Endoscope Cleaning Assignment for Mixed Washer Workflows
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is managing manual cleaning of endoscopes efficiently in medical facilities where cleaning apparatuses with and without protein residue removal functions are mixed, leading to inconsistent cleaning procedures and increased time requirements.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope cleaning management system that includes a cleaning apparatus management unit, identification information acquisition, a reception unit, and an assignment processing unit to manage and assign cleaning apparatuses based on the completion status and capabilities of manual cleaning steps, ensuring proper utilization of cleaning apparatuses with and without protein residue removal functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cleaning apparatuses with and without protein residue removal functions are mixedly present in medical facilities, then the facility can utilize both types of equipment, but the management of manual cleaning procedures becomes complex and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The management server provides a universal interface that works with both first cleaning apparatuses (with protein residue removal function) and second cleaning apparatuses (without this function). The server automatically identifies the apparatus type and adjusts the cleaning procedure guidance accordingly, making the system compatible with multiple apparatus types without requiring separate management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning procedure guidance is dynamically adjusted based on the identified cleaning apparatus type. When a first cleaning apparatus is detected, the system provides guidance that allows skipping certain manual cleaning steps. When a second cleaning apparatus is detected, the system provides complete manual cleaning procedures. This dynamic adaptation simplifies management by automatically adjusting to the available equipment.
2Loss of time
If all cleaning apparatuses are provided with protein residue removal function, then manual cleaning time can be reduced by skipping steps, but the facility would need to invest in upgrading all equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The management server automatically identifies which cleaning apparatus is being used and self-adjusts the cleaning procedure guidance without requiring manual configuration or worker decision-making. The system serves itself by automatically optimizing the cleaning process based on the available equipment, reducing manual cleaning time whenever possible without requiring facility investment in upgrading all apparatuses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the cleaning procedure parameters (which steps to perform or skip) based on the detected apparatus type. When a first cleaning apparatus with protein residue removal capability is detected, the system modifies the procedure to skip certain manual cleaning steps, thereby reducing cleaning time without requiring investment in upgrading other apparatuses.
3Reliability
If the system provides detailed step-by-step guidance for all cleaning steps, then cleaning thoroughness is ensured, but the time required for manual cleaning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides partial cleaning guidance based on the cleaning apparatus type. When a first cleaning apparatus with protein residue removal function is used, the system provides guidance for only the necessary manual cleaning steps, omitting steps that will be handled by the automated apparatus. This partial action approach maintains cleaning thoroughness while reducing manual cleaning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The management server performs preliminary identification of the cleaning apparatus type before providing cleaning guidance. Based on this preliminary information, the system pre-determines which manual cleaning steps are necessary and which can be skipped, allowing workers to immediately begin the optimized cleaning process without unnecessary steps, thus maintaining thoroughness while reducing time.
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning apparatus management unit manages the utilization status of a first cleaning apparatus that can clean an endoscope that has been manually cleaned in a procedure in which one or more steps are skipped and the utilization status of a second cleaning apparatus that can clean an endoscope that has been manually cleaned by performing all the steps. A reception unit receives step information indicating a completed step during the manual cleaning of the endoscope. When the received step information indicates a predetermined step that comes before a final step, an assignment processing unit determines a cleaning apparatus to be assigned to the endoscope based on the relationship between scheduled completion time of the manual cleaning when the implementation of the one or more steps that come after the predetermined step is skipped and the utilization status of a plurality of cleaning apparatuses managed by the cleaning apparatus management unit.