Disinfection chamber and associated disinfection process

Abstract

Disinfection chamber and associated disinfection method. The invention relates to a disinfection chamber (10) for a medical device comprising: - a disinfection volume (24) delimited by at least one wall (22A-F), - a UV radiation generation device (26) configured to generate UV radiation in the disinfection volume (24), and - an identification unit (28) positioned so as to read identification information of a medical device only when the medical device is positioned in the disinfection volume (24). Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Disinfection chamber and associated disinfection process

[0001] The present invention relates to a disinfection chamber for a medical instrument and an associated disinfection process.

[0002] In order to avoid any contamination, it is necessary to disinfect a medical instrument between two uses.

[0003] For this purpose, it is known to disinfect medical instruments in disinfection chambers defining a closed disinfection volume. Such chambers include, for example, a UV (Ultraviolet) radiation generation device enabling, in particular, the disinfection of medical instruments, and more specifically, high-level disinfection.

[0004] It is known to identify the medical instrument before placing it in the disinfection chamber, in order to ensure traceability of the disinfection.

[0005] However, such identification is not entirely satisfactory, as there is a risk of misidentification. In particular, there is a risk that the identified medical device and the one placed in the enclosure are not the same. For example, there is no guarantee that the device placed in the enclosure is the same as the one previously identified.

[0006] The aim of the invention is therefore to propose a disinfection chamber ensuring improved and reliable traceability of disinfection.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a disinfection chamber for a medical instrument comprising:

[0008] - a disinfection volume delimited by at least one wall,

[0009] - a UV radiation generation device configured to generate UV radiation in the disinfection volume, and

[0010] - an identification unit positioned so as to read information identification of a medical instrument only when the medical instrument is positioned in the disinfection volume.

[0011] Thanks to the identification unit, the medical instrument is identified only when it is positioned within the enclosure. Thus, the identified instrument is definitively the same as the one being disinfected.

[0012] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the disinfection chamber comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically possible combination:

[0013] - The disinfection chamber includes a support configured for keep the medical instrument inside the disinfection volume.

[0014] - The medical device includes an identification module comprising the medical instrument identification information, the identification unit defining an identification volume, the holding support being configured to hold the medical instrument so as to position the identification module attached to the medical instrument within the identification volume of the identification unit.

[0015] - The medical device identification unit includes an X-ray reader identification defining the identification volume.

[0016] - The disinfection chamber includes a processor configured to associate medical instrument identification information to disinfection characterization information.

[0017] - The disinfection characterization information includes at least the disinfection status.

[0018] - The disinfection chamber includes an additional identification unit of the user and / or patient information displayed outside the disinfection volume for the acquisition of user identification information of the medical device and / or patient identification for whom the medical device was used.

[0019] - The disinfection chamber further includes a display unit and / or printing and / or exporting medical device identification information.

[0020] The invention also relates to a method for disinfecting a medical instrument comprising the following successive steps:

[0021] a. supply of an enclosure as described above,

[0022] b. positioning of the medical instrument within the disinfection volume,

[0023] c. reading the medical device identification information in the disinfection volume by the identification unit, and

[0024] d. launching a disinfection cycle of the medical instrument only when identification information has been read by the identification unit.

[0025] Advantageously, the method further includes a step of associating the identification information of the medical device with information characterizing the disinfection.

[0026] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0027] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is a schematic perspective view of an example of a disinfection chamber according to the invention;

[0028] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic front view of an example of an enclosure disinfection according to the invention;

[0029] [Fig. 3] [Fig. 3] is a flowchart of the steps in an example of a disinfection process according to the invention; and

[0030] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic view of an example of a medical instrument suitable for disinfection by the disinfection chamber of [Fig.1].

[0031] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an example of a disinfection chamber 10 according to the invention. The disinfection chamber 10 is configured to disinfect all or part of a medical instrument 12.

[0032] Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a medical instrument 12 suitable for disinfection by the disinfection chamber 10.

[0033] The medical instrument 12 includes, for example, an active part 14. The active part 14 is, for example, a tube intended to be inserted into the patient, for example into a nostril of the patient.

[0034] Preferably, the medical instrument 12 includes a handle 18 connected to the active part 14. The handle 18 is advantageously fixed to one end of the active part 14 and is intended to be grasped by a user in order to facilitate the insertion of the active part 14 into the patient.

[0035] The medical instrument 12 further comprises a connecting part 16 and preferably also a connector 20.

[0036] The connecting part 16 is for example a connecting cable linking the active part 14 to the connector 20.

[0037] Connector 20 is configured for example to be connected to a unit of measurement and / or display, in particular to collect and / or display information captured by the active part 14.

[0038] The medical instrument 12 is, for example, a medical probe, in particular an ultrasound probe, and more specifically a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe, or an endoscopic probe, for example, an otolaryngology (ENT) probe. The medical probe is, for example, a pediatric or adult probe.

[0039] Advantageously, an identification module 21 is attached to the medical instrument 12.

[0040] For example, as illustrated in [Fig.4], the identification module 21 is attached to the connection part 16 of the medical instrument 12.

[0041] The identification module 21 is, for example, a label.

[0042] The identification module 21 preferably includes identification information for the medical device 12.

[0043] In particular, the identification module 21 includes, for example, a radio-frequency identification chip, also called an RFID chip (from the English "radio frequency identification"), containing this identification information.

[0044] The RFID chip is for example a low frequency chip, a high frequency chip, for example of the NFC (Near-Field Communication) type chip, or a UHF (Ultra High Frequency) chip.

[0045] Alternatively, the identification module 21 includes a barcode.

[0046] This identification information includes, for example, a medical device identification number 12 and / or the model of the medical device 12.

[0047] The disinfection enclosure 10 comprises a disinfection volume 24 delimited by at least one wall, a UV radiation generation device 26 and an identification unit 28.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the disinfection enclosure 10 comprises a plurality of walls 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E defining between them the disinfection volume 24.

[0049] More specifically, the walls 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F define between them a closed disinfection volume 24, for example of parallelepiped shape.

[0050] In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the plurality of walls includes, for example, a first side wall 22A and a second side wall 22B opposite each other, a bottom 22C and a hood 22E opposite the bottom 22C and also a base 22D defining a third side wall and a door 22F (not shown in [Fig. 1]) defining a fourth side wall opposite the base 22D.

[0051] In particular, the hood 22E and the bottom 22C are for example perpendicular to the two side walls 22A, 22B. Similarly, the base 22D and the door 22F are for example perpendicular to the two side walls 22A, 22B, to the hood 22E and to the bottom 22C.

[0052] In a non-illustrated variant, the disinfection enclosure 10 comprises a single wall 22 delimiting the disinfection volume 24, which is for example cylindrical or spherical.

[0053] The UV radiation generation device 26, preferably UV-C, is configured to generate UV radiation in the disinfection volume 24.

[0054] For example, the UV radiation generation device 26 comprises a plurality of UV radiation sources 30 arranged inside the disinfection enclosure 10, and for example on at least one of the walls 22, for example at at least one of the lateral edges of the base 22D as illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0055] Each UV-C radiation source 30 is, for example, a mercury lamp generating UV-C radiation. In particular, each mercury lamp 30 is capable of using mercury to excite a gas and produce UV-C ultraviolet radiation.

[0056] By UV-C radiation, we mean radiation characterized by a wavelength between 200 and 280 nm.

[0057] Alternatively, each 30 source of UV-C radiation is an LED lamp (Light-Emitting Diode).

[0058] The identification unit 28 is positioned so as to identify the medical instrument 12 only when the medical instrument 12 is positioned in the disinfection volume 24.

[0059] By "identify", we mean more specifically the reading of identification information for medical instrument 12.

[0060] In particular, when the medical instrument 12 is positioned outside the disinfection volume 24, the identification unit 28 cannot identify it.

[0061] In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the identification unit 28 is positioned in the disinfection volume 24.

[0062] More particularly, in the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.1], the identification unit 28 is fixed to the base 22D of the disinfection enclosure 10.

[0063] Alternatively, the identification unit 28 is positioned outside the disinfection volume 24. For example, the identification unit 28 is fixed to an outer wall of the disinfection enclosure 10 or is positioned at a distance from the disinfection enclosure 10, for example by a support arm.

[0064] The identification unit 28 defines, for example, an identification volume 32.

[0065] By identification volume, we mean the volume within which the identification unit 28 is able to identify an object positioned in said identification volume 32.

[0066] In particular, an object positioned outside the identification volume 32 cannot be identified by the identification unit 28.

[0067] The identification volume 32 is preferably at least partially included in the disinfection volume 24.

[0068] For example, the identification unit 28 includes a radio-frequency identification reader 34 disposed inside the disinfection volume 24. The radio-frequency identification reader 34 is configured to read the identification information from the identification tag 21 attached to the medical instrument 12.

[0069] The radio-identification reader 34 preferably defines the identification volume 32.

[0070] The identification volume 32 extends for example around the radio-identification reader 34.

[0071] More specifically, the identification unit 28 is configured to identify the medical instrument 12 when the identification module 21 attached to the medical instrument 12 is positioned in the identification volume 32.

[0072] In particular, in the case of an identification module 21 with a low-frequency RFID chip intended to be read by the radio-identification reader 34, the identification volume 32 is, for example, about 10 cm3.

[0073] On the other hand, in the case of an identification tag 21 with a UHF chip intended to be read by the radio-identification reader 34, by "in proximity", the identification volume 32 is for example greater than 1 m3.

[0074] Advantageously, the disinfection enclosure 10 further includes a support 36 configured to hold the medical instrument 12 inside the disinfection volume 24.

[0075] Preferably, the support 36 is configured to hold the entire medical instrument 12 inside the disinfection volume 24.

[0076] In other words, when the medical instrument 12 is held by the holding support 36, all the elements constituting the medical instrument 12 are arranged inside the disinfection volume 24.

[0077] In particular, the active part 14, the connecting part 16, the handle 18 and the connector 20 are entirely kept inside the disinfection volume 24.

[0078] More specifically, the two ends of the connecting part 16 are located inside the disinfection volume 24, when the medical instrument 12 is held by the holding support 36.

[0079] Advantageously, the retaining support 36 is configured to position the identification module 21 attached to the medical instrument 12 inside the identification volume 32 of the identification unit 28.

[0080] For this purpose, as illustrated in [Fig. 1], the support 36 includes for example a first element 38 configured to position the identification module 21 attached to the medical instrument 12 inside the identification volume 32 of the identification unit 28.

[0081] More particularly, the first element 38 is configured to receive a portion of the connecting part 16, so as to position the identification module 21 fixed to the connecting part 16 inside the identification volume 32.

[0082] For example, the first element 38 is fixed to the base 22D of the disinfection enclosure 10.

[0083] Advantageously, the first element 38 is configured to hold a portion of the connecting part 16 of the medical instrument 12, preferably the portion of the connecting part 16 carrying the identification module 21 so as to position the identification module 21 opposite the identification surface 32.

[0084] In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the retaining support 36 comprises a plurality of secondary elements 40, 42. Each Secondary element 40, 42 is preferably configured to hold a portion of the medical instrument 12, such as the active part 14, the handle 18 and / or the connector 20.

[0085] Advantageously, the disinfection enclosure 10 further includes an additional identification unit 44 of the user and / or patient for the acquisition of identification information of the user of the medical device 12 and / or identification of the patient for whom the medical device 12 was used.

[0086] The additional identification unit 44 is preferably located outside the disinfection volume 24. In other words, the additional identification unit 44 is not located inside the disinfection enclosure 10.

[0087] For example, as illustrated in [Fig.2], the additional identification unit 44 is arranged on the external face of the door 22F of the disinfection enclosure 10.

[0088] In a particular embodiment, the additional identification unit 44 is a barcode reader, for example configured to read a barcode from a badge of a user using the medical device 12 and / or the barcode from a patient's record and / or the barcode from a patient's record for which the medical device 12 has been used previously.

[0089] The identification information of the user of the medical device 12 and / or the identification of the patient includes, for example, the name and surname of the user, respectively of the patient.

[0090] Advantageously, the disinfection chamber 10 further comprises a processor 46 suitable for implementing a disinfection cycle inside the disinfection volume.

[0091] The processor 46 is an electronic circuit designed to manipulate and / or transform data represented by electronic or physical quantities in processor registers and / or memories into other similar data corresponding to physical data in register memories or other types of display devices, transmission devices or storage devices.

[0092] As specific examples, the processor 46 is implemented as a programmable logic component, such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or as an integrated circuit, such as an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0093] Alternatively, when the method is implemented in the form of one or more software programs, i.e., in the form of a computer program, also called a computer program product, it is further capable of being stored on a computer-readable medium, not shown. The computer-readable medium is, for example, a medium capable of storing electronic instructions and being connected to a bus of a computer system. For example, the readable medium is an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, ROM, RAM, any type of non-volatile memory (e.g., FLASH or NVRAM), or a magnetic card. A computer program containing software instructions is then stored on the readable medium.

[0094] Preferably, the processor 46 is configured to associate the identification information of the medical instrument 12 with disinfection characterization information.

[0095] Disinfection characterization information includes, for example, the disinfection status.

[0096] In particular, the disinfection status includes a timestamp of the disinfection and / or the state of the disinfection, for example an "OK" or a "Success" if the disinfection cycle went well and a "NOK" or a "Failure" and the reason for the failure if the disinfection cycle failed.

[0097] For this purpose, the processor 46 is preferably connected to the identification unit 28, for example by a wired connection.

[0098] Preferably, the processor 46 is also configured so as not to trigger the disinfection cycle if no medical instrument 12 has been previously identified in the disinfection enclosure 10 by the identification unit 28.

[0099] Furthermore, advantageously, the processor 46 is also configured to associate the identification information of the medical device 12 with the identification information of the user of the medical device 12 and / or the identification of the patient for whom the medical device 12 was used.

[0100] For this purpose, the processor 46 is preferably connected to the additional identification unit 44 of the user and / or patient, for example by a wired connection.

[0101] Advantageously, the identification information of the medical instrument 12, and preferably the disinfection characterization information and advantageously the identification information of the user of the medical instrument 12 and / or the patient identification associated with it, are stored in a memory of the processor 46.

[0102] The processor 46 is preferably configured to generate a report 47 including all associated information.

[0103] In particular, report 47 includes at least the identification information of the medical device 12 and the disinfection characterization information, and preferably also the identification information of the user of the medical device 12 and / or the identification of the patient for whom the medical device 12 was used.

[0104] Advantageously, the disinfection unit 10 further includes a display and / or printing and / or export unit 48 of the identification information of the medical instrument 12.

[0105] More specifically, the display and / or printing and / or export unit 48 is configured to display and / or print the report 47 generated by the processor 46 or to transmit the report 47 generated by the processor 46, for example by a digital export.

[0106] A disinfection process 100 of the medical instrument 12 in the disinfection chamber 10 will now be described with reference to [Fig.3].

[0107] First, in a first step 102, a disinfection chamber 10 as described above is provided. The door 22F is opened, so as to give access to the disinfection volume 24.

[0108] Then, in a second step 104, a medical instrument 12 intended to be disinfected is positioned in the disinfection volume 24 of the disinfection enclosure 10.

[0109] In particular, the medical instrument 12 is positioned entirely inside the disinfection volume 24 and is positioned so as to be held by the holding support 36.

[0110] More specifically, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, thanks to the support 36, the identification module 21 attached to the medical instrument 12 is positioned in the identification volume 32 of the identification unit 28.

[0111] In a third step 106, the medical instrument 12 is identified in the disinfection volume 24 by the identification unit 28.

[0112] In particular, the identification unit 28, and more particularly the radio-identification reader 34, reads the identification information of the medical instrument 12, more particularly contained in the identification module 21.

[0113] During this third step 106, the identification information of the medical instrument 12 is preferably sent to the processor 46.

[0114] Door 22F is then closed.

[0115] In a particular embodiment, the method 100 further includes a step 107 of acquiring user and / or patient identification information, in particular by the additional identification unit 44.

[0116] In a step 108, the disinfection cycle of the medical instrument 12 is started only when identification information has been read by the identification unit 28.

[0117] In particular, the processor 46 launches the disinfection cycle only if it has received identification information from the medical instrument 12.

[0118] The disinfection cycle is adapted to disinfect all or part of the medical instrument 12 positioned in the disinfection volume 24.

[0119] More specifically, the processor 46, for example, gives a command to the UV radiation generation device 26. The command includes, for example, the cycle duration and the UV-C radiation dose.

[0120] Advantageously, the processor 46 adapts its command order to the UV radiation generation device 26 according to the identified medical instrument 12.

[0121] Advantageously, the process 100 includes a step 110 of associating the identification information of the medical device 12 with the disinfection characterization information, and preferably also with the user and / or patient identification information collected in step 108.

[0122] Preferably, the identification information of the medical instrument 12, and advantageously also the information during this step 110, are stored.

[0123] During this step 110, the processor 46 generates, for example, the report 47 containing all the associated information.

[0124] Preferably, process 100 further includes a step 112 of printing and / or displaying and / or exporting this associated information. For example, this step 112 includes printing a physical and / or digital receipt containing report 47. By reference, this step 112 also includes saving this information.

[0125] Such a disinfection chamber 10 is particularly advantageous for the disinfection of medical instruments 12, and in particular of medical probes.

[0126] In particular, thanks to the identification unit 28 positioned in the disinfection chamber 10, the medical instrument 12 is identified only when it is positioned in the chamber. Thus, the identified instrument 12 is certainly the same one that is disinfected.

[0127] Furthermore, the association of the identification information of the medical instrument 12 with other information, in particular that of characterization of disinfection and possibly that of identification of the user and / or the patient, makes it possible to ensure improved traceability of the use and disinfection of the medical instrument 12.

[0128] In addition, the generation of a report 47 containing all of this information provides accurate and reliable documentation of the use and disinfection of the medical instrument 12, which facilitates the traceability of the use and disinfection of the medical instrument 12.

[0129] A person skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments and variants described above can be combined with each other provided that they are technically compatible.

Claims

Demands

1. Disinfection chamber (10) for a medical instrument (12) comprising: - a disinfection volume (24) delimited by at least one wall (22A-F), - a UV radiation generation device (26) configured to generate UV radiation in the disinfection volume (24), and - an identification unit (28) positioned so as to read identification information of a medical instrument (12) only when the medical instrument (12) is positioned in the disinfection volume (24).

2. Disinfection chamber (10) according to claim 1, comprising a holding support (36) configured to hold the medical instrument (12) inside the disinfection volume (24).

3. Disinfection chamber (10) according to claim 2, wherein the medical instrument (12) comprises an identification module (21) comprising the identification information of the medical instrument (12), the identification unit (28) defining an identification volume (32), the holding support (36) being configured to hold the medical instrument (12) so as to position the identification module (21) attached to the medical instrument (12) in the identification volume (32) of the identification unit (28).

4. Disinfection chamber (10) according to claim 3, wherein the identification unit (28) of the medical instrument (12) includes a radio-identification reader (34) defining the identification volume (32).

5. Disinfection chamber (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a processor (46) configured to associate medical device identification information (12) with disinfection characterization information.

6. Disinfection chamber (10) according to claim 5, wherein the disinfection characterization information includes at least the disinfection status.

7. Disinfection chamber (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising an additional user and / or patient identification unit (44) disposed to the outside of the disinfection volume (24) for the acquisition of user identification information of the medical device and / or identification of the patient for whom the medical device (12) was used.

8. Disinfection chamber (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a display and / or printing and / or export unit (48) of medical device identification information.

9. A method for disinfecting a medical instrument (12) comprising the following successive steps: a. providing an enclosure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, b. positioning the medical instrument (12) inside the disinfection volume (24), c. reading the identification information of the medical instrument (12) in the disinfection volume (24) by the identification unit (28), and d. starting a disinfection cycle of the medical instrument (12) only when identification information has been read by the identification unit (28).

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of associating medical device identification information (12) with disinfection characterization information.

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