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)

6. Different Marking TechnologiesDifferent Marking Technologies

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

12. Through-metal RFIDThrough-metal RFID

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

15. RFID TrialRFID Trial

16. LGI TrialLGI Trial
 PartnersPartners
 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
 Vernon-CarusVernon-Carus
 MBBS - RFID suppliersMBBS - RFID suppliers
 Savant - software support, training, analysisSavant - software support, training, analysis
 Funded by PartnersFunded by Partners

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)

19. Trial Hardware – PC andTrial Hardware – PC and
ScannersScanners

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

21. Trial resultsTrial results

22. Trial resultsTrial results

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

24. Assure OverviewAssure Overview

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

27. Hardware – RFID
“Pen” Reader
Bench Reader
Hand Held Reader
Tray Tag

28. Labels – SterilizationLabels – Sterilization
Sterilization Label
•EN980EN980

29. ConstraintsConstraints
 Customer systemsCustomer systems
 Retro fittingRetro fitting
 Instrument ManufactureInstrument Manufacture

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!