the selected washing cycle by a non-contact interface.

[0125] List of reference signs - 1 : an electromagnetic tag, - 10. a reprocessing machine, - 11. a box, - 12. - a passage door, - 13. an excitation power supply (for exciting the tag), - 14. a receiver (for receiving the identification signal transmitted by the tag), - 15. a support rail, - 16. an exit door, - 17. a rotating spray arm, - ED. a medical device, - EO. an inlet opening, - W. a washing chamber - Tr. a carrier device (for supporting the medical device), - CB. coupling block, - RA. relay antenna

Claims

1. A method for identifying and reprocessing a medical device (ED), the medical device being equipped with an electromagnetic tag (1), the electromagnetic tag including an antenna and a memory, the memory including information about the medical device, the method comprising: Open the access door (12) of the reprocessing machine (10) including the box (11) that defines the washing chamber (W), the access door (12) being configured to close the entrance opening (EO) of the box to allow the medical device to pass through the entrance opening; When the medical device (ED) passes through the entrance opening (EO) and faces the interior of the washing chamber (W), the electromagnetic tag (1) is activated by the excitation power supply (13) of the reprocessing machine located at the passage door and outside the washing chamber (W). When the medical device (ED) passes through the entrance opening (EO) and faces the interior of the washing chamber (W), and in response to the excitation, the receiver (14) of the reprocessing machine located at the passage door (12) and outside the washing chamber (W) receives the identification electromagnetic signal transmitted by the excitation electromagnetic tag (1).

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising supporting the medical device with a carrier device (Tr) and sliding the carrier device along a support track (15) inside the housing (11) to allow the medical device to pass through the inlet opening (EO).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2. The medical device is an endoscope having multiple lumens, and the method further includes, before opening the access door (12): - The plurality of lumens are connected to the coupling block (CB) of the carrier device, the coupling block (CB) having a plurality of through holes having an inlet side fluidly connected to a corresponding lumen in the plurality of lumens and an outlet side configured to be connected to a plurality of holes of the reprocessing machine.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising, when the medical device passes through the entrance opening and faces the interior of the washing chamber, amplifying the signal of the excitation power supply with a relay antenna (RA) of the carrier device (Tr) to generate an amplified excitation signal reaching the electromagnetic tag, the relay antenna being located between the identification electromagnetic tag and the excitation power supply.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electromagnetic tag (1) is an RFID tag.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the RFID tag is a short-range RFID tag operating at 13.56 MHz.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: - The passage door (12) is closed in response to allowing the medical device to pass through the entrance opening and toward the interior of the washing room. as well as - In response to closing the door, the medical device is washed by applying a washing cycle via a control fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including one or more pumps, one or more valves and a sprayer device located inside the washing chamber (W).

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the method further comprising removing the washed medical device through an exit door (16), the exit door being positioned relative to the washing chamber (W) and the passage door (12).

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: In response to receiving an identification electromagnetic signal, the identification information of the medical device is read, and the identification information is compared with stored information to determine whether the medical device is authorized to be cleaned.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: In response to receiving an identification electromagnetic signal, the identification information of the medical device is read, and the identification information is compared with stored information to select washing parameters associated with the specific medical device inserted into the washing chamber.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: - The selected washing cycle associated with the selected washing parameters is displayed on the screen of the user interface of the reprocessing machine, and the user confirmation is awaited to initiate the selected washing cycle; as well as - In response to user confirmation on the user interface, initiate the selected washing cycle.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: - In response to the user's rejection of confirmation of the selected washing cycle, the changes to the washing parameters of the washing cycle are displayed on the screen of the user interface, and the user is allowed to select one or more changes to the parameters of the washing cycle; as well as - After user confirmation on the user interface, the washing cycle is initiated in response to the change of the parameters.

13. A reprocessing machine (10) configured to clean a medical device, the medical device being equipped with an electromagnetic tag, the reprocessing machine comprising: - Box (11), the box defining a washing chamber and a passage door configured to close the entrance opening of the box for the medical device; - A fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including one or more pumps, one or more valves and a sprayer device inside the washing chamber; - An excitation power supply (13), configured to excite the identification electromagnetic tag (1), and a receiver (14), configured to receive the identification electromagnetic signal of the electromagnetic tag in response to the excitation, the excitation power supply (13) and the receiver (14) being located at the passage door (12), outside the washing chamber (W); and - A control device, the control device including a processor, a storage device and an instruction set, the control device being configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, including receiving an identification electromagnetic signal during the displacement of the medical device (ED) toward the interior of the washing room through the entrance opening when the passage door (12) is opened.

14. A reprocessing machine (10) configured to clean a medical device, the medical device being equipped with an electromagnetic tag, the reprocessing machine comprising: - Box (11), the box defining a washing chamber and a passage door configured to close the entrance opening of the box for the medical device; - A fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including one or more pumps, one or more valves and a sprayer device inside the washing chamber; - An excitation power supply (13), configured to excite the identification electromagnetic tag (1), and a receiver (14), configured to receive the identification electromagnetic signal of the electromagnetic tag in response to the excitation, the excitation power supply (13) and the receiver (14) being located at the passage door, outside the washing chamber (W); and - A control device, the control device including a processor, a storage device, and an instruction set, the instruction set being configured to cooperate with the processor and the storage device to: Open the passage door (12) of the reprocessing machine; When the medical device passes through the entrance opening and faces the interior of the washing room, the identification electromagnetic tag (1) is activated by the excitation power supply (13); and When the medical device passes through the entrance opening and faces the interior of the washing room, and in response to the excitation of the identification electromagnetic tag, the receiver receives the identification electromagnetic signal transmitted by the excitation electromagnetic tag.

15. The reprocessing machine according to claim 13 or 14, the reprocessing machine further comprising a carrier device (Tr) for the medical device (ED) and a support rail (15) inside the chamber to allow the medical device to pass through the inlet opening (OE) toward the interior of the washing chamber.

16. The reprocessing machine according to claim 15, further comprising a relay antenna (RA) of the carrier device (Tr) positioned between the identification electromagnetic tag (1) and the excitation power supply (14) as the medical device passes through the entrance opening and faces the interior of the washing chamber, so as to generate an amplified excitation signal reaching the electromagnetic tag.

17. The reprocessing machine according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the medical device (ED) is an endoscope having a plurality of lumens, and wherein the carrier device has a connecting block (CB) having a plurality of through holes having an inlet side fluidly connected to a corresponding lumen in the plurality of lumens and an outlet side configured to be connected to a plurality of holes of the reprocessing machine.

18. The reprocessing machine according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the sprayer device includes a rotary sprayer arm (17), the rotary sprayer arm being located at: -The carrier device (Tr) supported by the support rail (15) below, and - Above the excitation power source (13) and the receiver (14) at the horizontal level.

19. The reprocessing machine according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the excitation power source (13) is located at a vertical distance (L) from the support surface of the carrier device supported by the track, the vertical distance being greater than 4 cm and less than 10 cm.

20. The reprocessing machine according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the excitation power supply (13) and the receiver (14) are fixed to the lower beam of the door frame of the passage door (12).

21. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by a control unit of a reprocessing machine including a processor and a storage device, cause the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

22. A computer-readable medium on which a computer program according to claim 21 is stored.

23. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor, the machine-readable storage medium comprising: - An instruction to open the passage door of the reprocessing machine; - An instruction to actuate the electromagnetic tag with the excitation power supply when the medical device passes through the entrance opening and faces the interior of the washing room; as well as - An instruction to receive, via the receiver, an identification electromagnetic signal transmitted by the activated electromagnetic tag when the medical device passes through the inlet opening and is inside the washing chamber, and in response to the activation of the identification electromagnetic tag.

24. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions for: - Close the passage door; and The medical device is washed by applying a washing cycle via a control fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including one or more pumps, one or more valves, and a sprayer device located inside the washing chamber.

25. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium according to claim 23 or 24, further comprising instructions for: - In response to receiving an identification electromagnetic signal, read the identification information of the medical device; and - Compare the identification information with the stored information to determine whether the medical device is authorized to be cleaned.

26. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the machine-readable storage medium further comprises instructions for: - In response to receiving an identification electromagnetic signal, read the identification information of the medical device; and - Compare the identification information with stored information to select washing parameters associated with the specific medical device inserted into the washing chamber.

27. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 26, further comprising instructions for: - The selected washing cycle associated with the selected washing parameters is displayed on the user interface screen of the reprocessing machine, and user confirmation is awaited to initiate the selected washing cycle; and - In response to user confirmation on the user interface, initiate the selected washing cycle.

28. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium according to any one of claims 23 to 27, the machine-readable storage medium further comprising instructions for updating a traceability value file by changing the state of the corresponding identified medical device to a cleaned medical device.

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