Endoscope Reprocessing Risk Estimation for Cross-Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to effectively manage the risk of horizontal or lateral cross-contamination of medical instruments during reprocessing and transportation, which can lead to the transfer of problematic pathogens between instruments, posing significant health risks.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that estimate cross-contamination risk by tracking instrument usage and reprocessing data, applying cross-contamination probability factors, and threshold risk levels to determine if instruments should be reused or discarded, with alerts for potential infections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If medical instruments are reused after reprocessing, then productivity is improved by reducing waste and cost, but the risk of cross-contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous monitoring and tracking of instrument usage, reprocessing, and patient data. The contamination risk calculation system continuously updates risk assessments based on new data, and the alert system provides feedback when threshold violations occur, enabling real-time decision-making about instrument reuse or disposal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary contamination risk assessment system between the reprocessing process and instrument reuse. This intermediary layer calculates contamination probabilities based on multiple data sources and acts as a decision-making mediator that determines whether instruments are safe for reuse, thereby enabling instrument reuse while mitigating contamination risks
2Object-affected harmful factors
If comprehensive tracking and risk assessment systems are implemented, then cross-contamination risk is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into a unified platform: patient data management, instrument tracking, reprocessing monitoring, contamination risk calculation, and alert generation. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate systems for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The complex risk assessment process is segmented into manageable components: data collection modules, data storage structures, contamination probability calculation algorithms, and threshold-based alert systems. Each component handles a specific aspect of the overall risk assessment, making the system more manageable and maintainable
3Object-affected harmful factors
If instruments are discarded instead of reused, then cross-contamination risk is eliminated, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the decision parameter from binary (reuse or discard) to a continuous contamination probability value. By calculating specific contamination probabilities and comparing them against thresholds, the system optimizes the balance between instrument reuse and disposal, minimizing waste while maintaining safety
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a computer-implemented method including: obtaining data identifying a plurality of medical instruments; obtaining data representing use of the plurality of medical instruments in a plurality of first procedures on a plurality of first patients; storing, for each of the used medical instruments, first data identifying the patient on which the medical instrument has been used; reprocessing the used medical instruments; storing, for each of the reprocessed medical instruments, second data identifying at least one reprocessing modality; determining, for each of the plurality of first patients, a first indicator representing whether a first patient carries a pathogen; defining, for each reprocessing modality, a first cross-contamination probability factor; and combining the first indicators, the first data, the second data, and the first cross-contamination probability factors to determine, for each of the reprocessed medical instruments, a contamination probability that the respective medical instrument carries the problematic pathogen.