Robotic Instrument Sterilization With RFID Tracking and Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing manual process of cleaning and sterilizing medical and dental instruments is time-consuming, laborious, and poses occupational hazards, particularly for large or bulky instruments, requiring significant technician time and skill, with inadequate automation and documentation.
Innovation Solution
An automated system comprising robotic elements and cleaning/sterilization devices that traverse a work area, transport instruments between devices, and operate them, using RFID tags for tracking and documentation, with robotic arms or wheeled/aerial robots for handling and sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual cleaning and sterilization process is used, then instruments can be cleaned and sterilized, but the process is time-consuming and laborious requiring significant technician time
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the robotic element autonomously performs instrument handling, transport, and sterilization operations without requiring continuous human intervention. The robotic arm automatically picks up instruments, transports them through the sterilization chamber, and places them in designated locations, allowing the system to serve itself and eliminating the need for manual technician operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system (technician hands performing cleaning and sterilization tasks) with an automated robotic mechanical system. The robotic element with gripper mechanisms substitutes human hands, and the automated transport mechanism replaces manual carrying, thereby increasing productivity while reducing technician time requirements.
2Reliability
If technician manually handles instruments, then cleaning and sterilization can be performed, but occupational hazards arise from potential punctures or cuts
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic element serves as an intermediary between the technician and the potentially hazardous instruments. The robot's gripper and automated handling mechanisms act as a mediator that eliminates direct human contact with contaminated or sharp instruments, thereby removing the occupational hazard of punctures or cuts while maintaining reliable sterilization processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the hazardous handling function from the technician and transfers it to the robotic system. By taking out the manual instrument manipulation task from human operators and assigning it to the robotic element, the system eliminates the harmful factors associated with manual handling while preserving the essential sterilization function.
3Reliability
If technician documents sterilization process manually, then legal liability requirements are met, but additional time is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated feedback mechanisms where sensors and tracking systems continuously monitor the sterilization process and automatically record data including temperature, pressure, duration, and instrument identification. This feedback loop provides real-time documentation that satisfies legal liability requirements without requiring manual technician intervention, thereby eliminating the additional time burden of manual documentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual documentation process with an automated digital recording system. The robotic system integrates sensors and control systems that automatically log sterilization parameters and instrument information, substituting the technician's manual writing or data entry with automated electronic documentation, thus meeting legal requirements without time loss.
4Reliability
If large or bulky instruments are sterilized individually, then complete sterilization is achieved, but efficiency of the technician decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic element is designed with universal handling capabilities that can accommodate instruments of various sizes and types. The gripper mechanism and transport system are configured to handle both small and large instruments using the same automated process, eliminating the need for separate manual procedures and maintaining high productivity even when sterilizing bulky items.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic adjustment capabilities where the robotic gripper and transport mechanisms can adapt their configuration based on the size and shape of the instrument being handled. This dynamic flexibility allows the same automated system to efficiently process diverse instrument types without compromising sterilization completeness or reducing productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated system and method for efficiently cleaning, organizing, and sterilizing medical instruments including but not limited to surgical, dental, and orthodontic instruments. The sterilization center includes at least one robotic arm or robotic element which is disposed over or near a workspace comprising a plurality of devices for cleaning, maintaining, and sterilizing instruments. The at least one robotic arm has the ability to move or traverse across the workspace and transfer each medical instrument as it completes each step in the sterilization process. The automated system is scalable and customizable, allowing it to be used in a variety of different office or hospital configurations. The system also includes an RFID reader which is configured to scan each instrument, allowing a user to track the sterilization process of any one particular instrument or be notified when any set of instruments has completed the sterilization process and is ready for use.