Method for operating a bag-producing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a bag-producing device, in which method information about a medical instrument (2) to be packaged in a bag is read using an information reading device (1) for a process for producing the bag, in which method a suitable bag length is calculated using a computer unit (3) based on a length of the medical instrument (2), and in which method the bag with the calculated bag length for the instrument (2) provided with a unique identifier (2.1) is produced using a cutting and sealing device (4). According to the invention, it is provided that the identifier (2.1) of the instrument (2) is read by the information reading device (1) and transmitted to the computer unit (3).

Description

[0001] Method for operating a bag-making device

[0002] The invention relates to a method for operating a bag-making device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] A method of the type mentioned at the outset, by which (and this also applies to the inventive solution explained below) so-called flat or side-gusseted bags are particularly preferably produced from so-called roll film, is generally known, so that no special printed evidence is required in this regard. In this known method, information about a medical instrument to be packaged in the bag is read in by an information reading device for a process for producing a bag. Furthermore, in this known method, a suitable bag length is calculated by a computer unit based on the length of the medical instrument (the bag must always be larger than the instrument by a predetermined amount, thus having an optimal size).Furthermore, in this known method, a cutting and sealing device is used to produce a pouch with the calculated pouch length for the instrument, which is provided with a unique identifier. In this known solution, a type of concordance list is regularly provided (usually simply hung next to the device), in which an instrument length is linked to information that can be read by the information reading device.For example, if a 14 cm long instrument is to be packaged, the user uses the information input device to read in information associated with the aforementioned 14 cm, which is then converted by the computer unit into an actual bag length to be produced, taking into account any required overhangs, and finally, based on this calculated length, the actual bag of the required length is produced using the cutting and sealing device.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of improving a method for operating a bag-making device of the type mentioned at the outset. In particular, the efficiency of the aforementioned method is to be further increased.

[0005] This problem is solved by a method of the type mentioned at the outset by the features listed in the characterizing portion of claim 1. 15

[0006] According to the invention, it is therefore provided that the identifier of the instrument is read in by the information reading device and transmitted to the computer unit.

[0007] 20

[0008] In other words, the solution according to the invention is characterized by the fact that it is no longer necessary to read the length of each medical instrument itself, but only a unique identifier of the medical instrument to be packaged into the information reading device. This requirement 25 has the considerable advantage that the user only has to determine and enter the actual length of a specific medical instrument once at most, but in the future can access a stored link between the unique identifier on the medical instrument and its actual length 30.If a medical instrument is to be packaged and its unique identifier has already been read in, the bag-making device knows the medical instrument and thus also its length, which is then directly transmitted to the cutting and sealing unit without the user having to obtain the length information again. If the bag-making device according to the invention is additionally connected to a database that links the unique identifier with the length information, which is particularly preferred, then, as will be explained in more detail below, the one-time entry of the actual length of the instrument can even be dispensed with, which further increases the efficiency of the bag-making device according to the invention, especially in its typical use in hospitals.

[0009] 15 Other advantageous developments of the method according to the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0010] The method according to the invention, including its advantageous further developments according to dependent claims 20, is explained in more detail below with reference to the graphic representation of a preferred embodiment.

[0011] It shows schematically

[0012] 25

[0013] Figure 1 shows the computer unit connected on one side to the cutting and sealing device and on the other side to the information reading device, as well as the medical instrument provided with the unique identifier. 30 The elements shown in Figure 1 serve to implement the inventive method for operating a bag-making device:

[0014] In this process, information about a medical instrument 2 to be packaged in a bag is read using an information reading device 5 1 for a process to produce a bag (not shown separately in Figure 1 because it is readily imaginable). It is particularly preferred that the information reading device 1 be a reading device 10, preferably a barcode reader, an RFID reader, or a QR code reader, which is also preferably operated with one hand. Furthermore, it is preferably preferred that the medical instrument 2 is used in operations on living beings, preferably humans.

[0015] Furthermore, a suitable bag length is calculated based on the length of the medical instrument 2 using a computer unit 3. It is particularly preferred that the computer unit 3 calculates a bag length that is always greater than the length of the medical instrument 2.

[0016] Furthermore, a cutting and sealing device 4 produces a pouch of the calculated length for the instrument 2, which is provided with a unique identifier 2.1. More precisely, it is preferably provided that the pouch is at least cut to length and sealed by the cutting and sealing device 4. It is also preferably provided that the identifier 2.1, or in particular the so-called product identification number (see https: / / de.wikipedia.org / wZindex.php?title=Unique_Device_Identification&oldid=246136502), is used on the medical instrument 2 – preferably, depending on the information reading device 1, a barcode, an RFID code, or a QR code.

[0017] Looking at it in more detail, it is still preferred that the identifier 2.1 of the instrument 2 is read in by the information reading device 1 and transmitted to the computer unit 3.

[0018] It is further preferably provided that information about the length of the medical instrument 2 is either already stored in the computer unit 3 (hereinafter referred to as the first case) or is communicated to the computer unit 3 preferably by manual input (hereinafter referred to as the second case).

[0019] 15

[0020] In the first case, it is also particularly preferred that information about the length of the medical instrument 2 is stored in a database and made available to the computer unit 3.

[0021] 20

[0022] In the second case, it is preferably provided that information about the length of the medical instrument 2, communicated to the computer unit 3 via input, is permanently stored for a subsequent process to produce a bag. Furthermore, in this case, it is preferably provided that the information about the length of the medical instrument 2, communicated via input, is optionally stored either in the computer unit 3 or in a database.

[0023] In all cases, it is further preferably provided that the information about a medical instrument 2, together with the information about its length, is stored as a (related) data set. It is also particularly preferably provided that an instrument management system is used as the database.

[0024] The inventive procedure ultimately proceeds as follows: 5

[0025] First, the information reading device 1 reads the unique identifier 2.1 attached to the currently available medical instrument 2 and transmits it to the computer unit 3 (see the corresponding dashed line 10 in Figure 1). If this identifier 2.1 is not known to the computer unit 3, the user is prompted to provide the computer unit 3 with the actual length of the medical instrument 2 (which can be easily measured, for example, with a ruler or similar). If, on the other hand, the computer unit 3 already knows the identifier 2.1, the actual length is determined from the corresponding, stored data record. In both cases, the computer unit 3 then knows the actual length of the medical instrument, so that the computer unit 3 can subsequently calculate the appropriate bag length for this medical instrument, i.e., the length that complies with regulations.Once this has been done, this bag length is transmitted to the cutting and sealing device 4 (see the corresponding dashed line in Figure 1), which then produces a corresponding 25 mm bag. After the medical instrument is placed in the correctly sized bag, it is finally sealed at its open end for the subsequent sterilization process.

[0026] Reference symbol list

[0027] 1 Information reading device

[0028] 2 medical instruments

[0029] 2.1 unique identifier

[0030] 3 Computer unit

[0031] 4 Cutting and sealing device

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for operating a bag-making device, in which information about a medical instrument (2) to be packaged in the bag is read in by an information reading device (1) for a process for producing a bag, in which a suitable bag length is calculated by a computer unit (3) based on a length of the medical instrument (2), in which the bag with the calculated bag length is produced for the instrument (2) which is provided with a unique identifier (2.1) by a cutting and sealing device (4), characterized by the fact that the identifier (2.1) of the instrument (2) is read in by the information reading device (1) and transmitted to the computer unit (3).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that information about the length of the medical instrument (2) is optionally already stored in the computer unit (3) or is communicated to the computer unit (3) by input.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that information about the length of the medical instrument (2) is stored in a database and made available to the computer unit (3).

4. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that information about the length of the medical instrument (2) communicated to the computer unit (3) by input is permanently stored for a subsequent process for producing a bag.

5. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the information communicated by input about the length of the medical instrument (2) is optionally stored in the computer unit (3) or in a database.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the information about a medical instrument (2) is stored together with the information about its length as a data set.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an instrument management system is used as the database.

8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a reading device, preferably a barcode reader, an RFID reader or a QR code reader, is used as the information reading device (1).

9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a barcode, an RFID code or a QR code is optionally used as the identifier (2.1) on the medical instrument (2).

10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the information reading device (1) is operated with one hand.

Images