Video Analysis for Decontamination Mixing Validation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decontamination systems for medical devices and surfaces in clinical environments rely heavily on user input for procedural validation, which can lead to errors and inconsistencies, as they lack direct verification of critical steps in the decontamination process.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize video stream analysis, specifically with a trained neural network, to automate the validation of mixing procedures in two-part disinfectant systems, providing real-time feedback and logging of correct or incorrect actions, ensuring proper mixing and minimizing user errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user input is used for procedural validation, then the system is simple to operate, but errors and inconsistencies occur due to lack of direct verification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual user input and paper-based audit trails with an automated optical detection system using cameras and image recognition algorithms. The system automatically captures images of procedural steps, analyzes them through neural networks, and validates compliance without requiring user input, thereby eliminating human error while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The validation system performs self-verification by automatically capturing, analyzing, and validating procedural steps without external intervention. The system independently monitors mixing procedures, scrunching actions, and other critical steps, generating validation records autonomously without requiring user input or manual documentation.
2Measurement precision
If automated video stream analysis is implemented, then measurement precision of procedural steps is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs computer vision technology with neural networks to automatically analyze video streams and verify procedural steps. The system captures video footage of mixing procedures and uses image recognition algorithms to precisely measure and validate actions such as mixing duration, scrunching intensity, and product application, replacing manual observation with automated optical measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes color change detection as a visual indicator of proper mixing. The neural network analyzes color transformations in the video stream to verify that reagents have been adequately mixed, providing a simple visual cue that can be automatically detected and validated without complex measurement equipment.
3Productivity
If manual auditing is used, then the system is easy to operate, but productivity is reduced due to time-consuming validation processes
Solution Approach 1:
The automated validation system operates continuously alongside the decontamination process, constantly monitoring and validating procedural steps without interruption. The system processes video streams in real-time, providing immediate validation feedback that eliminates the need for separate manual auditing steps, thereby maintaining continuous productivity while ensuring compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces time-consuming manual audit processes with automated real-time validation. Electronic logging of all procedural steps occurs automatically during the decontamination process, eliminating the need for separate documentation and review steps, thereby significantly improving productivity while maintaining ease of operation through automated processes.
4Loss of information
If electronic logging and real-time feedback are implemented, then loss of information is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual audit trail documentation with automated electronic logging that captures all procedural steps through video analysis. The neural network automatically records validation results, mixing parameters, and compliance data in digital format, eliminating paper-based systems and ensuring complete information retention without requiring manual data entry or storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to users during the decontamination process, immediately notifying them of validation results and any deviations from proper procedure. This instantaneous feedback loop ensures that information about procedural compliance is immediately available and acted upon, eliminating information loss that occurs with delayed or manual reporting.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for validating a mixing procedure in a process using a two- part disinfectant system. The disinfectant system comprises a first part comprising a first reagent in a carrier medium and a second part which is miscible with the first part and which comprises a second reagent in a carrier medium, and the first reagent and the second reagent will react when mixed to provide a disinfecting composition. The method comprises capturing a video stream of a work area in which the mixing procedure is carried out by a user, analysing the video stream to identify one or more mixing events in the video stream that correspond with the mixing procedure being correctly performed, determining, based on the or each identified mixing event, if the mixing procedure has been completed, and upon determining that the mixing procedure has been completed, causing a corresponding indication to be provided to the user. The method may include alerting the user to potential errors and/or logging data to provide an audit trail.