Patent Application
20220406443
The present disclosure relates to a technology for managing waste bins for disposing of medical devices.
In order to ensure medical safety and infection prevention, there are medical device products that are designed to be used only once. Such products are called single-use medical devices, and once those devices are used in a medical facility, the devices are disposed of in designated waste bins and collected by specialized business operators. In recent years, from the viewpoints of effective utilization of resources and reduction of medical waste, remanufacturing of used single-use medical devices has been attracting attention, in which the manufacturer/distributor is responsible for disassembling, cleaning, replacing parts, reassembling, sterilizing, etc., so that the devices can be used again.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology for managing endoscopes with statuses of “in examination use”, “used for examination”, “under cleaning”, “cleaned”, “in storage”, “in repair”, “on loan”, and “disposed”. The status of “disposed” indicates that the endoscope has been disposed of.
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-92994
Used single-use medical devices need to be properly disposed of in waste bins in order to prevent accidental reuse by users. Further, since single-use medical devices are sterilized products packaged in sterile packs, single-use medical devices have a set use-by date, and expired single-use medical devices need to be properly disposed of due to having non-guaranteed quality. For this reason, it is desirable to establish a system to manage the disposal status of medical devices and the status of waste bins.
A disposal management system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a waste bin in which a medical device is disposed of; and a waste bin management unit that manages identification information of the waste bin and identification information and a disposal date of the medical device that has been disposed of in the waste bin in association with each other. The waste bin management unit sets a scheduled date for collecting the waste bin based on at least either one of the number of medical devices that have been disposed of in the waste bin and the disposal date. The scheduled collection date in this case may include not only a date but also a time.
A disposal management system according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes: a waste bin in which a medical device is disposed of; and a waste bin management unit that manages identification information of the waste bin and identification information and a disposal date of the medical device that has been disposed of in the waste bin in association with each other. The waste bin management unit sets a collection schedule for the waste bin in reference to the type of the waste bin.
A management server according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a management server that manages a waste bin in which a medical device is disposed of, including: a waste bin management unit that manages identification information of the waste bin and identification information and a disposal date of the medical device that has been disposed of in the waste bin in association with each other. The waste bin management unit sets a scheduled date for collecting the waste bin based on at least either one of the number of medical devices that have been disposed of in the waste bin and the disposal date.
A waste bin management method according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a waste bin management method for managing a waste bin in which a medical device is disposed of, including: acquiring identification information and a disposal date of the medical device that has been disposed of in the waste bin; managing identification information of the waste bin and the identification information and the disposal date of the medical device that has been disposed of in the waste bin in association with each other; and setting a scheduled date for collecting the waste bin based on at least either one of the number of medical devices that have been disposed of in the waste bin and the disposal date.
A disposal management system according to still another aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first acquisition unit that has a function of acquiring scheduled disposal date information or use-by date information of the medical device associated with the identification information of the medical device; a second acquisition unit that has a function of acquiring disposal information indicating that the medical device having the identification information has been disposed of; and a disposal determination unit that determines whether or not the medical device has been disposed of by a scheduled disposal date or a use-by date based on the disposal information.
A disposal management system according to still another aspect of the present disclosure includes: a management unit that manages a scheduled disposal date or a use-by date of a medical device in association with identification information of one or more medical devices in a medical facility; an acquisition unit that acquires disposal information including identification information and disposal date information of a medical device that has been disposed of in the medical facility; and a disposal determination unit that identifies a medical device that has not been disposed of by a scheduled disposal date or a use-by date among the medical devices managed by the management unit based on the disposal information.
A management server according to still another aspect of the present disclosure is a management server capable of communicating with a facility system that acquires disposal information indicating that a medical device having identification information has been disposed of via the Internet, including: an acquisition unit that acquires scheduled disposal date information or use-by date information of the medical device associated with the identification information of the medical device; and a disposal determination unit that determines whether or not the medical device has been disposed of by a scheduled disposal date or a use-by date based on the disposal information.
A disposal management method according to still another aspect of the present disclosure includes: managing a scheduled disposal date or a use-by date of a medical device in association with identification information of one or more medical devices in a medical facility; acquiring disposal information including identification information and disposal date information of a medical device that has been disposed of in the medical facility; and identifying a medical device that has not been disposed of by a scheduled disposal date or a use-by date among the managed medical devices based on the disposal information.
Optional combinations of the aforementioned constituting elements and implementations of the present disclosure in the form of methods, apparatuses, systems, recording mediums, and computer programs may also be practiced as additional modes of the present disclosure.
Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings that are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several figures, in which:
The present disclosure relates to a technology for managing the disposal status of medical devices. In multiple embodiments shown below, medical devices subject to disposal management are single-use endoscopes. However, the medical devices may be any single-use medical devices other than endoscopes. Single-use endoscopes are packaged in sterile packs and transported from the manufacturing facility of the endoscopes to medical facilities in individual packaging boxes. The single-use endoscopes may be brought from the manufacturing facility to the medical facilities via a storage facility such as a warehouse. At a medical facility, single-use endoscopes are stored in a storage while being kept in individual packaging boxes, and when it is time to be used in an endoscopic examination, the single-use endoscopes are taken out from the storage and brought to an examination room. Since the single-use endoscopes are sterilized products, the expiration date is set to a date after a predetermined period from the date of manufacture, and expired single-use endoscopes must be disposed of immediately.
The facility system 2a includes a control device 10, an image recorder 14, a waste bin 16a, and a facility management unit 20a. The control device 10, the image recorder 14, the waste bin 16a, and the facility management unit 20a are communicably connected by a network 22 such as a local area network (LAN). The network 22 is connected to the Internet 4 via a router 18.
The facility management unit 20a manages a work schedule in the medical facility. In the first embodiment, the facility management unit 20a manages a schedule for endoscopic examinations. However, the facility management unit 20a may also manage a schedule for medical operations such as other types of examinations and surgeries.
In a medical facility, an order for an endoscopic examination (hereinafter also referred to as “examination order”) is generated by an ordering system (not shown) and issued to the facility management unit 20a. The examination order includes order information related to the endoscopic examination such as the scheduled date and time of the start and end of the examination, patient identification information (patient ID), an examination type, a doctor in charge of the examination, and an examination room. Based on multiple examination orders issued by the ordering system, the facility management unit 20a sets an examination schedule in which multiple endoscopic examination dates are set.
Since the issued examination orders do not include information for identifying an endoscope to be used in the examinations, the facility management unit 20a assigns endoscopes that are available at the medical facility to the multiple endoscopic examinations included in the examination schedule. When the facility management unit 20a assigns an endoscope to an examination, the identification information of the endoscope assigned to the examination (hereinafter also referred to as “scope ID”) is registered in the examination schedule. Before the start of an endoscopic examination, a medical worker such as a nurse brings an endoscope with a scope ID registered in the examination schedule into the examination room and uses the endoscope in the examination.
There are various types of endoscopes corresponding to the type of the examination in this case such as otorhinolaryngological scopes, bronchoscopes, upper gastrointestinal general-purpose scopes, duodenal scopes, and colonoscopes. Therefore, the facility management unit 20a preferably assigns an endoscope to an examination that corresponds to the type of the endoscope. For example, an upper gastrointestinal general-purpose scope is assigned to a general examination for an upper part (routine examination), and a colonoscope is assigned to a colon examination. The assignment of a proper endoscope to an examination allows for efficient execution of the examination.
In the first embodiment, the facility management unit 20a assigns a single-use endoscope to an examination included in the examination schedule and determines a scheduled date (examination date) on which the single-use endoscope is to be used. The facility management unit 20a transmits scheduled date of use information indicating the determined scheduled date for use to the external system 3a along with the scope ID of the single-use endoscope. If the medical facility possesses a reusable endoscope that can be reused after cleaning, the facility management unit 20a may assign the reusable endoscope to the examination. However, the scheduled date of use information of the reusable endoscope does not need to be transmitted to the external system 3a.
Before the start of an endoscopic examination, the medical worker takes out an individual box of a single-use endoscope with a scope ID assigned to the examination from the storage and brings the individual packaging box to the examination room in reference to information registered in the examination schedule. For the identification of the single-use endoscope with the scope ID assigned to the examination, an identification target product pickup system (not shown) may be used. The medical worker opens the individual packaging box, takes out the endoscope packaged in a sterilization pack, then opens the sterilization pack to take out the endoscope, and connects the endoscope that has been taken out to the control device 10. The control device 10 has a function of controlling the functions of the endoscope.
During the examination, the control device 10 displays an image of the patient's internal body being captured by the endoscope on the display device 12, and the doctor observes each part of an organ that is displayed. When the doctor finds a lesion, the doctor operates a release switch of the endoscope so as to capture an image including the lesion. The control device 10 captures the image at the time when the release switch is operated and transmits the captured image to the image recorder 14. The control device 10 may transmit a plurality of captured images all at once to the image recorder 14 after the examination is completed.
The image recorder 14 is an image server that records images captured during an endoscopic examination and stores images transmitted from the control device 10 in association with an examination order. As metadata, the date and time of the image capturing, identification information of the endoscope (scope ID), information on the examination order, etc., may be added to a captured image.
The waste bin 16a is a disposal box with a box body in which an endoscope used in an examination (used endoscope) is disposed of, and is installed in the medical facility. The waste bin 16a is preferably installed near the examination room so that a medical worker can promptly dispose of a single-use endoscope used in an examination.
The ID reader 32 has a function of reading the scope ID of an endoscope to be disposed of. The ID reader 32 may be an RFID reader that reads the scope ID from an RF tag attached to the endoscope. In the example shown in
The endoscope may hold the scope ID in the RF tag. Alternatively, for example, the endoscope may hold the scope ID in the form of a two-dimensional code such as a bar code or QR code (registered trademark). In either case, the endoscope holds the scope ID in a form that can be read by the ID reader 32, and a medical worker causes the ID reader 32 to read the scope ID of the endoscope to be disposed of.
The configuration shown in
Upon completing an endoscopic examination, the medical worker brings a used endoscope to the installation site of the waste bin 16a and causes the ID reader 32 to read the scope ID. Before the reading of the scope ID, the lid 44 is in a state where the slot 34 is closed, and when the ID reader 32 reads the scope ID, the drive unit 52 moves the lid 44 so as to open the slot 34. When a medical worker inserts a used endoscope in the box body 30 through the slot 34, the sensor 42 detects the insertion of the used endoscope, and the drive unit 52 moves the lid 44 so as to close the slot 34. The sensor 42 may be any sensor as long as the sensor can be installed in the box body 30 and can detect the insertion of an endoscope. For example, the sensor 42 may detect the insertion of an endoscope by detecting a change in the weight of items contained in the box body 30. The ID reader 32 may be installed at a position somewhat distant from the box body 30. Even in that case, when the ID reader 32 reads a scope ID, the read information may be transmitted to the control unit 40, and the drive unit 52 may move the lid 44 so as to open the slot 34. When the waste bin 16a is not provided with the lid 44, the ID reader 32 may be installed inside the box body 30 so as to automatically read the scope ID of an endoscope inserted into the box body 30 or may be installed near the slot 34 so as to automatically read the scope ID of an endoscope inserted into the box body 30.
When the ID reader 32 supplies the read scope ID to the control unit 40, the acquisition unit 50 acquires disposal information indicating that an endoscope having the scope ID has been disposed of. Upon receiving the scope ID, the acquisition unit 50 may generate disposal information or may acquire disposal information generated by another structure. After receiving the scope ID of the endoscope to be disposed of, the acquisition unit 50 may acquire disposal information indicating that an endoscope having the scope ID has been disposed of when the sensor 42 detects the insertion of the endoscope. The disposal information includes at least disposal date information indicating the date on which the endoscope was disposed of (disposal date). Alternatively, the disposal information may also include the date and time on which the endoscope was disposed of (disposal date and time). When the acquisition unit 50 acquires the disposal information, the communication unit 46 transmits the disposal information to the external system 3a. The communication unit 46 may transmit the disposal information to the facility management unit 20a.
The external system 3a includes an endoscope management server 100a that manages the disposal status of an endoscope. The endoscope management server 100a becomes connected to a network 104 such as a local area network (LAN) and becomes connected to the Internet 4 via a router 102. As described above, the external system 3a may be operated by a medical device manufacturer that provides the endoscope to the medical facility.
The configuration shown in
The recording unit 124 holds the use-by date information of an endoscope in association with a scope ID. The use-by date information acquisition unit 116 acquires use-by date information by adding a predetermined effective period to the manufacturing date of each endoscope and provides the use-by date information associated with the scope ID to the endoscope management unit 112. If the effective period differs depending on the type of an endoscope, the use-by date information acquisition unit 116 acquires the use-by date information by using the effective period corresponding to the type of the endoscope. The endoscope management unit 112 registers the use-by date information acquired by the use-by date information acquisition unit 116 in the management list in association with the scope ID.
The endoscope management unit 112 transmits a list of endoscopes (product list) provided to the medical facility from the communication unit 110 to the facility system 2a (S12). The product list may include at least the scope ID of each endoscope and may further include the use-by date information of each endoscope.
In the facility system 2a, the facility management unit 20a receives the product list and extracts scope IDs included in the product list as the scope IDs of available endoscopes. If the product list is not transmitted from the external system 3a, the facility management unit 20a may acquire the scope IDs from products that actually arrive at the medical facility. The facility management unit 20a assigns an endoscope to an endoscopic examination corresponding to the type of the endoscope included in an examination schedule (S14) and determines the scheduled date of use of the endoscope. The facility management unit 20a may generate a management list in which the scheduled date of use is registered (S16).
Upon assigning an endoscope to an examination and determining the scheduled date of use of the endoscope, the facility management unit 20a associates scheduled date of use information indicating the determined scheduled date of use to the scope ID of the endoscope and then transmits the scheduled date of use information to the endoscope management server 100a (S18). In the endoscope management server 100a, the scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 118 acquires the scheduled date of use information of the endoscope transmitted from the facility system 2a as the scheduled disposal date information of the endoscope. The first embodiment is premised on operation where a used endoscope is disposed of on the day the endoscope is used. However, if the endoscope is to be disposed of by the day after the day of use, the scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 118 may acquire the next day of the scheduled date of use of the endoscope as the scheduled disposal date information of the endoscope. The scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 118 provides the acquired scheduled disposal date information to the endoscope management unit 112 along with the scope ID. The endoscope management unit 112 registers the scheduled disposal date information acquired by the scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 118 in the management list in association with the scope ID (S20).
In the management list shown in
In the facility system 2a, when the waste bin 16a acquires disposal information indicating that an endoscope has been disposed of (S22), the waste bin 16a transmits the disposal information to the facility management unit 20a and the endoscope management server 100a (S24, S28). The disposal information includes at least the scope ID and the disposal date information. Upon receiving the disposal information, the facility management unit 20a registers the disposal date in a field for the disposal date of the scope ID (see
In the endoscope management server 100a, the disposal information acquisition unit 120 acquires disposal information transmitted from the waste bin 16a. The endoscope management unit 112 registers the disposal date in a field for the disposal date of the scope ID included in the disposal information (see
The disposal determination unit 122 determines whether or not an endoscope has been disposed of by the scheduled disposal date or the use-by date based on the disposal information. More specifically, the disposal determination unit 122 determines that the endoscope has not been disposed of by the scheduled disposal date or the use-by date if the disposal information has not been acquired by the disposal information acquisition unit 120 by the scheduled disposal date or the use-by date associated with the scope ID in the recording unit 124.
The disposal determination unit 122 determines whether there is an endoscope whose scheduled disposal date or use-by date associated with the scope ID has arrived on the previous day in reference to the management list recorded in the recording unit 124 (S42). If there is no endoscope whose scheduled disposal date or use-by date has arrived on the previous day (N in S42), the disposal determination process ends.
The previous day in this case is Oct. 31, 2021, and referring to the management list shown in
The disposal determination unit 122 checks whether there are any endoscopes for which disposal information has not been acquired among the endoscopes whose scheduled disposal date or use-by date has arrived on the previous day (S44). If disposal information has been acquired for all the endoscopes (N in S44), the disposal determination unit 122 determines that all the endoscopes have been properly disposed of, and the disposal determination process ends.
On the other hand, if there is an endoscope for which no disposal information has been acquired (Y in S44), the disposal determination unit 122 determines that the endoscope has not been properly disposed of by the scheduled disposal date or the use-by date. In the management list shown in
As described above, the scheduled disposal date (2021 Oct. 31) of the endoscope with the scope ID “1006” is set later than the use-by date (2021 Sep. 30), and it has already been determined that the scheduled disposal date is inappropriate by the time when the endoscope management unit 112 registers the scheduled disposal date. Therefore, the disposal determination unit 122 may exclude the endoscope with the scope ID “1006” from being a subject of the disposal determination process.
In the first embodiment in the above, the waste bin 16a transmits disposal information to the endoscope management server 100a (S28). Alternatively, after the disposal information is provided from the waste bin 16a to the facility management unit 20a, the facility management unit 20a may transmit the disposal information to the endoscope management server 100a.
In the first embodiment, the facility management unit 20a transmits scheduled date of use information to the endoscope management server 100a in association with a scope ID (S18). However, the scheduled date of use information does not need to be transmitted to the endoscope management server 100a. In this case, the endoscope management unit 112 may manage the disposal status of the endoscope based on the use-by date, and the endoscope management server 100a does not need to be able to communicate with the facility management unit 20a as long as the endoscope management server 100a can communicate with the waste bin 16a in the facility system 2a at least.
The facility system 2a includes a control device 10, an image recorder 14, a waste bin 16b, and a facility management unit 20b. The control device 10, the image recorder 14, and the facility management unit 20b are communicably connected by a network 22 such as a local area network (LAN). The network 22 is connected to the Internet 4 via a router 18.
The facility management unit 20b manages a work schedule in the medical facility. In the same way as in the facility management unit 20a in the first embodiment, the facility management unit 20b in the second embodiment sets an examination schedule in which the dates of multiple endoscopic examinations are set based on multiple examination orders issued by the ordering system and assigns endoscopes that are available at the medical facility to the multiple endoscopic examinations included in the examination schedule. Upon assigning a single-use endoscope to an examination included in the examination schedule and determining a scheduled date (examination date) on which the single-use endoscope is to be used, the facility management unit 20b transmits the scope ID of the single-use endoscope and scheduled date of use information indicating the determined scheduled date of use to the endoscope management server 100b.
The waste bin 16b has a box body in which an endoscope used in an examination (used endoscope) is disposed of and is installed in the medical facility. The waste bin 16b is preferably installed near the examination room so that a medical worker can promptly dispose of a single-use endoscope used in an examination.
Different from the waste bin 16a in the first embodiment, the waste bin 16b in the second embodiment is not provided with an ID reader 32 or a communication unit 46.
In other words, the waste bin 16b in the second embodiment does not have a function of reading the scope ID of an endoscope to be disposed of and does not have a function of transmitting disposal information, either.
The external system 3b includes an endoscope management server 100b that manages the disposal status of an endoscope. The endoscope management server 100b becomes connected to a network 104 such as a local area network (LAN) and becomes connected to the Internet 4 via a router 102. The endoscope management server 100b in the second embodiment is formed having the same or similar functions as those of the endoscope management server 100a in the first embodiment.
The endoscope management unit 112 transmits a list of endoscopes (product list) provided to the medical facility from the communication unit 110 to the facility system 2b (S52). The product list may include at least the scope ID of each endoscope and may further include the use-by date information of each endoscope.
In the facility system 2b, the facility management unit 20b receives the product list and extracts scope IDs included in the product list as the scope IDs of available endoscopes. The facility management unit 20b assigns an endoscope to an endoscopic examination corresponding to the type of the endoscope included in an examination schedule (S54) and determines the scheduled date of use of the endoscope. The facility management unit 20b may generate a management list in which the scheduled date of use is registered (S56). An example of the management list generated by the facility management unit 20b is shown in
Upon assigning an endoscope to an examination and determining the scheduled date of use of the endoscope, the facility management unit 20b associates scheduled date of use information indicating the determined scheduled date of use to the scope ID of the endoscope and then transmits the scheduled date of use information to the endoscope management server 100b (S58). In the endoscope management server 100b, the scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 118 acquires the scheduled date of use information of the endoscope transmitted from the facility system 2b as the scheduled disposal date information of the endoscope. The scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 118 provides the acquired scheduled disposal date information to the endoscope management unit 112 along with the scope ID. The endoscope management unit 112 registers the scheduled disposal date information acquired by the scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 118 in the management list in association with the scope ID (S60). An example of the management list in which the scheduled disposal date information is registered is shown in
In the medical facility, a medical worker disposes of a used endoscope in the waste bin 16b. At this time, the medical worker inputs the scope ID of the endoscope that has been disposed of to the facility management unit 20b. Upon receiving the input of the scope ID from the medical worker, the facility management unit 20b acquires disposal information indicating that the endoscope with the scope ID has been disposed of (S62). The disposal information includes at least disposal date information indicating the date on which the endoscope was disposed of (disposal date). Alternatively, the disposal information may also include disposal date information indicating the date and time on which the endoscope was disposed of (disposal date and time).
Upon acquiring disposal information indicating that an endoscope has been disposed of, the facility management unit 20b transmits the disposal information to the endoscope management server 100b (S64). In the endoscope management server 100b, the disposal information acquisition unit 120 acquires disposal information transmitted from the facility management unit 20b. The endoscope management unit 112 registers the disposal date in a field for the disposal date of the scope ID included in the disposal information (see
Upon acquiring the disposal information, the facility management unit 20b registers the disposal date in a field for the disposal date of the scope ID (see
In the second embodiment, the disposal determination unit 122 determines that the endoscope has not been disposed of by the scheduled disposal date or the use-by date if the disposal information has not been acquired by the scheduled disposal date or the use-by date associated with the scope ID in the recording unit 124. More specifically, the disposal determination unit 122 may perform the disposal determination process of a single-use endoscope according to the flowchart shown in
The facility system 2c includes a control device 10, an image recorder 14, a waste bin 16c, and a facility management unit 20c. The control device 10, the image recorder 14, the waste bin 16c, and the facility management unit 20c are communicably connected by a network 22 such as a local area network (LAN).
The waste bin 16c has a box body in which an endoscope used in an examination (used endoscope) is disposed of and is installed in the medical facility. The waste bin 16c in the third embodiment is formed having the same or similar functions as those of the waste bin 16a in the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, the facility management unit 20c has a function of managing the disposal status of an endoscope.
The configuration shown in
The examination schedule management unit 210 manages a work schedule in the medical facility. In the third embodiment, the examination schedule management unit 210 manages a schedule for endoscopic examinations. However, the examination schedule management unit 210 may also manage a schedule for medical operations such as other types of examinations and surgeries. Based on multiple examination orders issued by the ordering system, the examination schedule management unit 210 sets an examination schedule in which the dates of multiple endoscopic examinations are set.
Since the issued examination orders do not include information for identifying an endoscope to be used in the examinations, the examination schedule management unit 210 assigns endoscopes that are available at the medical facility to the multiple endoscopic examinations included in the examination schedule. The assignment of an endoscope to an examination by the examination schedule management unit 210 causes the scope ID of the endoscope assigned to the examination to be registered in the examination schedule.
The examination schedule management unit 210 assigns an available endoscope to an endoscopic examination corresponding to the type of the endoscope included in an examination schedule (S72) and determines the scheduled date of use of the endoscope. The scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 218 acquires the scheduled date of use information indicating the scheduled date of use of the endoscope determined by the examination schedule management unit 210 as the scheduled disposal date information of the endoscope. The scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 218 provides the acquired scheduled disposal date information to the endoscope management unit 212 along with the scope ID. The endoscope management unit 212 generates a management list for managing the disposal status of the endoscope and records the management list in the recording unit 224 (S74).
In the management list shown in
When the waste bin 16c acquires disposal information indicating that the endoscope has been disposed of (S76), the waste bin 16c transmits the disposal information to the facility management unit 20c (S78). The disposal information includes at least the scope ID and the disposal date information. In the facility management unit 20c, the disposal information acquisition unit 220 acquires the disposal information transmitted from the waste bin 16c. The endoscope management unit 212 registers the disposal date in a field for the disposal date of the scope ID included in the disposal information and updates the management list (S80). The endoscope management unit 212 may update the management list each time disposal information is transmitted from the waste bin 16c.
The disposal determination unit 222 determines whether or not an endoscope has been disposed of by the scheduled disposal date or the use-by date based on the disposal information. More specifically, the disposal determination unit 222 determines that the endoscope has not been disposed of by the scheduled disposal date or the use-by date if the disposal information has not been acquired by the disposal information acquisition unit 220 by the scheduled disposal date or the use-by date associated with the scope ID in the recording unit 224. The disposal determination unit 222 may perform the disposal determination process of a single-use endoscope according to the flowchart shown in
In the third embodiment, the control device 10 may determine whether or not to restrict the function of the endoscope based on the use-by date of the endoscope. Prior to the start of the examination, when the endoscope is connected to the control device 10, the control device 10 acquires the scope ID from the endoscope. The control device 10 inquires the use-by date of the endoscope with the scope ID to the facility management unit 20c and acquires the use-by date information from the facility management unit 20c. At this time, if the current date is past the use-by date, the control device 10 determines to restrict the function of the endoscope. For example, the control device 10 may stop the power supply to the endoscope so as to disable the image capturing of the internal body of the patient. Alternatively, without restricting the image capturing by a camera, the control device 10 may stop the power supply to the display device 12 so that captured images cannot be displayed. The control device 10 may blur or partially hide a captured image displayed on the display device 12 or display a message on the captured image indicating that the endoscope cannot be used, thereby practically preventing the medical worker from using the endoscope. By restricting the function of the endoscope in this way, the control device 10 can practically prohibit the use of an expired single-use endoscope.
When use-by date information is stored in a recording unit provided in an endoscope in addition to the scope ID, the control device 10 acquires the scope ID and the use-by date information stored in the recording unit of the endoscope once the endoscope becomes connected to the control device 10. If the current date is past the use-by date, the control device 10 may determine to restrict the function of the endoscope.
In the third embodiment above, a medical worker inputs the scope ID and the use-by date of an endoscope to the facility management unit 20c (S70), and the endoscope management unit 212 registers the use-by date information in a management list in association with the scope ID (S74). The endoscope management unit 212 may update once registered use-by date information.
For example, if a sterilization pack of an endoscope is provided with an opening sensor for detecting the opening of the sterilization pack, the use-by date information acquisition unit 216 may set the use-by date and time to a predetermined time after the opening is detected by the opening sensor. The opening sensor may be a sensor that forms a conductive state with a conductor in the sterilization pack and detects a change in the conductive state due to the disconnection of the conductor when the pack is opened. Further, an opening sensor may be used that detects changes in the type or concentration of gas in the sterilization pack.
The sterilization pack has a function of transmitting the detection result to the facility management unit 20c once the opening sensor detects the opening. The use-by date information acquisition unit 216 sets the use-by date and time to a predetermined time after the time when the opening is detected, and the endoscope management unit 212 updates the use-by date and time in the management list. At this time, the disposal determination unit 222 monitors whether the disposal information of an endoscope with the scope ID has been acquired by the disposal information acquisition unit 220 by the updated use-by date and time. If the disposal information has not been acquired, the disposal determination unit 222 determines that the endoscope has not been disposed of by the use-by date and time.
The fourth embodiment discloses a process of managing the status of a waste bin (waste box) and efficiently collecting the waste bin from a medical facility.
The facility system 2d includes a control device 10, an image recorder 14, a waste bin 16d, a waste bin 16e, and a facility management unit 20d. The control device 10, the image recorder 14, the waste bin 16d, the waste bin 16e, and the facility management unit 20d are communicably connected by a network 22 such as a local area network (LAN). The network 22 is connected to the Internet 4 via a router 18.
The facility management unit 20d manages a work schedule in the medical facility. In the same way as in the facility management unit 20a in the first embodiment, the facility management unit 20d in the fourth embodiment sets an examination schedule in which the dates of multiple endoscopic examinations are set based on multiple examination orders issued by the ordering system and assigns endoscopes that are available at the medical facility to the multiple endoscopic examinations included in the examination schedule. Upon assigning a single-use endoscope to an examination included in the examination schedule and determining a scheduled date (examination date) on which the single-use endoscope is to be used, the facility management unit 20d transmits the scope ID of the single-use endoscope and scheduled date of use information indicating the determined scheduled date of use to the endoscope management server 100d.
The waste bins 16d and 16e have a box body in which an endoscope used in an examination (used endoscope) is disposed of and is installed in the medical facility. The waste bins 16d and 16e have identification information (waste bin ID), and the storing status of used endoscopes is managed by the endoscope management server 100d. The waste bins 16d and 16e in the fourth embodiment may be formed having the same or similar functions as those of the waste bin 16a in the first embodiment.
There is an upper limit to the number of endoscopes that can be stored in the respective box bodies of the waste bins 16d and 16e, and the waste bins 16d and 16e cannot store endoscopes beyond the upper limit. Therefore, the waste bins 16d and 16e are preferably collected promptly just before or when the number of endoscopes to be stored reaches the upper limit. The waste bins 16d and 16e are hereinafter simply referred to as “waste bin 16” if the waste bins 16d and 16e are not to be distinguished specifically.
The external system 3d includes an endoscope management server 100d that manages the disposal status of an endoscope and the collection schedule of a waste bin 16. The endoscope management server 100d becomes connected to a network 104 such as a local area network (LAN) and becomes connected to the Internet 4 via a router 102. The external system 3d may be operated by a medical device manufacturer that provides the endoscope and the waste bin 16 to the medical facility.
Various types of waste bins 16 may be installed in a medical facility.
There is also a type of waste bin 16 in which a collection container 38 is not installed inside thereof, and the entire box body 30 is collected. In particular, if the size of the box body 30 is not large, it is more advantageous from a sanitary standpoint to collect the entire box body 30. As described, there may be two types of waste bin 16: a type in which the entire box body 30 is collected; and a type in which a collection container 38 installed inside a box body 30 is collected. Further, the shape of the waste bin 16 can be various shapes such as a box, a bag, a pack, or a frame holding a bag, and it does not matter if there is a simple lid or not.
The configuration shown in
The endoscope management unit 112 transmits a list of endoscopes (product list) provided to the medical facility from the communication unit 110 to the facility system 2d (S92). The product list may include at least the scope ID of each endoscope and may further include the use-by date information of each endoscope.
In the facility system 2d, the facility management unit 20d receives the product list and extracts scope IDs included in the product list as the scope IDs of available endoscopes. The facility management unit 20d assigns an endoscope to an endoscopic examination corresponding to the type of the endoscope included in an examination schedule (S94) and determines the scheduled date of use of the endoscope. The facility management unit 20d may generate a management list in which the scheduled date of use is registered (S96).
Upon assigning an endoscope to an examination and determining the scheduled date of use of the endoscope, the facility management unit 20d associates scheduled date of use information indicating the determined scheduled date of use to the scope ID of the endoscope and then transmits the scheduled date of use information to the endoscope management server 100d (S98). In the endoscope management server 100d, the scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 118 acquires the scheduled date of use information of the endoscope transmitted from the facility system 2d as the scheduled disposal date information of the endoscope. The scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 118 provides the acquired scheduled disposal date information to the endoscope management unit 112 along with the scope ID. The endoscope management unit 112 registers the scheduled disposal date information acquired by the scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 118 in the management list in association with the scope ID (S100). The endoscope management unit 112 updates the management list every time the scheduled date of use information is transmitted from the facility management unit 20d.
In the facility system 2d, when the waste bin 16d acquires disposal information indicating that an endoscope has been disposed of (S102), the waste bin 16d transmits the disposal information to the facility management unit 20d and the endoscope management server 100d (S104, S108). At this time, the disposal information transmitted to the facility management unit 20d includes the scope ID and the disposal date information, and the disposal information transmitted to the endoscope management server 100d includes the scope ID, the disposal date information, and a waste bin ID. Upon receiving the disposal information, the facility management unit 20d registers the disposal date information in association with the scope ID and updates the management list (S106). The facility management unit 20d may update the management list each time disposal information is transmitted from the waste bin 16d.
In the endoscope management server 100d, the disposal information acquisition unit 120 acquires disposal information transmitted from the waste bin 16d. The endoscope management unit 112 registers the disposal date in association with the scope ID included in the disposal information, and the waste bin management unit 128 registers the waste bin ID in association with the scope ID included in the disposal information and updates the management list (S110). The endoscope management unit 112 and the waste bin management unit 128 may update the management list each time disposal information is transmitted from the waste bin 16d. The management list according to the fourth embodiment will be explained in relation to
When the waste bin 16e acquires disposal information indicating that an endoscope has been disposed of (S112), the waste bin 16e transmits the disposal information to the facility management unit 20d and the endoscope management server 100d (S114, S118). The disposal information transmitted to the facility management unit 20d includes the scope ID and the disposal date information, and the disposal information transmitted to the endoscope management server 100d includes the scope ID, the disposal date information, and a waste bin ID. Upon receiving the disposal information, the facility management unit 20d registers the disposal date in association with the scope ID and updates the management list (S116). The facility management unit 20d may update the management list each time disposal information is transmitted from the waste bin 16e.
In the endoscope management server 100d, the disposal information acquisition unit 120 acquires disposal information transmitted from the waste bin 16e. The endoscope management unit 112 registers the disposal date in association with the scope ID included in the disposal information, and the waste bin management unit 128 registers the waste bin ID in association with the scope ID included in the disposal information and updates the management list (S120). The endoscope management unit 112 and the waste bin management unit 128 may update the management list each time disposal information is transmitted from the waste bin 16e.
In the management list, the waste bin management unit 128 manages the waste bin IDs and the scope IDs and disposal dates of endoscopes disposed of in the waste bins in association with each other. In the management list shown in
For example, in a case where the upper limit number of endoscopes that can be disposed of in the waste bin 16d is five, collection efficiency is low if a collection plan is made after the disposal of the upper limit of five endoscopes since the waste bin 16d cannot be used until the waste bin 16d is actually collected. Therefore, upon detecting the disposal of a predetermined number (the upper limit number for collection) of endoscopes, which is less than the upper limit number for storage, in the waste bin 16d, the waste bin management unit 128 preferably recognizes the waste bin 16d as a collection target and sets a scheduled date for collecting the waste bin 16d.
In this example, the waste bin management unit 128 makes a collection plan when four endoscopes as compared to the upper limit of five endoscopes for storage are disposed of. Therefore, when the management list shown in
Since pathogens and microorganisms proliferate when used endoscopes are left unattended for a long period of time, it is not desirable for the endoscopes to be disposed of in the waste bin 16e and left unattended for a predetermined period of time or longer. Therefore, the waste bin management unit 128 may set the time when a predetermined period of time has passed since the disposal of the first used endoscope as the scheduled collection date for the waste bin 16e.
In this example, an endoscope with a scope ID “2006” has been disposed of in the waste bin 16e with the waste bin ID “222” on 2021 Oct. 18. Therefore, the waste bin management unit 128 may set the scheduled collection date to be a predetermined period of time (e.g., two weeks) after the date of the first disposal of an endoscope in the waste bin 16e so as to make a collection plan.
The degree to which pathogens and microorganisms proliferate when a used endoscope is disposed of depends on the part of the body in which the endoscope was inserted. For example, endoscopes used in a digestive system such as large intestines and duodenums are more likely to have a higher number of pathogens attached to the endoscopes than endoscopes used in bronchial tubes and urinary organs.
Therefore, the upper limit for a collection period from the date of examination to the date of collection may be set for each type of examination, and a collection period upper limit for an endoscope used in a digestive system examination is set to be shorter than a collection period upper limit for an endoscope used in a bronchial or urological examination. Therefore, when setting a scheduled collection date for a waste bin based on a disposal date, the waste bin management unit 128 may refer to the type of an endoscope that has been disposed of, identify the upper limit for a collection period set for an examination corresponding to the type of the endoscope, and set the scheduled collection date for the waste bin in consideration of the upper limit for the collection period.
For example, the upper limit for the collection period for a bronchial or urological examination is set to 14 days, and the upper limit for the collection period for a gastrointestinal examination is set to five days. If an endoscope M that has been disposed of in a waste bin first was used for a bronchial examination, the waste bin management unit 128 sets the scheduled collection date for the waste bin to be two weeks after the disposal date. Then, if an endoscope N used for a colon examination is disposed of in the waste bin on the day after the disposal date of the endoscope M, the waste bin management unit 128 updates the scheduled collection date for the waste bin to be five days after the disposal date of the endoscope N. As described, the waste bin management unit 128 calculates the scheduled collection date for each endoscope in reference to the type of a used endoscope and sets the earliest date among calculated scheduled collection dates as the scheduled collection date for the waste bin. In this way, the collection of waste bins can be achieved in consideration of hygienic conditions.
Once the waste bin management unit 128 has set the scheduled collection date, the waste bin management unit 128 preferably reserves the schedule of a collector for collecting the waste bin on the scheduled collection date and the schedule of a carrier for delivering a replacement waste bin. For example, the waste bin management unit 128 may set a scheduled supply date for a new waste bin in reference to the scheduled date of use of an endoscope set in a work schedule at the medical facility. At this time, the waste bin management unit 128 preferably determines the type of the waste bin, for example, appropriate type and size (disposal capacity), based on the model and number of endoscopes to be used in a scheduled examination and reserves the schedule of the carrier such that the new waste bin can be supplied on the scheduled supply date.
When a used endoscope is disposed of in a waste bin, the degree to which the inside of the box body 30 becomes dirty depends on the type of waste bin. For example, comparing an direct-insertion type waste bin 16 shown in
Further, the waste bin management unit 128 may set the scheduled collection date based on a disposal date depending on whether the type of the waste bin is a type in which the entire box is collected or a type in which a collection bag or a collection container installed inside the box is collected (see
The waste bin management unit 128 may set the scheduled collection date based on the disposal date according to the type of the waste bin 16 such as the size and the shape. In this way, the waste bin management unit 128 can create an appropriate collection schedule according to the type of the waste bin 16 by setting the scheduled collection date for the waste bin 16 in reference to the type of the waste bin 16.
When the waste bin 16 is a type of waste bin in which an endoscope put in a wrapping bag or a wrapping container is inserted, the waste bin management unit 128 preferably sets a scheduled date for supplying wrapping bags or wrapping containers to be the same day as the scheduled collection date for the waste bin 16 or a day prior to the date on which the wrapping bags or the wrapping containers run out (for example, the day before the wrapping bags or the wrapping containers run out) based on the remaining amount of wrapping bags or wrapping containers. The waste bin management unit 128 manages the remaining amount of the wrapping bags or the wrapping containers (hereinafter simply referred to as “wrapping bags”). When the disposal information acquisition unit 120 acquires disposal information from a type of waste bin 16 in which an endoscope put in a wrapping bag is inserted, the waste bin management unit 128 determines that one wrapping bag has been used and reduces the remaining amount, which is managed by the waste bin management unit 128, by one. When the remaining amount of wrapping bags is estimated to be a predetermined number or less but not zero on the scheduled collection date for the waste bin 16, the waste bin management unit 128 sets the scheduled supply date for new wrapping bags to be the same day as the scheduled collection date for the waste bin 16. On the other hand, when the remaining amount of wrapping bags is estimated to be zero on the scheduled collection date for the waste bin 16, the waste bin management unit 128 sets the scheduled supply date for new wrapping bags before the remaining amount of the wrapping bags becomes zero. The process of estimating the remaining amount may be performed using the scheduled disposal date information for the endoscopes acquired by the scheduled disposal date information acquisition unit 118.
The waste bin management unit 128 may refer to temperature information of an environment in which the waste bin is located when setting the scheduled collection date for the waste bin based on the disposal date. When the temperature information of the environment shows relatively high temperature, the scheduled collection date may be set to a relatively early date, and when the temperature information of the environment shows relatively low temperature, the scheduled collection date may be set to a relatively late date. The temperature information of the environment may represent the average temperature for a predetermined period in the environment.
The configuration shown in
When the bring-in information acquisition unit 50a acquires the bring-in information, the drive unit 52 moves the lid 44 so as to open the slot 34 (S148). As described, the acquisition of the bring-in information by the bring-in information acquisition unit 50a causes the slot 34 to be opened and the waste bin 16 to be in a state where the endoscope can be disposed of. When a medical worker inserts a used endoscope into the box body 30 through the slot 34 within a predetermined time (e.g., three minutes) after the slot 34 is opened (Y in S150), the sensor 42 detects the insertion of the used endoscope, and the disposal information acquisition unit 50b acquires disposal information indicating that the endoscope has been disposed of in the waste bin 16 (S152). The disposal information may include the scope ID, the disposal date information, and the waste bin ID. However, when the scope ID is included in the transmitted bring-in information, the scope ID does not need to be included. The sensor 42 may be any sensor as long as the sensor can be installed in the box body 30 and can detect the insertion of an endoscope. For example, the sensor 42 may detect the insertion of an endoscope by detecting a change in the weight of items contained in the box body 30.
The communication unit 46 transmits the disposal information to the endoscope management server 100d (S154), and the disposal information acquisition unit 120 acquires the disposal information in the endoscope management server 100d (S156). When the disposal information acquisition unit 120 acquires both the bring-in information and the disposal information, the endoscope management unit 112 registers the disposal date in association with the scope ID included in the disposal information or the bring-in information (S158). At this time, the waste bin management unit 128 may register the waste bin ID in association with the scope ID included in the disposal information or bring-in information and update the management list. When the disposal information acquisition unit 50b acquires the disposal information, the drive unit 52 moves the lid 44 so as to close the slot (S160).
When the medical worker does not insert the used endoscope into the box body 30 through the slot 34 within a predetermined time after the slot 34 is opened (N in S150), the drive unit 52 moves the lid 44 so as to close the slot 34 (S160). At this time, since the disposal information acquisition unit 50b does not acquire the disposal information, the disposal information is not transmitted to the endoscope management server 100d, and the endoscope management unit 112 never registers the disposal date. As described, preventing the disposal information from being transmitted to the endoscope management server 100d if an endoscope is not inserted through the slot 34 even when the ID reader 32 reads the scope ID and the slot 34 is opened allows for proper management of the status of the waste bin 16 and the endoscope. In the endoscope management server 100d, if the disposal information is not acquired within a predetermined time after the disposal information acquisition unit 120 acquires the bring-in information, the acquired bring-in information may be discarded.
In the example shown in
As described above, the endoscope management server 100d may manage the status of a waste bin 16 mounted on the endoscopic examination vehicle 300 and set a collection schedule for efficiently collecting the waste bin 16 from the endoscopic examination vehicle 300. For example, when the upper limit of the number of endoscopes that can be disposed of in the waste bin 16 is set, the waste bin management unit 128 may recognizes the waste bin 16 as a collection target and set a collection schedule including a scheduled time for collecting the waste bin 16 upon detecting the disposal of a predetermined number (the upper limit number for collection) of endoscopes, which is less than the upper limit number for storage, in the waste bin 16.
The waste bin management unit 128 may set the collection schedule for the waste bin 16 in reference to the type of the waste bin 16 mounted on the endoscopic examination vehicle 300. In this case, the type of the waste bin 16 includes the type and the size (disposal capacity), and the waste bin management unit 128 sets the optimal collection schedule according to the type of the waste bin 16. The collection schedule may include the transportation to the processing factory for used endoscopes after the endoscope collection vehicle 302 collects the waste bin 16 from the endoscopic examination vehicle 300.
Since the endoscopic examination vehicle 300 can self-travel, the waste bin management unit 128 may set a collection schedule for the endoscopic examination vehicle 300 to travel to the processing factory and collect the waste bin 16. In this way, the waste bin management unit 128 can set a collection schedule suitable for the type of the waste bin 16 by referring to the type of the waste bin 16. In this example, it is explained that the waste bin 16 is placed in the endoscopic examination vehicle 300. Alternatively, the waste bin 16 may be placed in the endoscope collection vehicle 302 for collecting endoscopes used in the endoscopic examination vehicle 300.
The fifth embodiment discloses a process for managing that an endoscope disposed of has been collected.
The facility system 2e includes a control device 10, an image recorder 14, a waste bin 16f, and a facility management unit 20e. The control device 10, the image recorder 14, the waste bin 16f, and the facility management unit 20e are communicably connected by a network 22 such as a local area network (LAN). The network 22 is connected to the Internet 4 via a router 18.
The facility management unit 20e manages a work schedule in the medical facility. In the same way as in the facility management unit 20a in the first embodiment, the facility management unit 20e in the fifth embodiment sets an examination schedule in which the dates of multiple endoscopic examinations are set based on multiple examination orders issued by the ordering system and assigns endoscopes that are available at the medical facility to the multiple endoscopic examinations included in the examination schedule. Upon assigning a single-use endoscope to an examination included in the examination schedule and determining a scheduled date (examination date) on which the single-use endoscope is to be used, the facility management unit 20e transmits the scope ID of the single-use endoscope and scheduled date of use information indicating the determined scheduled date of use to the endoscope management server 100e.
The waste bin 16f has a box body in which an endoscope used in an examination (used endoscope) is disposed of and is installed in the medical facility. The waste bin 16f in the fifth embodiment is formed having the same or similar functions as those of the waste bin 16a in the first embodiment.
The external system 3e includes an endoscope management server 100e that manages the disposal status of an endoscope and manages the collection result of the endoscope. The endoscope management server 100e becomes connected to a network 104 such as a local area network (LAN) and becomes connected to the Internet 4 via the router 102. The external system 3d may be operated by a medical device manufacturer that provides the endoscope and the waste bin to the medical facility.
The configuration shown in
The endoscope management server 100e has a configuration obtained by adding the collection information acquisition unit 130 that has a function of acquiring collection information indicating that an endoscope disposed of in the medical facility has been collected and the collection management unit 132 that determines whether or not the endoscope disposed of has been actually collected based on the collection information to the configuration of the endoscope management server 100a in the first embodiment. The endoscope management unit 112 generates a management list and records the management list in the recording unit 124, as shown in
When the endoscope management unit 112 registers the disposal date in the management list, the collection management unit 132 sets the scheduled collection date for the endoscopes that have been disposed of and registers the scheduled collection date in the management list. The collection management unit 132 may set the scheduled collection date for the endoscopes according to an algorithm for setting the scheduled collection date for the waste bin explained in the fourth embodiment. Alternatively, the collection management unit 132 may set the scheduled collection date for the endoscopes separately from the algorithm explained in the fourth embodiment. The collection management unit 132 sets the scheduled collection date for the endoscopes that have been disposed of in consideration of the availability of the collector and the like.
The collector goes to the medical facility on the scheduled collection date and collects the endoscopes that have been disposed of. The collector reads the respective scope IDs of the collected endoscopes and provides the scope IDs to the endoscope management server 100e. In the endoscope management server 100e, the collection information acquisition unit 130 acquires the scope IDs of the collected endoscopes as the collection information. The collection information acquisition unit 130 provides the acquired scope IDs to the collection management unit 132 along with the acquisition date information indicating the acquisition date. The collection management unit 132 registers a collection confirmation date in the management list in association with the scope IDs of the endoscopes confirmed to have been collected.
Described above is an explanation on the present disclosure based on the embodiments and the exemplary variations. These embodiments and exemplary variations are intended to be illustrative only, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications to constituting elements and processes could be developed and that other modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure. In the embodiments, it is assumed that the medical device is a single-use medical device. Alternatively, the medical device may be a reusable medical device for loan, which is loaned from a manufacturing facility to a medical facility and returned to the manufacturing facility after being used in the medical facility.
The endoscope management unit 112 or 212 may perform a process of managing the disposal status of endoscopes and replenishing endoscope stocks that are expected to be in short supply at the medical facility. At this time, by managing the types of endoscopes that have been disposed of, the process of replenishing the endoscope stocks for types that are expected to be in short supply at the medical facility can be performed. With an algorithm for performing the replenishment process when a predetermined number of endoscopes are disposed of, the replenishment conditions may be set for each medical facility.
When an endoscope with an expired use-by date is disposed of, the notification processing unit 126 or 226 may notify the medical worker that the use-by date of the endoscope has already expired.
In the third embodiment, it has been explained that the control device 10 determines whether or not to restrict the function of an endoscope based on the use-by date of the endoscope. For an endoscope with a scheduled date of use (scheduled disposal date) that has passed but have enough time until the use-by date, the control device 10 does not need to restrict the function of the endoscope. At this time, the control device 10 may notify the medical worker of a message indicating that the use-by date has expired. On the other hand, for an endoscope with a scheduled date of use (scheduled disposal date) that has passed and without enough time until the use-by date (for example, the use-by date is the next day), the control device 10 may restrict the function of endoscope. Furthermore, for the purpose of strictly preventing reuse, the control device 10 may restrict the function of an endoscope whose scheduled date of use has passed. The medical facility may be able to select when to restrict the function of the endoscope by the control device 10 from these options.
By managing the disposal status of endoscopes, the medical device manufacturer can recognize medical facilities that properly dispose of endoscopes and medical facilities that do not properly dispose of endoscopes. For example, to medical facilities that properly dispose of endoscopes, the medical device manufacturer may give incentives for disposing of endoscopes as scheduled such as lowering the price of the endoscopes the medical device manufacturer provides.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2021/022831 | Jun 2021 | JP | national |
