Hospital linen intelligent distribution and closed-loop management method and system based on internet of things

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses a hospital linen intelligent distribution and closed-loop management method and system based on Internet of Things; the method comprises the following steps: establishing specific identification of each linen to obtain electronic archives of each linen; controlling an intelligent transceiving cabinet to automatically execute a linen task and collect various linen data; wherein, the linen task comprises issuing clean linen and recycling contaminated linen; automatically distributing the linen task based on an Internet of Things terminal, planning a task path, and real-time positioning and tracking the task path; automatically identifying the delivered linen, one-key handover of the linen, and uploading the identified data; real-time statistics of various data and abnormal early warning; wherein, the various data comprises linen inventory, linen use, linen recycling, and distribution data; the linen whole-process unmanned, automatic, and visualized management and control are realized, the distribution efficiency is improved, the hospital infection risk is reduced, and the linen intelligent closed-loop management is suitable for various hospitals, medical washing centers, and disinfection supply centers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of medical textile safety management technology, and in particular to a method and system for intelligent delivery and closed-loop management of hospital linens based on the Internet of Things. Background Technology

[0002] Hospital linen distribution and management are crucial for infection control and medical safety. Currently, the following prominent problems exist in hospital linen distribution and circulation: Linen receipt, handover, and delivery still rely primarily on manual registration and paper documents, resulting in low inventory efficiency, errors, omissions, losses, and difficulties in quantity verification, easily leading to management chaos; the delivery process of linens from the washing center to departments and from clean areas to usage areas lacks real-time location tracking and trajectory monitoring, making it impossible to monitor their status in transit, delivery timeliness, and handover responsibility; the mixing, transportation, and storage of clean and contaminated linens pose a high risk, easily causing secondary contamination and potential hospital infection risks. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a method and system for intelligent delivery and closed-loop management of hospital linens based on the Internet of Things, in order to solve the problems of low efficiency, error-proneness, uncontrollable delivery, and high risk of hospital-acquired infections in existing models.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a method for intelligent delivery and closed-loop management of hospital linens based on the Internet of Things, the method comprising the following steps: Establish specific identifiers for each linen item and obtain electronic files for each linen item; The system controls the intelligent linen receiving and dispatching cabinet to automatically perform linen tasks and collect various linen data; these tasks include distributing clean linens and collecting soiled linens. The system automatically dispatches drafting tasks, plans task paths, and tracks task paths in real time based on IoT terminals. It automatically identifies delivered linens, performs one-click handover of the linens, and uploads the identified data; Real-time statistics are collected on various data and anomaly alerts are issued; these data include linen inventory, linen usage, linen recycling, and delivery data.

[0005] Furthermore, the establishment of specific identifiers for each linen item to obtain electronic files for each linen item includes: Each piece of linen is scanned using an RFID reader, a globally unique code is written into the tag, and basic information is entered. This basic information includes the linen type, specifications, department to which it belongs, material, first use date, current washing batch, disinfection parameters, and quality inspection results. All entered information is synchronized to the cloud-based closed-loop management platform in real time to generate an electronic file for each piece of linen; For linens with different types of pollution, a risk level field has been added to the label. Before linens are containerized, a batch RFID reader is used for inventory and verification to remove linens with missing tags or abnormal information.

[0006] Furthermore, the intelligent receiving and dispatching cabinet is controlled to automatically perform linen tasks and collect various linen data, including: The department submits a linen requisition form through its terminal, so that the requisition instruction is simultaneously pushed to the cloud platform and the corresponding smart mail cabinet. After identity authentication and permission verification, only the clean dispensing compartment door is opened, while the contaminated recycling compartment remains locked. Upon detecting changes in the linens, the multi-channel RFID reader inside the cabin scans all electronic tags on the removed linens in real time and automatically matches them with the requisition list. After material handling is completed, the control door closes and the equipment automatically locks. The requisition record will be uploaded to the cloud platform in real time and the department's inventory ledger will be updated simultaneously. When the receiving and dispatching terminal detects that a recycling operation has been initiated and the identity verification is successful, only the door of the contaminated recycling compartment is opened, while the clean compartment remains closed. Based on the infection risk level pre-stored in the linen label, delivery zones are assigned using a combination of voice and screen prompts. Once linens are detected being placed in the bin, the RFID reader at the bottom of the bin reads the tag code for each piece of linen, automatically identifying the linen's identity, original department, and contamination level; at the same time, sensors inside the bin detect the weight and quantity of linens placed, generating a recycling record. After delivery, the hatch is closed, and the recovery compartment automatically seals and locks; the infectious linen isolation area is simultaneously disinfected with ultraviolet light for a short time.

[0007] Furthermore, the automatic dispatching of drafting tasks, planning of task paths, and real-time location tracking of task paths based on IoT terminals include: The system compiles real-time data on linen requisitions and soiled linen recycling from all departments across the hospital. It then integrates the outbound volume from the laundry center and the inventory of each receiving and dispatching locker to generate a comprehensive delivery work order. The work order includes the following information: delivery type, target department, quantity of linens, risk level, and required delivery time. By combining the location, load, current workload, and vehicle zone attributes of delivery vehicles, intelligent capacity matching is performed, and work orders are automatically sent to the in-vehicle IoT terminal of the corresponding delivery vehicle. Once the vehicle terminal confirms the order acceptance, it updates the task status and begins full-process tracking. Plan routes according to different types of linens; Using a path planning algorithm, the system comprehensively calculates driving distance, travel time, intersection congestion, floor order, and task priority to automatically generate the optimal driving route and multi-point stop order. If the requirements change temporarily during the journey, the system will recalculate in real time and push the corrected route to the vehicle terminal. Among them, the vehicle-mounted terminal is linked to the RFID reader in the carriage to take real-time inventory of the linens in the carriage. The location, driving trajectory, and task progress of all delivery vehicles are displayed in the form of an electronic map on the cloud management platform. When a vehicle is started abnormally, the system immediately triggers an audible and visual warning and a pop-up window alert, and simultaneously pushes information to dispatchers and infection control administrators.

[0008] Furthermore, the automatic identification of delivered linens, the one-click handover of the linens, and the uploading of the identified data include: Once the vehicle is detected to have arrived at the designated loading / unloading point of the target department, the control and positioning module confirms that the location is accurately matched and remotely authorizes the opening of the corresponding hatch. By scanning the tags of each item with an RFID reader, the system automatically compares the vehicle's cargo manifest with the department's requisition list. After verification, click "One-Click Handover" and upload the identified data.

[0009] Furthermore, the real-time statistical analysis of various data and the provision of anomaly warnings include: Data from all stages is aggregated, automatically categorized, statistically analyzed, and visualized reports are generated. Real-time monitoring and triggering of tiered alerts, which are then pushed to administrators: If a delivery is found to be abnormal, it will be judged as the vehicle failing to deliver on time, deviating from the route, or being delayed for an extended period of time. If the goods are abnormal, it will be judged as misdelivered linens, lost linens, abnormal labels, or incorrect quantities; If the environment is abnormal, it is determined that the negative pressure in the sealed chamber is insufficient, the temperature and humidity exceed the standard, or the door is opened abnormally. If hospital-acquired infections are abnormal, it is judged as a high-risk infection, with abnormal linen circulation and ineffective isolation wards.

[0010] Alarm information is pushed through multiple channels, and abnormal work orders are automatically generated.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes: After a single delivery task is completed, the contaminated vehicle is controlled to return to the washing center, where the entire vehicle compartment is automatically disinfected with spray and ultraviolet light. Only after the disinfection is completed can the vehicle take on the next task.

[0012] In a second aspect, embodiments of this application also provide an IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management system for hospital linens, comprising: The file creation module is used to create specific identifiers for each linen item and obtain electronic files for each linen item. The task execution module is used to control the smart receiving and dispatching cabinet to automatically perform linen tasks and collect various linen data; among them, linen tasks include distributing clean linens and collecting soiled linens. The task planning module is used to automatically dispatch drafting tasks, plan task paths, and track task paths in real time based on IoT terminals. The data upload module is used to automatically identify delivered linens, transfer the linens with one click, and upload the identified data. The anomaly alarm module is used to collect and analyze various data in real time and issue early warnings for anomalies. These data include linen inventory, linen usage, linen recycling, and delivery data.

[0013] In a third aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a computer device, including: a memory and one or more processors; The memory is used to store one or more programs; When the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors implement the above-described IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens.

[0014] In a fourth aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a storage medium containing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a computer processor, are used to perform the above-described IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens.

[0015] This application establishes a specific identifier for each linen item, obtaining an electronic file for each linen item; controls an intelligent receiving and dispatching cabinet to automatically execute linen tasks and collect various linen data; wherein, the linen tasks include distributing clean linens and collecting soiled linens; automatically dispatching linen tasks and planning task paths based on IoT terminals, and locating and tracking task paths in real time; automatically identifying delivered linens, performing one-click handover of linens, and uploading the identified data; real-time statistics of various data and issuing anomaly warnings; wherein, the various data include linen inventory, linen usage, linen recycling, and delivery data; realizing unmanned, automated, and visualized management and control of the entire linen process, improving delivery efficiency, reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections, and applicable to intelligent closed-loop management of linens in hospitals at all levels, medical laundry centers, and disinfection supply centers. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of an IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens, provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management system for hospital linens provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a computer device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, specific embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely for explaining this application and not for limiting it. It should also be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to this application are shown in the drawings, not all of them. Before discussing exemplary embodiments in more detail, it should be mentioned that some exemplary embodiments are described as processes or methods depicted as flowcharts. Although the flowcharts describe operations (or steps) as sequential processes, many of these operations can be performed in parallel, concurrently, or simultaneously. Furthermore, the order of the operations can be rearranged. The process can be terminated when its operation is completed, but may also have additional steps not included in the drawings. The process can correspond to a method, function, procedure, subroutine, subprogram, etc.

[0018] Currently, the distribution and management of hospital linens is a crucial link in infection control and medical safety. The following are some of the prominent problems currently existing in the distribution and circulation of hospital linens: 1) The receipt, handover, and delivery of linens are still mainly based on manual registration and paper documents, which leads to low inventory efficiency, misdelivery, omissions, loss, and difficulty in quantity verification, and easily causes management chaos. 2) The delivery process of linens from the washing center to the department and from the clean area to the use area lacks real-time location and trajectory tracking, making it impossible to monitor the status in transit, delivery time and handover responsibility; 3) Mixing, transporting, and storing clean and contaminated linens poses a high risk of secondary contamination and potential hospital-acquired infections. 4) The department's linen inventory, usage, and recycling cannot be tracked in real time, making it difficult to avoid problems such as untimely replenishment, stockpiling and waste, and expired and unsterilized linens entering the usage process; 5) The handover process relies on manual signature confirmation, which makes it easy for data to be missed, recorded incorrectly, or tampered with, making it impossible to trace responsibility and difficult to determine the cause of problems; 6) Existing technologies have not formed a closed-loop management system of "intelligent receiving and sending - IoT positioning - path optimization - automatic handover - inventory early warning - full traceability", which makes it difficult to meet the hospital's intelligent, standardized and safe management needs.

[0019] This application establishes an IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens to solve the aforementioned problems.

[0020] The IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens provided in this embodiment can be executed by an IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management system for hospital linens. This system can be implemented through software and / or hardware and integrated into an IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management device. This IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management device can be a computer or similar device.

[0021] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating an IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens, provided as an embodiment of this application. (Reference) Figure 1 The method includes the following steps: Step 110: Establish specific identifiers for each linen and obtain electronic files for each linen.

[0022] Specifically, after medical linens undergo washing, disinfection, drying, and quality inspection, passive high-temperature resistant RFID tags are attached (sewn / pressed) at the washing center terminal. Using a workstation RFID reader, a globally unique code is written into the tag, along with basic information: linen type (sheets / duvet covers / work clothes / surgical linens), specifications, department, material, first-time use date, washing batch, disinfection parameters (A0 value, pH value, disinfection time), and quality inspection results.

[0023] The label code and all entered information are synchronized in real time to the cloud-based closed-loop management platform, generating an electronic lifetime file for each piece of linen. The file is linked to historical washing records, circulation trajectory, department using the linen, handover records, and maintenance and disposal records, ensuring that each code corresponds to a single file.

[0024] For clean linens, infectiously soiled linens, and generally soiled linens, a risk level field is added to the label. The system automatically classifies and marks these linens in the background, providing data for subsequent zoned distribution and classified recycling.

[0025] Before linens are containerized, batch RFID readers are used for inventory and verification to remove linens with missing tags or abnormal information, ensuring that every piece of linen in circulation has a valid and unique identifier.

[0026] Thus, the tags integrate washing and disinfection parameter files, going beyond simple identification codes to achieve integrated storage of identity and full lifecycle process data; they are tagged according to infection risk levels, providing data support for zoned distribution and classified management from the source, unlike ordinary logistics RFID which only performs identification.

[0027] Step 120: Control the intelligent receiving and dispatching cabinet to automatically perform linen tasks and collect various linen data; among which, linen tasks include distributing clean linens and collecting soiled linens.

[0028] The smart parcel locker adopts a dual-compartment physical isolation design: the left side is the clean linen dispensing compartment, and the right side is the soiled linen recycling compartment. The two compartments are completely separated, with independent access control and independent reading and writing devices, eliminating cross-contact between clean and soiled linens from the hardware perspective.

[0029] Automated Clean Linen Issuance Process (Universal for Laundry Centers / Hospital Departments): 1. Application Trigger: Hospital department staff submit linen application forms via departmental terminals or mobile apps, specifying the type, quantity, and time of receipt. The application instruction is simultaneously pushed to the cloud platform and the corresponding smart collection and delivery cabinet. 2. Identity Verification and Cabinet Opening: Operators complete identity authentication by swiping a card or using facial recognition. After the system verifies permissions, only the clean linen issuance compartment door is opened, while the contaminated collection compartment remains locked. 3. Batch Issuance and Automated Data Collection: As operators retrieve the required clean linens, the multi-channel RFID array reader inside the compartment scans the electronic tags of all retrieved linens in real time, automatically matching them with the application list. If the quantity and type of linens retrieved match the application, the system automatically records the receipt information. If too many, too few, or incorrect linens are retrieved, an on-site audible and visual alarm is triggered, a pop-up window indicates an error, and the issuance is refused. 4. Automatic door closing and data synchronization: After material retrieval is completed, the door is closed and the equipment is automatically locked; the requisition record (linen code, requisitioning personnel, time, department) is uploaded to the cloud platform in real time, and the department's inventory ledger is updated synchronously.

[0030] Automated Recycling Process for Contaminated Linen: 1. **Authorization Verification:** After changing linens, medical staff initiate the recycling process at the terminal. Once identity verification is successful, only the contaminated recycling compartment door is opened, while the cleanroom remains closed. 2. **Classification and Guidance:** Based on the infection risk level pre-stored on the linen labels, the system provides voice and screen prompts for designated areas: ordinary contaminated linens are placed in the regular area, while linens from infectious / contagious disease areas are placed in the negative pressure sealed isolation area. 3. **Automatic Identification and Data Collection:** After linens are placed in the compartment, the RFID reader at the bottom of the compartment reads the tag code for each linen, automatically identifying its identity, original department, and contamination level. Simultaneously, sensors inside the compartment detect the weight and quantity of linens placed, generating a recycling detail. 4. **Sealing and Record Update:** After placement, the compartment door is closed, and the recycling compartment automatically seals and locks. The infectious linen isolation area simultaneously activates short-term ultraviolet disinfection to inhibit bacterial growth. Recycling data is uploaded to the cloud in real time, marking the linens as "awaiting return for washing," and deducting from the department's inventory.

[0031] Device linkage logic: The receiving and sending cabinet has local data storage and cloud dual backup. It can complete receiving, sending, identification and counting offline when the network is disconnected. The data will be automatically re-transmitted after the network is restored. The cabinet has a built-in temperature and humidity sensor to monitor the temperature and humidity of the clean area in real time to ensure that the linen storage environment is compliant.

[0032] The above features include dual-compartment physical isolation and independent access control, which completely separates clean and contaminated areas, solving the problems of mixed storage and cross-contamination caused by traditional manual handling; RFID batch contactless identification, automatic inventory, verification, and accounting without human intervention, replacing manual registration and counting; an independent negative pressure isolation recycling area for infectious linens and immediate disinfection within the compartment, meeting the high-level infection control requirements; and an offline operation mechanism that adapts to the complex network environment of hospitals, ensuring uninterrupted operation.

[0033] Step 130: Automatically dispatch drafting tasks and plan task paths based on IoT terminals, and track task paths in real time.

[0034] Specifically, the intelligent dispatching of delivery tasks includes: 1. Task aggregation: The cloud platform aggregates linen requisition tasks and contaminated linen recycling tasks from all departments across the hospital in real time. Combined with the laundry center's outbound volume and the inventory of each receiving and dispatching locker, a comprehensive delivery work order is generated. Work order annotations include: delivery type (clean delivery / contaminated recycling), target department, linen quantity, risk level, and required delivery time. 2. Capacity matching and automatic dispatch: The platform intelligently matches delivery vehicles based on their location, load, current task volume, and vehicle zone attributes (clean vehicle / contaminated vehicle), automatically dispatching work orders to the corresponding delivery vehicle's onboard IoT terminal and the driver's mobile terminal; priority dispatching and queue-jumping are supported for urgent tasks (operating room, emergency room). 3. Task confirmation: After the driver receives the work order, the onboard terminal confirms acceptance, the task status is updated to "pending departure," and the platform begins full-process tracking.

[0035] Dynamic Route Planning: 1. Loading Basic Road Network and Constraints: The system loads the hospital's internal road network, building distribution, and traffic rules (one-way traffic, restricted sections, dedicated lanes for medical staff and patients, and restricted hours for trucks), while also overlaying specific constraints for medical delivery: Clean linen vehicles prioritize clean lanes; contaminated linen vehicles avoid densely populated areas such as outpatient clinics and wards; high-risk infection linen is planned with dedicated isolation routes. 2. Multi-Objective Intelligent Route Calculation: Employing a route planning algorithm, the system comprehensively calculates travel distance, travel time, intersection congestion, floor order, and task priority to automatically generate the optimal route and multi-point stop sequence; supporting sequential delivery to multiple departments in a single order, reducing backtracking. 3. Dynamic Route Correction: During the journey, if temporary road closures, congestion, or temporary departmental changes occur, the platform recalculates in real time, pushes the corrected route to the vehicle terminal, and provides voice guidance to the driver to detour.

[0036] Real-time Location and Status Tracking in Transit: 1. Dual-mode positioning data acquisition: Delivery vehicles are equipped with Beidou + GPS dual-mode positioning modules, with a positioning accuracy of ≤5m. Location coordinates are uploaded to the cloud platform every 30 seconds. In indoor areas with weak signals, Bluetooth / WiFi supplementary positioning is used to achieve full-scene positioning both indoors and outdoors, in building corridors. 2. Synchronous tracking of vehicle and cargo status: The vehicle terminal is linked to the RFID reader in the cargo compartment to conduct real-time inventory of linens in the compartment. The platform can remotely view the current cargo list, linen code, risk level, and quantity of each vehicle to prevent lost or misdelivered goods. 3. Full-process visual display: The location, driving trajectory, and task progress (pending departure / en route / delivered) of all delivery vehicles are displayed in the form of an electronic map on the cloud management platform and management screen. Managers can retrieve the driving trajectory of a single vehicle with one click. 4. In-transit anomaly warning: When a vehicle deviates from the planned route, stays for an extended period, remains stationary for a long time, or the cargo compartment door is opened abnormally, the system immediately triggers an audible and visual warning plus a pop-up window warning, and simultaneously pushes information to dispatchers and infection control administrators.

[0037] Therefore, it combines hospital access rules and linen risk levels to plan routes, which is different from ordinary logistics navigation and is specially adapted to medical scenarios; vehicle positioning and on-board RFID cargo inventory dual tracking not only monitor the vehicle location, but also verify the goods in real time, realizing integrated management of vehicles and goods; emergency tasks are prioritized and dynamically rerouted, which is suitable for emergency use scenarios such as hospital emergency rooms and operating rooms.

[0038] In some embodiments, clean linens and contaminated linens are delivered separately, independently, and in sealed environments to prevent cross-contamination. Specifically, physical isolation is achieved through four dimensions: vehicle hardware partitioning, loading specifications, transportation control, and vehicle classification.

[0039] The delivery vehicles are managed in a categorized manner: vehicles are assigned to specific tasks and are divided into two categories, with mixed use strictly prohibited: cleanroom delivery vehicles are used only for distributing freshly washed clean linens; contaminated collection vehicles are used only for transporting contaminated linens back to their respective departments, and reinforced sealed contaminated vehicles are used for infectious linens. The platform will automatically match vehicle types when assigning orders, and contaminated vehicles will not be assigned to cleanroom tasks to avoid mixed transport from the source.

[0040] The interior of the carriages features a partitioned, sealed structure: each vehicle's carriage is divided into multiple independent, sealed compartments using fixed physical partitions. Clean vehicles are divided into regular clean compartments and operating room-specific clean compartments, each with its own sealed door and equipped with ultraviolet antibacterial devices and temperature and humidity monitoring modules. Contaminated vehicles are divided into ordinary contaminated compartments and negative pressure isolation compartments. Infectious linens are uniformly placed in the negative pressure isolation compartments, which create a slight negative pressure (-10~-20Pa) to prevent aerosol leakage. All compartments are fully sealed, and the doors are equipped with electronic locks, with access controlled centrally by the platform.

[0041] The sorting and loading process is as follows: Clean linens are loaded into designated clean loading areas in the laundry center, placed in compartments according to departments, and after batch verification by RFID, the compartment doors are closed and electronically locked, physically separating the loading area from the contaminated area; Contaminated linens are placed in sealed containers in the department's recycling cabinets and then directly transported to the corresponding compartments of the contaminated vehicles, with no open transport throughout the process; High-risk linens are directly sent to negative pressure isolation chambers and sealed separately.

[0042] Among them, the transportation process is under closed-loop control: throughout the entire vehicle journey, all electronic locks on the cabin doors are locked, and the system monitors the status of the cabin doors in real time: if a door is opened without authorization at a non-designated location, an alarm will be immediately triggered and a violation log will be recorded; if the temperature, humidity, or negative pressure values ​​inside the cabin deviate from the standard range, the platform will issue a warning and remind the driver to check the equipment.

[0043] Among them, post-delivery vehicle disinfection: After a single delivery task is completed, the contaminated vehicle returns to the washing center, where the entire compartment is automatically disinfected by spraying and ultraviolet light. Only after the disinfection is completed can the vehicle take on the next task.

[0044] Therefore, dedicated vehicles, multi-compartment physical partitions, and electronic lock control provide multi-layered isolation, completely eliminating the mixing and cross-contamination of clean and contaminated linens; infectious linens are transported in negative pressure sealed cabins, specially designed to address the risk of medical aerosol transmission, exceeding the sealing standards of ordinary logistics; cabin doors and environmental parameters are monitored throughout the process, making the transportation process traceable and supervised, meeting the requirements of hospital infection control audits.

[0045] Step 140: Automatically identify the delivered linens, perform one-click handover of the linens, and upload the identified data.

[0046] Specifically, once the vehicle arrives at the designated loading / unloading point in the target department, the positioning module confirms a precise match, and the cloud platform remotely authorizes the opening of the corresponding hatch (only the hatch corresponding to the current department is opened, while other hatches remain locked) to prevent all cargo from being exposed.

[0047] Operators open the corresponding compartment door to retrieve the linens. The RFID reader at the department's mailroom / doorway scans the tags of each item and automatically compares them with the vehicle's cargo manifest and the department's requisition manifest. If the category, code, and quantity match perfectly, the system determines that the goods are correct. If there is a misdelivery, omission, or overdelivery, an alarm is triggered on-site, and the handover is prohibited.

[0048] After verification, on-site operators can click "one-click handover" on the terminal, eliminating the need for manual form filling and signature registration. The system automatically updates the status of all three parties: delivery vehicle: corresponding goods are marked as "delivered"; departmental mail cabinet: automatically put into storage, updating the department's existing inventory; electronic linen file: a new "delivery handover record" is added, recording the handover time, location, and operator.

[0049] In the case of recycling and transporting soiled linens: the department transfers the soiled linens from the recycling bin to the vehicle's isolation compartment. After RFID identification completes the quantity and grade verification, the recycling is confirmed with one click, and the system marks the linens as "being transported back for washing".

[0050] After the handover is completed, manually close the hatch, and the electronic lock will automatically engage; the vehicle terminal will then receive the next delivery / recycling task and continue operation.

[0051] Thus, the location-linked door unlocking system allows for targeted and zoned door opening, ensuring that goods are not exposed or mixed up; RFID automatic verification replaces manual counting and paper document handover, achieving contactless and paperless handover and reducing the risk of contact infection; handover data is linked to individual linen files in real time, leaving a trace of every transfer and ensuring a complete traceability chain.

[0052] Step 150: Real-time statistics of various data and abnormal warnings; among which, various data include linen inventory, linen usage, linen recycling, and delivery data.

[0053] Specifically, real-time statistics across all dimensions: The cloud platform aggregates data from all stages, automatically categorizes and statistically analyzes it, and generates visual reports and dashboards: Inventory statistics: clean linen inventory in each washing center and department, contaminated linen inventory awaiting recycling, inventory percentage of each category, and categories with insufficient inventory; Circulation statistics: number of daily / cycle delivery orders, total delivery volume, total recycling volume, vehicle load factor, and task completion rate; Asset statistics: number of times a single piece of linen has been transferred, usage duration, number of washes, and a list of linens nearing the end of their service life.

[0054] Specifically, the system provides multi-dimensional intelligent early warning for anomalies: It presets thresholds, monitors in real-time, and triggers tiered early warnings, pushing them to dispatch, infection control, and logistics management personnel: Inventory warnings: When departmental linen inventory falls below the safety threshold, an automatic reminder to replenish and deliver is issued; Delivery anomalies: Vehicles failing to deliver on time, deviating from the route, or prolonged delays; Goods anomalies: Linen delivered incorrectly, lost, with incorrect labels, or inaccurate quantities; Environmental anomalies: Insufficient negative pressure in enclosed chambers, excessive temperature and humidity, or abnormal opening of chamber doors; Infection control anomalies: Abnormal flow trajectory of high-risk infection linens, or malfunctioning isolation chambers. Warning methods: Platform pop-ups, SMS, and APP push notifications, while automatically generating anomaly work orders for assigned personnel.

[0055] Specifically, the data reports are automatically exported: data can be filtered by time, department, linen type, and risk level, and infection control reports, asset inventory reports, and delivery operation reports can be automatically generated and used directly for hospital audits and hygiene inspections.

[0056] Thus, in addition to basic inventory statistics, it also includes hospital infection control early warning and asset lifecycle statistics, which meet the management needs of medical institutions; abnormal work orders are automatically dispatched, realizing integrated management of "early warning-disposal-closed loop".

[0057] In some embodiments, all the data from the above-mentioned stages (label files, outbound records, delivery trajectories, handover records, recycling records, and return records) are linked together with RFID unique codes as the main thread to form a complete data flow of a single piece of linen from its departure from the laundry center to its delivery in transit to its use in the department, to its recycling and return to the laundry center for washing.

[0058] Among them, forward traceability: by entering the linen code, you can query the current location, department, delivery time, circulation trajectory, and washing and disinfection records; reverse traceability: by department, time, and risk level, you can view the status and circulation records of all linens within that range in batches.

[0059] When contaminated linens are returned to the washing center, after being stored, rewashed, disinfected, and inspected, the system refreshes the linen file status, resets the circulation nodes, and enters the next round of distribution, achieving permanent closed-loop management.

[0060] All data transfer is permanently stored in the cloud, allowing regulatory authorities and infection control departments to access it at any time. The entire process is traceable, auditable, and reviewable, fully complying with medical industry compliance requirements.

[0061] Thus, by using RFID with a unique code for each item as the core link, the entire business chain of "washing-distribution-use-collection-washing" is connected, forming a dual closed loop of physical flow and data flow. This is different from segmented management systems and achieves true full life cycle closed-loop control.

[0062] Optionally, the RFID tags are high-temperature resistant, disinfection resistant, and reusable UHF tags, supporting rapid batch identification.

[0063] Optionally, the smart parcel locker has functions such as access verification, automatic counting, temperature and humidity monitoring, and abnormal alarm.

[0064] Optional IoT positioning includes GPS / BeiDou positioning, Bluetooth positioning, and RFID area positioning, supporting real-time viewing of location, trajectory, and time.

[0065] Optionally, the delivery process involves physical isolation between cleanliness and contamination, independent containers, and sealed transportation, with the system automatically verifying loading compliance.

[0066] Optionally, the handover process employs automatic identification, electronic signature, and timestamp locking to ensure that the data is tamper-proof and that responsibility is traceable.

[0067] Furthermore, it also includes: After a single delivery task is completed, the contaminated vehicle is controlled to return to the washing center, where the entire vehicle compartment is automatically disinfected with spray and ultraviolet light. Only after the disinfection is completed can the vehicle take on the next task.

[0068] For example, a top-tier hospital adopted the IoT-based intelligent distribution and closed-loop management method for hospital linens described in this invention to construct a unified intelligent management and control system for linens throughout the hospital. First, high-temperature resistant and disinfection-resistant RFID electronic tags were sewn onto all surgical gowns, bed sheets, patient gowns, and other medical linens, assigning them unique identifiers and establishing a one-item-one-code electronic file to record information such as linen type, purchase date, number of washes, and department. Intelligent receiving and dispatch cabinets were deployed in each ward. Medical staff, after authorization, received clean linens; the system automatically identified, counted, and recorded the receipt information. Soiled linens after use were placed in the recycling bin; the equipment automatically read and marked the soiling status, completing the recycling registration.

[0069] The cloud-based management platform automatically generates delivery tasks based on each department's real-time inventory, historical consumption, and shift schedules, pushes these tasks to the delivery personnel's IoT terminals, and plans the optimal delivery routes. The delivery process utilizes dual-compartment, independently sealed vehicles, with clean and contaminated linens loaded separately. IoT positioning modules upload real-time vehicle location, travel trajectory, transit time, and container temperature and humidity, allowing management personnel to monitor the process. Upon arrival at the department, delivery personnel automatically identify and hand over the line using handheld terminals or delivery lockers. The system automatically confirms delivery, completes electronic signatures, and timestamps the information, eliminating the need for manual document filling.

[0070] The cloud platform provides real-time statistics on linen inventory levels, usage frequency, recycling cycles, and delivery compliance rates for each department. It automatically issues alerts when departmental inventory falls below thresholds, linens are overdue for recycling, transit times exceed limits, or loading is non-compliant. All data is uploaded in real-time, encrypted, and tamper-proof, forming a closed-loop traceability chain from laundry center outbound, in-transit delivery, departmental requisition, contaminated recycling, and rewashing and warehousing. Users can query linen movement paths, handover personnel, time points, and status information at any time, achieving efficient, safe, standardized, and traceable closed-loop management of hospital linens.

[0071] The present invention discloses an IoT-based intelligent distribution and closed-loop management method for hospital linens. By coordinating RFID identification, IoT positioning, smart cabinet terminals, mobile communication, and a cloud management platform, it achieves automatic distribution of clean hospital linens, automatic recycling of contaminated linens, real-time location tracking of deliveries in transit, automatic record-keeping of handover data, intelligent early warning of departmental inventory, and full-process closed-loop traceability. This solves the pain points of traditional methods, such as low efficiency, error-proneness, non-standard handover, uncontrollable delivery, high risk of hospital-acquired infections, and difficulty in tracing responsibility.

[0072] This application embodiment sets high-temperature resistant RFID electronic tags on linens to establish a unique identification file for each item. Departments use smart collection and dispatch cabinets to automatically issue clean linens and automatically recycle soiled linens. The system records the issuance and recycling quantities and operator information in real time. Delivery personnel receive delivery tasks through IoT terminals, and the system automatically plans the optimal delivery route. Clean and soiled linens are loaded separately and delivered independently. IoT positioning devices collect real-time information on the delivery vehicle's location, transit status, and temperature environment. Upon delivery to the department, the IoT device automatically identifies the linens and performs a one-click handover, with data uploaded to the cloud in real time, eliminating the need for manual signatures. The cloud platform provides real-time statistics on linen inventory, usage frequency, recycling efficiency, and delivery time for each department, automatically issuing warnings for insufficient inventory, overdue recycling, and abnormally delayed linens. All data is encrypted and stored, ensuring immutability and forming a complete closed-loop traceability chain from the washing center to delivery, department, recycling, and back to the washing center.

[0073] This application embodiment uses Internet of Things (IoT) technology to achieve unmanned, automated, and visualized management of the entire linen process, improving delivery efficiency, reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections, and clarifying handover responsibilities. It is applicable to the intelligent closed-loop management of linens in hospitals at all levels, medical laundry centers, and disinfection supply centers.

[0074] Based on the above embodiments, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management system for hospital linens, provided as an embodiment of this application. (Reference) Figure 2 The IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management system for hospital linens provided in this embodiment specifically includes: a file creation module 201, a task execution module 202, a task planning module 203, a data upload module 204, and an anomaly alarm module 205.

[0075] The system includes several modules: a file creation module 201 for creating specific identifiers for each linen item and generating electronic files for each item; a task execution module 202 for controlling the smart receiving and dispatching cabinet to automatically execute linen tasks and collect various linen data; linen tasks include distributing clean linens and collecting soiled linens; a task planning module 203 for automatically dispatching linen tasks and planning task paths based on IoT terminals, and tracking task paths in real time; a data upload module 204 for automatically identifying delivered linens, performing one-click handover of linens, and uploading the identified data; and an anomaly alarm module 205 for real-time statistics of various data and issuing anomaly warnings; these data include linen inventory, linen usage, linen recycling, and delivery data.

[0076] As described above, this application embodiment establishes a specific identifier for each linen item, obtaining an electronic file for each linen item; controls the intelligent receiving and dispatching cabinet to automatically execute linen tasks and collect various linen data; wherein, the linen tasks include distributing clean linens and collecting soiled linens; automatically dispatching linen tasks and planning task paths based on IoT terminals, and locating and tracking task paths in real time; automatically identifying delivered linens, performing one-click handover of linens, and uploading the identified data; real-time statistics of various data and providing abnormal warnings; wherein, the various data include linen inventory, linen usage, linen recycling, and delivery data; realizing unmanned, automated, and visualized management and control of the entire linen process, improving delivery efficiency, reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections, and applicable to intelligent closed-loop management of linens in hospitals at all levels, medical laundry centers, and disinfection supply centers.

[0077] The IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management system for hospital linens provided in this application can be used to execute the IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens provided in the above embodiments, and has corresponding functions and beneficial effects.

[0078] This application also provides a computer device that can integrate the Internet of Things-based intelligent hospital linen delivery and closed-loop management system provided in this application. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a computer device provided in an embodiment of this application. (Reference) Figure 3 The computer device includes an input device 43, an output device 34, a memory 32, and one or more processors 31. The memory 32 stores one or more programs. When the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors 31, the one or more processors 31 implement the IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens provided in the above embodiments. The input device 33, output device 34, memory 32, and processors 31 can be connected via a bus or other means. Figure 3 Taking the example of a connection between China and Israel via a bus.

[0079] The processor 31 executes various functional applications and data processing of the device by running software programs, instructions and modules stored in the memory 31, thereby realizing the above-mentioned IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens.

[0080] The computer equipment provided above can be used to execute the IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens provided in the above embodiments, and has corresponding functions and beneficial effects.

[0081] This application embodiment also provides a storage medium containing computer-executable instructions. When executed by a computer processor, the computer-executable instructions are used to execute an IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens. This IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens includes: establishing specific identifiers for each linen to obtain electronic files for each linen; controlling intelligent receiving and dispatching cabinets to automatically execute linen tasks and collect various linen data; wherein, the linen tasks include distributing clean linens and collecting soiled linens; automatically dispatching linen tasks and planning task paths based on IoT terminals, and tracking task paths in real time; automatically identifying delivered linens, performing one-click handover of linens, and uploading the identified data; and real-time statistical analysis of various data and providing anomaly warnings; wherein, the various data include linen inventory, linen usage, linen recycling, and delivery data.

[0082] Storage medium – any type of memory device or storage device. The term “storage medium” is intended to include: mounting media, such as CD-ROM, floppy disk, or magnetic tape devices; computer device memory or random access memory, such as DRAM, DDRRAM, SRAM, EDORAM, Rambus RAM, etc.; non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, magnetic media (e.g., hard disk or optical storage); registers or other similar types of memory elements, etc. Storage medium may also include other types of memory or combinations thereof. Furthermore, storage medium may reside in a first computer device in which a program is executed, or it may reside in a different second computer device connected to the first computer device via a network (such as the Internet). The second computer device may provide program instructions to the first computer for execution. The term “storage medium” may include two or more storage media that may reside in different locations (e.g., in different computer devices connected via a network). Storage medium may store program instructions (e.g., specifically implemented as a computer program) executable by one or more processors.

[0083] Of course, the computer-executable instructions provided in the embodiments of this application are not limited to the IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens as described above, but can also perform related operations in the IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens provided in any embodiment of this application.

[0084] The IoT-based intelligent hospital linen delivery and closed-loop management system, storage medium, and computer equipment provided in the above embodiments can execute the IoT-based intelligent hospital linen delivery and closed-loop management method provided in any embodiment of this application. For technical details not described in detail in the above embodiments, please refer to the IoT-based intelligent hospital linen delivery and closed-loop management method provided in any embodiment of this application.

[0085] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment and the technical principles employed in this application. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions that can be made by those skilled in the art will not depart from the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, although this application has been described in detail through the above embodiments, this application is not limited to the above embodiments, and may include more other equivalent embodiments without departing from the concept of this application, the scope of which is determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for intelligent delivery and closed-loop management of hospital linens based on the Internet of Things, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: Establish specific identifiers for each linen item and obtain electronic files for each linen item; The system controls the intelligent linen receiving and dispatching cabinet to automatically perform linen tasks and collect various linen data; these tasks include distributing clean linens and collecting soiled linens. The system automatically dispatches drafting tasks, plans task paths, and tracks task paths in real time based on IoT terminals. It automatically identifies delivered linens, performs one-click handover of the linens, and uploads the identified data; Real-time statistics are collected on various data and anomaly alerts are issued; these data include linen inventory, linen usage, linen recycling, and delivery data.

2. The method for intelligent delivery and closed-loop management of hospital linens based on the Internet of Things as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The process of establishing specific identifiers for each linen item to obtain electronic files for each linen item includes: Each piece of linen is scanned using an RFID reader, a globally unique code is written into the tag, and basic information is entered. This basic information includes the linen type, specifications, department to which it belongs, material, first use date, current washing batch, disinfection parameters, and quality inspection results. All entered information is synchronized to the cloud-based closed-loop management platform in real time to generate an electronic file for each piece of linen; For linens with different types of pollution, a risk level field has been added to the label. Before linens are containerized, a batch RFID reader is used for inventory and verification to remove linens with missing tags or abnormal information.

3. The method for intelligent delivery and closed-loop management of hospital linens based on the Internet of Things as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The intelligent receiving and dispatching cabinet is controlled to automatically execute linen tasks and collect various linen data, including: The department submits a linen requisition form through its terminal, so that the requisition instruction is simultaneously pushed to the cloud platform and the corresponding smart mail cabinet. After identity authentication and permission verification, only the clean dispensing compartment door is opened, while the contaminated recycling compartment remains locked. Upon detecting changes in the linens, the multi-channel RFID reader inside the cabin scans all electronic tags on the removed linens in real time and automatically matches them with the requisition list. After material handling is completed, the control door closes and the equipment automatically locks. The requisition record will be uploaded to the cloud platform in real time and the department's inventory ledger will be updated simultaneously. When the receiving and dispatching terminal detects that a recycling operation has been initiated and the identity verification is successful, only the door of the contaminated recycling compartment is opened, while the clean compartment remains closed. Based on the infection risk level pre-stored in the linen label, delivery zones are assigned using a combination of voice and screen prompts. Once linens are detected being placed in the bin, the RFID reader at the bottom of the bin reads the tag code for each piece of linen, automatically identifying the linen's identity, original department, and contamination level; at the same time, sensors inside the bin detect the weight and quantity of linens placed, generating a recycling record. After delivery, the hatch is closed, and the recovery compartment automatically seals and locks; the infectious linen isolation area is simultaneously disinfected with ultraviolet light for a short time.

4. The method for intelligent delivery and closed-loop management of hospital linens based on the Internet of Things as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The automatic dispatching of drafting tasks, planning of task paths, and real-time location tracking of task paths based on IoT terminals include: The system compiles real-time data on linen requisitions and soiled linen recycling from all departments across the hospital. It then integrates the outbound volume from the laundry center and the inventory of each receiving and dispatching locker to generate a comprehensive delivery work order. The work order includes the following information: delivery type, target department, quantity of linens, risk level, and required delivery time. By combining the location, load, current workload, and vehicle zone attributes of delivery vehicles, intelligent capacity matching is performed, and work orders are automatically sent to the in-vehicle IoT terminal of the corresponding delivery vehicle. Once the vehicle terminal confirms the order acceptance, it updates the task status and begins full-process tracking. Plan routes according to different types of linens; Using a path planning algorithm, the system comprehensively calculates driving distance, travel time, intersection congestion, floor order, and task priority to automatically generate the optimal driving route and multi-point stop order. If the requirements change temporarily during the journey, the system will recalculate in real time and push the corrected route to the vehicle terminal. Among them, the vehicle-mounted terminal is linked to the RFID reader in the carriage to take real-time inventory of the linens in the carriage. The location, driving trajectory, and task progress of all delivery vehicles are displayed in the form of an electronic map on the cloud management platform. When a vehicle is started abnormally, the system immediately triggers an audible and visual warning and a pop-up window alert, and simultaneously pushes information to dispatchers and infection control administrators.

5. The intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens based on the Internet of Things as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The automatic identification of delivered linens, one-click handover of the linens, and uploading of the identified data include: Once the vehicle is detected to have arrived at the designated loading / unloading point of the target department, the control and positioning module confirms that the location is accurately matched and remotely authorizes the opening of the corresponding hatch. By scanning the tags of each item with an RFID reader, the system automatically compares the vehicle's cargo manifest with the department's requisition list. After verification, click "One-Click Handover" and upload the identified data.

6. The intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens based on the Internet of Things as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The real-time statistical analysis of various data and the provision of anomaly warnings include: Data from all stages is aggregated, automatically categorized, statistically analyzed, and visualized reports are generated. Real-time monitoring and triggering of tiered alerts, which are then pushed to administrators: If a delivery is found to be abnormal, it will be judged as the vehicle failing to deliver on time, deviating from the route, or being delayed for an extended period of time. If the goods are abnormal, it will be judged as misdelivered linens, lost linens, abnormal labels, or incorrect quantities; If the environment is abnormal, it is determined that the negative pressure in the sealed chamber is insufficient, the temperature and humidity exceed the standard, or the door is opened abnormally. If hospital-acquired infections are abnormal, it is judged as a high-risk infection, with abnormal linen circulation and ineffective isolation wards. Alarm information is pushed through multiple channels, and abnormal work orders are automatically generated.

7. The IoT-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management system for hospital linens according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: After a single delivery task is completed, the contaminated vehicle is controlled to return to the washing center, where the entire vehicle compartment is automatically disinfected with spray and ultraviolet light. Only after the disinfection is completed can the vehicle take on the next task.

8. A smart hospital linen delivery and closed-loop management system based on the Internet of Things, characterized in that, include: The file creation module is used to create specific identifiers for each linen item and obtain electronic files for each linen item. The task execution module is used to control the smart receiving and dispatching cabinet to automatically perform linen tasks and collect various linen data; among them, linen tasks include distributing clean linens and collecting soiled linens. The task planning module is used to automatically dispatch drafting tasks, plan task paths, and track task paths in real time based on IoT terminals. The data upload module is used to automatically identify delivered linens, transfer the linens with one click, and upload the identified data. The anomaly alarm module is used to collect and analyze various data in real time and issue early warnings for anomalies. These data include linen inventory, linen usage, linen recycling, and delivery data.

9. A computer device, characterized in that, include: Memory and one or more processors; The memory is used to store one or more programs; When the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors implement the Internet of Things-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens as described in any one of claims 1-6.

10. A storage medium containing computer-executable instructions, characterized in that, The computer-executable instructions, when executed by a computer processor, are used to perform the Internet of Things-based intelligent delivery and closed-loop management method for hospital linens as described in any one of claims 1-6.

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