SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STERILIZING MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and a method for sterilizing medical instruments.

[0002] Reusable medical instruments are typically cleaned, disinfected, and then stored according to internal practice. These cleaned and stored instruments are placed in trays, which are then sterilized and reused, typically repeating the cycle described above multiple times.

[0003] WO 2018228818 A1 discloses a system and method for at least partially automated handling of an instrument tray for storing and providing surgical instruments.

[0004] From WO 2018087225 A1 a process for reprocessing surgical instruments is known, comprising various work stations between an input and an output area, such as disinfection and preparation areas, as well as packing and storage areas.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to improve the sterilization of medical instruments.

[0006] This object is achieved by a system having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 7. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the system, in particular hardware and / or software, in particular program-related, is configured to carry out a method described herein, or in one embodiment, the method is carried out using a system described herein. The subclaims relate to advantageous developments.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system according to the invention for sterilizing medical instruments has the features of the accompanying independent device claim 1.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method according to the invention for sterilizing medical instruments, in one embodiment by means of a system described here, has the features of the enclosed, independent method claim 7.

[0009] By means of the robotic transporting or loading, the sterilization of medical instruments can advantageously be at least partially automated in one embodiment, thereby improving its process time and / or reliability; by means of the prior testing and / or intermediate storage of instruments between the testing and loading, the at least partially robotic sterilization, in particular its variability and / or reliability, can be (further) improved in one embodiment.

[0010] In one embodiment, the medical instruments are instruments for operations, particularly clinical ones, i.e., particularly surgical instruments. They may include, in particular, surgical instruments such as scalpels, forceps, scissors, needles, saws, and the like. The present invention can be used with particular advantage with such instruments, particularly due to their high throughput and / or required short processing times and / or high process reliability during sterilization.

[0011] In one embodiment, the sterilization device comprises at least one, preferably several, autoclaves. This can improve sterilization in one embodiment. In a further development, instrument carriers equipped with instruments are selectively fed to one of at least two autoclaves, sterilized therein, and fed from one autoclave to an instrument carrier-with-instrument storage area (explained in more detail below) and stored there until transported away by a transport system (explained in more detail below). From the other autoclave, they are fed directly to the transport system without being stored in the instrument carrier-with-instrument storage area. This can improve process efficiency in one embodiment.

[0012] The or one or more of the robots can (each) have a multi-axis, in particular at least three-axis, in one embodiment at least six-axis, in particular at least seven-axis robot arm, which is particularly advantageous for robotic transport or loading due to its variability.

[0013] If, in one embodiment, the robot(s) or one or more of the robots are used both for transporting instruments from the test station to the instrument storage and for loading instrument carriers with instruments from the instrument storage, the system can advantageously be made more compact and / or simpler in one embodiment.

[0014] If, in one embodiment, one or more of the robots are used to transport instruments from the test station to the instrument storage and one or more other of the robots are used to load instrument carriers with instruments from the instrument storage, this can advantageously make the system work faster(er) in one embodiment.

[0015] In one embodiment, an instrument carrier can have, in particular be, a sieve, in particular a sieve support. This can improve the sterilization of the instrument carrier equipped with instruments.

[0016] In one embodiment, the testing station has a manual workstation at which instruments are tested, in particular serviced, in one embodiment cleaned, if necessary re-cleaned or subsequently cleaned, lubricated and / or repaired, and / or - if necessary - disposed of by one or more operators, in particular disposable instruments and / or faulty or non-repaired or repairable instruments, or which is intended, in particular set up, or used for this purpose.

[0017] Such a manual workstation can advantageously prepare and / or pre-sort instruments for robotic sterilization, particularly by removing unsuitable instruments. This can (further) improve robotic sterilization, particularly its variability, process time, and / or reliability. Particularly by combining a manual workstation with robotic transport or loading of instruments or instrument carriers, particularly high variability, process speed, and / or reliability can be achieved.

[0018] Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, the test station has a receiving station at which instruments are picked up by the robot(s) or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose.

[0019] In one embodiment, this allows robotic sterilization, in particular its variability, process time and / or reliability, to be (further) improved.

[0020] In one embodiment, the test station has a passive or actuated or active transport device with which or by which (tested, in particular possibly serviced) instruments are passively or actuated or actively transported from the manual workstation to the receiving station of the test station or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose.

[0021] A passive transport device can have one or more slides, ramps or the like or can transport instruments using gravity.

[0022] In one embodiment, this can improve the installation space and / or energy requirements of the system.

[0023] An actuated or active transport device can, in one embodiment, comprise one or more conveyor belts, conveyor chains or the like or transport instruments by means of one or more, in particular electrical, pneumatic and / or hydraulic, drives.

[0024] In one embodiment, this can improve the reliability and / or cycle time of the system.

[0025] Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment the testing station has an instrument recognition system with or by which instruments are detected at the receiving station or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose. In a further development, instruments are picked up by the robot(s) on the basis of or as a function of the instrument recognition; in one embodiment a gripping pose of the robot for picking up an instrument and / or an identity of an instrument to be picked up is determined, or the system, in particular the robot(s) and / or the instrument recognition system, is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose. Additionally or alternatively, in a further development instruments are checked on the basis of or as a function of the instrument recognition, in particular the number of their uses or (sterilization (system)) runs, so that in one embodiment instruments are checked on the basis of or as a function of the instrument recognition,Depending on this control, in particular when it is determined that a predetermined maximum number of cycles or uses has been reached, the instruments are sorted out or separated, or the system, in particular the robot(s) and / or the instrument recognition, is intended, in particular set up, or used for this purpose.

[0026] Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, the manual workstation has a cleaning station at which instruments are manually cleaned by the operator(s), or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose, in one embodiment has washing containers with cleaning fluid and / or cleaning tools.

[0027] Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, the manual workstation has a repair station at which instruments are manually repaired by the operator(s), or which is intended, in particular set up, or used for this purpose, and in one embodiment has spare parts and / or repair tools.

[0028] Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, the manual workstation has a disposal station at which instruments, in particular disposable instruments and / or faulty or non-repaired or repairable instruments, are manually disposed of by the operator(s), or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose, in one embodiment has at least one waste or disposal container which is emptied or changed or is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose.

[0029] By using one or, in particular, a combination of several of the above-mentioned features, instruments can be advantageously prepared and / or pre-sorted for robotic sterilization. This can (further) improve robotic sterilization, particularly its variability, process time, and / or reliability.

[0030] In one embodiment, the instrument storage has an input area, in particular one or more input surfaces, compartments or the like, which in one embodiment are actuated or movable or adjustable by drives, in particular openable or closable and / or retractable or extendable, to, in particular on or in which instruments are dispensed with the robot(s), or the system, in particular the robot(s) and / or the instrument storage or its input area, is provided for this purpose, in particular set up, or is used for this purpose.

[0031] Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, the instrument storage has an output area, in one embodiment spaced from the input area, in particular one or more output surfaces, compartments or the like, in one embodiment actuated or movable or adjustable by drives, in particular openable or closable and / or retractable or extendable, at, in particular on or in which different instruments are selectively output, in particular on the basis of an instrument request that specifies an individual instrument or instrument type, or the instrument storage or its output area is provided, in particular configured, or used for this purpose. In a further development, different instruments can be selectively output on the same output area, which can in particular improve access by the robot(s).

[0032] Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, the instrument storage has a storage system, in particular an actuated one, by means of which one or more instruments (each), in one embodiment based on a storage management system, in particular commanded or coordinated by the latter, are stored at one of several different (potential or intended, in particular set up or used) storage locations, or the instrument storage or its storage system is intended, in particular set up or used for this purpose.

[0033] Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, the instrument storage has an instrument recognition system with or by which instruments are detected at the dispensing area or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose. In a further development, instruments are picked up by the robot(s) on the basis of or as a function of the instrument recognition; in one embodiment, a gripping pose of the robot for picking up an instrument and / or an identity of an instrument to be picked up is determined, or the system, in particular the robot(s) and / or the instrument recognition system, is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose. Additionally or alternatively, in a further development, instruments are checked on the basis of or as a function of the instrument recognition; in particular, their identity is checked, orthe system, in particular the instrument recognition, is intended, in particular set up or used for this purpose.

[0034] In one embodiment, instruments are stored individually in the instrument storage or the instrument storage, in particular its storage system or its storage management, is intended, in particular set up, or used for this purpose.

[0035] This allows instruments to be advantageously stored temporarily during robotic sterilization, particularly in combination. This can (further) improve robotic sterilization, particularly its variability, process time, and / or reliability.

[0036] In one embodiment, the packing station has an instrument recognition system with or through which instruments and / or instrument carriers are detected at the packing station or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose. For a more compact representation, a (pure) instrument carrier recognition system is also generally referred to as an instrument recognition system within the meaning of the present invention, so that an instrument recognition system, in particular of the packing station, can be an instrument carrier and / or instrument recognition system or an instrument (carrier) recognition system with or through which instruments and / or instrument carriers, in particular at the packing station, are detected or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose.

[0037] In a further development, instrument carriers are equipped with instruments using the robot(s) on the basis of or depending on the instrument (carrier) recognition; in one embodiment, a deposit pose of the robot for equipping an instrument carrier with an instrument and / or a position and / or identity of an instrument carrier to be equipped is determined, or the system, in particular the robot(s) and / or the instrument (carrier) recognition, is provided, in particular configured, or is used for this purpose. In particular, predetermined, in particular stored, deposit positions of the instruments for loading can be or be predetermined on the basis of instrument carriers identified by means of the instrument (carrier) recognition.

[0038] Additionally or alternatively, in a further training, instrument carriers and / or instruments, in particular instruments with which an instrument carrier is equipped, are checked on the basis of or depending on the instrument (carrier) recognition, in particular their identity and / or correct equipment is checked, or the system, in particular the instrument recognition, is intended, in particular set up, or is used for this purpose.

[0039] In one embodiment, this can (further) improve the reliability and / or cycle time of the system.

[0040] In one embodiment, one or more of the above-mentioned instrument recognition devices (each) comprise one or more, in particular contactless, transmitting / receiving devices, in particular for electromagnetic radiation and / or for identification, in one embodiment RFID transmitting / receiving devices or the like, and / or one or more cameras, in one embodiment stereo cameras, in particular an image processing device, in one embodiment three-dimensional, with the aid of which (each) a position, in particular a one-, two- or three-dimensional position and / or one-, two- or three-dimensional orientation, and / or an identity of the (respective) instrument is determined or which are provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose.In a further development, the instruments, in particular passive ones, have transmitters, in one embodiment RFID tags or the like, and / or, in one embodiment two- or three-dimensional and / or digital, markings, in particular DataMatrix codes, color codes, QR codes or the like, which are detected or identified by the instrument recognition.

[0041] In one embodiment, the positions and / or identities of the instruments can thereby be determined advantageously, in particular quickly, precisely and / or reliably.

[0042] In one embodiment, the system has a cleaning and / or disinfection station, in particular by means of or through which the instruments are cleaned and / or disinfected, or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose, and a passive or actuated or active delivery device, with or through which the instruments are delivered passively, actuated or actively from the cleaning and / or disinfection station to the testing station, or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose.

[0043] A passive delivery device can be designed to have one or more slides, ramps or the like, or to deliver instruments using gravity.

[0044] In one embodiment, this can improve the installation space and / or energy requirements of the system.

[0045] An actuated or active delivery device can, in one embodiment, comprise one or more conveyor belts, conveyor chains or the like or transport instruments by means of one or more, in particular electrical, pneumatic and / or hydraulic, drives.

[0046] In one embodiment, this can improve the reliability and / or cycle time of the system.

[0047] In one embodiment, the prior cleaning or disinfection can advantageously protect or relieve the burden on operating personnel at the test station.

[0048] In one embodiment, the system comprises an instrument carrier with instrument storage, by means of which, in particular in which, instrument carriers equipped with instruments are stored by the sterilization device, or which is provided, in particular configured, or used for this purpose.

[0049] In one embodiment, this allows for the advantageous storage of already sterilized instrument carriers equipped with (sterilized) instruments and thus for faster (or more rapid) delivery when required.

[0050] Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, the system comprises an instrument carrier-without-instruments storage through which, in particular in which, empty instrument carriers, in particular instrument carriers emptied at the cleaning and / or disinfection station or in front of the testing station, are stored, or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose.

[0051] Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, the system comprises a transport system with which, in particular by means of which, empty instrument carriers are transported (away) from the cleaning and / or disinfection station and / or the testing station and / or the instrument carrier-without-instruments storage and / or to the instrument carrier-without-instruments storage and / or the packing station, or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose.

[0052] In this way, in one embodiment, in particular in combination, instrument carriers with which instruments are delivered to the cleaning and / or disinfection station or testing station can be advantageously reused.

[0053] Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment the system comprises a transport system with which, in particular by means of which, instrument carriers equipped with instruments are transported (away) from the packing station and / or the sterilization device and / or the instrument carrier with instrument storage and / or to the sterilization device and / or the instrument carrier with instrument storage, or which is provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose; in a further development a transport system with driverless transport vehicles which transport (away) instrument carriers equipped with instruments from the sterilization device and / or the instrument carrier with instrument storage or are provided, in particular set up, or used for this purpose.

[0054] In one embodiment, the transport system comprises one or more passive transport devices, in particular one or more slides, ramps, or the like. This can improve the installation space and / or energy requirements of the system in one embodiment.

[0055] Additionally or alternatively, the transport system in one embodiment comprises one or more actuated or active transport devices, in particular one or more conveyor belts, conveyor chains, or the like. This can improve the reliability and / or cycle time of the system in one embodiment.

[0056] In one embodiment, one or more, in particular all, steps of the method are carried out fully or partially automatically, in particular by the system or its means. In one embodiment, the system comprises the instruments.

[0057] Further advantages and features emerge from the subclaims and the exemplary embodiments. The sole drawing shows, partially schematically: Fig. 1: a method and system for sterilizing medical instruments according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] Fig. 1 shows a system and method for sterilizing medical instruments according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] The system has a cleaning and disinfection station 10 in which used clinical surgical instruments 1 from an operating room OR are cleaned and disinfected in portafilters 2.

[0060] A delivery device, for example a conveyor belt 11, delivers these instruments in the portafilters 2 from the cleaning and disinfection station to a testing station.

[0061] The testing station has a manual workstation with a work table 20, at which an operator B manually checks instruments and, if necessary, repairs them (repair station), a cleaning station, in the exemplary embodiment a sink 22, at which the operator B manually cleans instruments if necessary and a disposal station with a waste container 23, in which the operator B manually disposes of non-repairable instruments, incorrectly delivered disposable instruments and the like, as well as a receiving station in the form of a recognition platform 24 for picking up instruments with a robot 30.

[0062] The test station further comprises a passive or actuated transport device 25, for example a chute or a conveyor belt, with which instruments are transported from the manual workstation 20 to the receiving station 24. Ergonomically advantageous, the transport device comprises an input shaft on the work table 20 and is guided under the work table 20, in Fig. 1 indicated by a dashed line. Cleaning, disposal or insertion into the input chute is shown in Fig. 1 indicated by dotted arrows.

[0063] An instrument recognition system 26 with a camera with image recognition detects instruments at the receiving station 24. Additionally or alternatively, an RFID transceiver device can also be used, which should also be symbolized by the instrument recognition system 26. This can be integrated into an instrument lifecycle management system (Instrument PLM), which monitors how often an individual instrument has already passed through the system and, if necessary, initiates sorting when a predetermined maximum number is reached. The same can also be achieved by recognizing data matrix codes or the like on the instruments.

[0064] The robot picks up instruments from the pick-up station 24. In particular, a gripping pose of the robot can be determined using the instrument recognition 26, in particular based on a position of the instruments detected by the instrument recognition 26. In one embodiment, an instrument-specific stored gripping position on the instrument can be approached based on the identification of individual instruments, for example, based on their RFID tags, data matrix codes, or the like.

[0065] The robot 30 transports instruments from the receiving station 24 of the test station to an input area 41 of an instrument storage area 40, in which these instruments are temporarily stored by means of a storage system (not shown).

[0066] The portafilters 2 emptied at the test station are transported by a transport system 50 to an instrument carrier-without-instruments storage area 60 and stored therein. The transport system 50 transports empty portafilters 2 from the instrument carrier-without-instruments storage area 60 to a packing station 70. In a modification not shown, the portafilters 2 can also be emptied in the cleaning and disinfection station 10 and transported from there by the transport system 50 to the instrument carrier-without-instruments storage area 60, stored therein, and from there transported by the transport system 50 to the packing station 70.

[0067] The robot 30 or, in a modification not shown, another robot removes these instruments from an output area 42 of the instrument storage 40, at which its storage system selectively dispenses instruments, and loads them into the portafilters provided at the packing station 70.

[0068] In this case, a controller 100 requests the corresponding instruments from the instrument storage 40 or its output area 42 on the basis of operation-specific predefined packing patterns for equipping the portafilters with instruments, which are defined, for example, by the respective specialists or surgeons, and controls the robot on the basis of the respective operation-specific predefined packing pattern for equipping the respective portafilter.

[0069] The instrument storage 40 has an instrument recognition system 43 with a camera with image recognition that detects instruments at the output area 42. Additionally or alternatively, an RFID transceiver device can also be used, which should also be symbolized by the instrument recognition system 43.

[0070] The robot picks up instruments from the dispensing area 42. In particular, a gripping pose of the robot can be determined using the instrument recognition 43, in particular based on a position of the respective instrument detected by the instrument recognition 43. In one embodiment, an instrument-specific stored gripping position on the instrument can be approached based on the identification of individual instruments, for example, based on their RFID tags, data matrix codes, or the like.

[0071] The packing station 70 also has an instrument (carrier) detection 71 with a camera with image recognition, which detects portafilters and instruments at the packing station 70.

[0072] The robot loads the portafilters with the instruments from the dispensing area 42. In particular, a placement pose of the robot can be determined by means of the instrument (carrier) recognition 71, in particular based on a position of the respective portafilter detected by the instrument (carrier) recognition 71. In one embodiment, a gripping position stored on the portafilter specific to the portafilter or instrument carrier can be approached based on the identification of individual portafilters, for example, based on their RFID tags, data matrix codes, or the like.

[0073] Finally, the instrument (carrier) detection 71 can check the loading of the portafilter with the instruments.

[0074] A transport system 80 selectively transports the fully loaded portafilters to one of two autoclaves 91, 92 in which they are sterilized.

[0075] Subsequently, the transport system 80 transports the sterilized portafilters from one autoclave 92 to an instrument carrier with instruments storage 110, in which they are stored, and from this or directly from the other autoclave 91 to driverless transport vehicles 81 of the transport system, which transport the loaded, sterilized portafilters to the operating room OR, as in Fig. 1 indicated as an example in the form of a dashed transport path.

[0076] Although exemplary embodiments have been explained in the preceding description, it should be noted that numerous modifications are possible. Furthermore, it should be noted that the exemplary embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection, applications, or structure in any way. Rather, the preceding description provides the skilled person with a guide for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, whereby various modifications, particularly with regard to the function and arrangement of the described components, can be made without departing from the scope of protection as it results from the claims and equivalent combinations of features. List of reference symbols

[0077] 1 Instrument(s) 2 Portafilter (instrument carrier) 10 Cleaning and / or disinfection station 11 Delivery device 20 Work table (manual workstation; testing or repair station) 22 Wash basin (cleaning station) 23 Waste container (disposal station) 24 Pick-up station 25 Transport device 26 Instrument recognition 30 Robot 40 Instrument storage 41 Input area 42 Output area 43 Instrument recognition 50 Transport system 60 Instrument carrier without instrument storage 70 Packing station 71 Instrument (carrier) recognition 80 Transport system 81 Automated guided vehicle 91, 92 Autoclave (sterilization device) 100 Control system 110 Instrument carrier with instrument storage BBoperator OROperating room

Claims

1. System for sterilizing medical instruments (1), comprising: - a testing station (20-26) for checking delivered instruments; - an instrument storage area (40) for temporary storage of tested instruments; - a packing station (70) for equipping instrument carriers (2) with instruments from the instrument storage area; - at least one robot (30) for transporting instruments from the testing station to the instrument storage area and / or for equipping instrument carriers at the packing station with instruments from the instrument storage area, in particular on the basis of an operation-specific predetermined packing pattern; and - a sterilizing apparatus (91, 92) for sterilizing instrument carriers equipped with instruments from the packing station, characterized in that the instrument storage area comprises: - an input region (41) and, in particular at a distance therefrom, an output region (42) for the selective output of different instruments; - a storage system for placing an instrument at different storage locations; and - an instrument recognition means (43) for detecting instruments in the output region, in particular for picking up instruments with the at least one robot and / or examining the instruments.

2. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that the testing station comprises: - a manual workstation (20-23) for checking instruments, in particular for servicing and / or disposing of them, by at least one operator; and / or - a pick-up station (24) for picking up instruments with the at least one robot.

3. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that - the testing station comprises: - a passive or actuated transport device (25) for transporting instruments from the manual workstation to the pick-up station; and / or - an instrument recognition means (26) for detecting instruments at the pick-up station, in particular for picking up instruments with the at least one robot and / or examining the instruments; and / or - the manual workstation comprises - a cleaning station (22) for manually cleaning instruments; - a repair station (20) for manually repairing instruments; and / or - a disposal station (23) for manually disposing of instruments.

4. System according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packing station comprises: - an instrument recognition means (71) for detecting instruments and / or instrument carriers at the packing station, in particular for equipping instrument carriers with instruments using the at least one robot and / or examining the instrument carriers and / or instruments.

5. System according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the instrument recognition means (26) for detecting instruments at the pick-up station, the instrument recognition means (43) for detecting instruments in the output region and / or the instrument recognition means (71) for detecting instruments at the packing station comprise at least one transceiver and / or at least one camera, in particular image processing means, for ascertaining the pose and / or identity of the instruments.

6. System according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by: - a cleaning and / or disinfection station (10) for cleaning and / or disinfecting instruments and a passive or actuated delivery device (11) for delivering these instruments from the cleaning and / or disinfection station to the testing station; and / or by: - an instrument-carrier-with-instrument storage area (110) for storing instrument carriers equipped with instruments from the sterilizing apparatus; - an instrument-carrier-without-instrument storage area (60) for storing empty instrument carriers; and / or - a transport system (50; 80) for the removal of empty instrument carriers from the cleaning and / or disinfection station and / or the testing station and / or the instrument-carrier-without-instrument storage area and / or to the instrument-carrier-without-instrument storage area and / or the packing station and / or for the removal of instrument carriers equipped with instruments from the packing station and / or the sterilization apparatus and / or the instrument-carrier-with-instrument storage area and / or to the sterilizing apparatus and / or the instrument-carrier-with-instrument storage area, in particular by means of driverless transport vehicles (81).

7. Method for sterilizing medical instruments (1) by means of a system according to any of the preceding claims, including the steps of: - checking delivered instruments at a or the testing station (20-26); - temporarily storing checked instruments using an or the instrument storage area (40); - sterilizing instrument carriers (2) equipped with instruments from an or the packing station at a or the sterilization apparatus (91, 92); and at least one of the steps of: - transporting instruments from the testing station to the instrument storage area and / or equipping instrument carriers at the packing station with instruments from the instrument storage area using at least one or the at least one robot (30), in particular on the basis of an operation-specific predetermined packing pattern.

8. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized by at least one of the steps of: - checking instruments, in particular servicing and / or disposing of them, by at least one operator (B) at a or the manual workstation (20-23); and / or - picking up instruments with the at least one robot at a or the pick-up station (24) of the testing station.

9. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized by at least one of the steps of: - passive or actuated transport of instruments from the manual workstation to the pick-up station of the testing station with a or the transport device (25); - detecting instruments at the pick-up station with an or the instrument recognition means (26), in particular picking up instruments with the at least one robot and / or examining the instruments on the basis of the instrument recognition means; - manually cleaning instruments at a or the cleaning station (22); - manually repairing instruments at a or the repair station (20); and / or - manually disposing of instruments at a or the disposal station (23).

10. Method according to any of the preceding Claims 7 to 9, characterized by at least one of the steps of: - handing over instruments with the at least one robot at an or the input region (41) of the instrument storage area; - selectively handing out different instruments to a or the output region (42) of the instrument storage area; - placing at least one instrument at one of several different storage locations by a or the storage system based on a storage management means; and / or - detecting instruments at an or the output region (42) with an or the instrument recognition means (43), in particular picking up instruments with the at least one robot and / or examining the instruments on the basis of the instrument recognition means.

11. Method according to any of the preceding Claims 7 to 10, characterized by the step of: - detecting instruments and / or instrument carriers at the packing station, in particular equipping instrument carriers with instruments using the at least one robot and / or examining the instrument carriers and / or instruments, on the basis of an or the instrument recognition means (71).

12. Method according to any of the preceding Claims 7 to 11, characterized by at least one of the steps of: - cleaning and / or disinfecting instruments at a or the cleaning and / or disinfection station (10) and passive or actuated delivery of these instruments from the cleaning and / or disinfection station to the testing station with a or the delivery device (11); - storing instrument carriers equipped with instruments from the sterilizing apparatus in an or the instrument-carrier-with-instrument storage area (110); - storing empty instrument carriers in an or the instrument-carrier-without-instrument storage area (60); and / or - removing empty instrument carriers from a or the cleaning and / or disinfection station (10) and / or the testing station and / or an or the instrument-carrier-without-instrument storage area (60) and / or to an or the instrument-carrier-without-instrument storage area (60) and / or the packing station and / or removing instrument carriers equipped with instruments from the packing station and / or the sterilization apparatus and / or the instrument-carrier-with-instrument storage area and / or to the sterilizing apparatus and / or the instrument-carrier-with-instrument storage area with a or the transport system (50; 80), in particular by means of its driverless transport vehicles (81).