1. Chips are good for your health!Chips are good for your health!
Glyn Jones, Savant EnterprisesGlyn Jones, Savant Enterprises
2. AgendaAgenda
IntroductionIntroduction
Overview of developments in:Overview of developments in:
Instrument tracking using RFIDInstrument tracking using RFID
Sterilisation super centresSterilisation super centres
3. Who are Savant?Who are Savant?
Based in Carnforth, Lancs.Based in Carnforth, Lancs.
Established for over 25 yearsEstablished for over 25 years
40 staff, Employee Owned40 staff, Employee Owned
Healthcare IT specialists:Healthcare IT specialists:
PULSE – NBS Core SystemPULSE – NBS Core System
Hematos – National Patient DiagnosticsHematos – National Patient Diagnostics
MEDIRisk – Risk ManagementMEDIRisk – Risk Management
PDA based incident recordingPDA based incident recording
4. InvolvementInvolvement
Commissioned by Vernon-Carus toCommissioned by Vernon-Carus to
provide a track and trace solution forprovide a track and trace solution for
surgical trays and instrumentsurgical trays and instrument
Determine requirementsDetermine requirements
Identify solutionsIdentify solutions
Implement systemImplement system
Get system accredited for April 2006Get system accredited for April 2006
5. Instrument trackingInstrument tracking
Why track instruments?Why track instruments?
TraceabilityTraceability
OwnershipOwnership
Asset managementAsset management
Options available:Options available:
Nothing - just track traysNothing - just track trays
EtchingEtching
Dot peenDot peen
Data matrixData matrix
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
7. EtchingEtching
ProsPros
Can be done on-siteCan be done on-site
Can etch any messageCan etch any message
Can be read by eyeCan be read by eye
ConsCons
InflexibleInflexible
Restricted data holdingRestricted data holding
Fiddly to applyFiddly to apply
Will wear over timeWill wear over time
Must be visibleMust be visible
Needs good lightingNeeds good lighting
Not machine readableNot machine readable
8. Dot peenDot peen
ProsPros
More data can be heldMore data can be held
Long term markLong term mark
Doesn’t break passivation layerDoesn’t break passivation layer
ConsCons
Needs specialised equipment to applyNeeds specialised equipment to apply
and readand read
Must be visible to be readMust be visible to be read
Needs good lightingNeeds good lighting
Dot Peen Reader
Mark being applied
9. Data matrixData matrix
ProsPros
More data can be heldMore data can be held
ConsCons
Needs specialised equipment to applyNeeds specialised equipment to apply
and readand read
Will wear over timeWill wear over time
Must be visibleMust be visible
Needs good lightingNeeds good lighting
10. RFIDRFID
ProsPros
Can hold kilobits of dataCan hold kilobits of data
Can be read even if obscured by tray wrapCan be read even if obscured by tray wrap
or soilor soil
ConsCons
Needs specialised equipment to apply andNeeds specialised equipment to apply and
readread
Metal and water compromise RFID functionMetal and water compromise RFID function
11. Which way forward?Which way forward?
No one clear technology winnerNo one clear technology winner
Given:Given:
Move to 3Move to 3rdrd
party decontaminationparty decontamination
Production lineProduction line
AutomationAutomation
Funds available for new instrumentsFunds available for new instruments
Increased demand for shared dataIncreased demand for shared data
Hospital->Clinic->Theatre->Service->RepairHospital->Clinic->Theatre->Service->Repair
Gaps in data chainGaps in data chain
SharpeningSharpening
Filter replacementFilter replacement
RFID the only option if I could work withRFID the only option if I could work with
metalmetal
13. MBBSMBBS
Swiss based companySwiss based company
Pedigree in watch industryPedigree in watch industry
Grey importsGrey imports
TrackingTracking
Developed their METALuCIDDeveloped their METALuCID®®
technology for watchestechnology for watches
“…“…unique ability to read and writeunique ability to read and write
through metals and alloys such as non-through metals and alloys such as non-
magnetic steels, alloys containingmagnetic steels, alloys containing
titanium or noble metals”titanium or noble metals”
14. MBBS’ TechnologyMBBS’ Technology
Operates at 125KHzOperates at 125KHz
PassivePassive
Read and WriteRead and Write
2Kbit capacity2Kbit capacity
7mm diameter, 3mm deep7mm diameter, 3mm deep
-20-20oo
C to +140C to +140oo
C for 18 minutesC for 18 minutes
Sealed to IP68 (DIN EN 60529)Sealed to IP68 (DIN EN 60529)
A body 1 mm in diameter must not be able toA body 1 mm in diameter must not be able to
enterenter
Water must not enter in a quantity that couldWater must not enter in a quantity that could
have harmful effectshave harmful effects
17. Trial ScopeTrial Scope
Carried out at SSU and Theatres atCarried out at SSU and Theatres at
LGI with NHS Estates approvalLGI with NHS Estates approval
Graham Cox,Graham Cox, Decontamination andDecontamination and
Sterile Services ManagerSterile Services Manager
Tracking and tracingTracking and tracing neuro-surgicalneuro-surgical
containers as they moved throughcontainers as they moved through
Wash roomWash room
Clean roomClean room
DespatchDespatch
Theatre storesTheatre stores
TheatreTheatre
18. Trial Hardware – RFID TagsTrial Hardware – RFID Tags
RFID chip and antenna
(5mm external diameter)
Container label
(40mm wide)
Metzenbaum scissors (180mm long)
20. Trial detailsTrial details
20 staff trained20 staff trained
Experts for each shiftExperts for each shift
15 containers tagged15 containers tagged
5 scanners/PCs installed5 scanners/PCs installed
Subsequently secured using steel cable tiesSubsequently secured using steel cable ties
Delivery PC went AWOLDelivery PC went AWOL
Tags continuously sterilized for 3 monthsTags continuously sterilized for 3 months
3 months of continuous data collection3 months of continuous data collection
23. Trial conclusionTrial conclusion
Trial successful in determining issuesTrial successful in determining issues
and benefits of RFID tracking andand benefits of RFID tracking and
tracingtracing
Invaluable experienceInvaluable experience
Bench readerBench reader
Faster write-timesFaster write-times
Proved through-metal was viableProved through-metal was viable
Paper published by NATN and CSJPaper published by NATN and CSJ
25. AssureAssure
State of the Art decontaminationState of the Art decontamination
Washers – RO Water at 96Washers – RO Water at 96oo
CC
Sterilizers – “Clean Steam”, pH12Sterilizers – “Clean Steam”, pH12
GPS based logisiticsGPS based logisitics
Complete tracking and tracingComplete tracking and tracing
Tray trackingTray tracking
Eventually instrument trackingEventually instrument tracking
Guaranteed turn round times and fast trackGuaranteed turn round times and fast track
Customer web portalCustomer web portal
26. RFID at AssureRFID at Assure
Existing trays will be tagged with bar codes initiallyExisting trays will be tagged with bar codes initially
Hospital system compatibilityHospital system compatibility
Aims:Aims:
Trays to be RFID enabled in first 2 yearsTrays to be RFID enabled in first 2 years
Carts RFID enabled in same time frameCarts RFID enabled in same time frame
Readers at all key pointsReaders at all key points
Theatre system integrationTheatre system integration
Delivery and pick up pointsDelivery and pick up points
Data written to tags to control processData written to tags to control process
Key instruments and assets to be RFID enabled in 2-5Key instruments and assets to be RFID enabled in 2-5
yearsyears
30. ConclusionConclusion
Understanding work flow is keyUnderstanding work flow is key
Users need to be won overUsers need to be won over
RFID is the best option for surgicalRFID is the best option for surgical
inventory markinginventory marking
Through-metal works!Through-metal works!
