Medical Instrument Sterilizer WLAN for Secure Accessory Communication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilization devices for medical instruments lack secure communication methods between reprocessing devices and remotely connected accessories, relying on public wireless networks that are insecure and unreliable.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of wireless communication means within the cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilization device to create a secure wireless local area network (WLAN) using the Wi-Fi standard, allowing remote accessories to communicate safely and reliably with the device's control unit, and optionally providing internet access through an internet bridge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If public wireless networks are used for communication between reprocessing device and accessories, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability and security of communication deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated wireless communication interface as an intermediary component that establishes a direct communication link between the reprocessing device and accessories. This intermediary eliminates reliance on public wireless networks by creating a private communication channel, thereby maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving reliability and security of data transfer.
2Reliability
If wireless communication means are integrated into the device, then reliability of communication is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication interface is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a reliable communication channel and as an internet bridge for providing network access to accessories. By combining multiple functions into a single component, the patent improves communication reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Reliability
If wireless local area network is created within the device, then security of information transfer is improved, but loss of time for network setup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication interface is pre-configured and automatically activated when accessories are connected to the reprocessing device. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for manual network setup procedures, allowing accessories to join the secure wireless network immediately upon connection, thereby maintaining high security while minimizing setup time.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Cleaning, disinfecting, care and/ or sterilization device (1, 1', 1") for at least one medical, in particular dental, instrument comprising a housing (2, 2', 2"), a treatment chamber (3) for receiving the at least one medical, in particular dental, instrument, a media supply for feeding and/ or discharging media into the treatment chamber (3) and a control unit (4, 4', 4") operable to control and/ or regulate a cleaning, disinfecting, care and/ or sterilization process, wherein the control unit (4, 4', 4") comprises wireless communication means (5, 5', 5") to communicate with remote accessories (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) for the cleaning, disinfecting, care and/ or sterilization device and wherein the wireless communication means (5, 5', 5") are capable of creating a wireless local area network (11) allowing the remote accessories (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) to communicate with the control unit (4, 4', 4") of the cleaning, disinfecting, care and/ or sterilization device (1, 1', 1").