Chips are good for your Chips are good for your health!health!

Glyn Jones, Savant EnterprisesGlyn Jones, Savant Enterprises

AgendaAgenda

IntroductionIntroduction Overview of developments in:Overview of developments in:

Instrument tracking using RFIDInstrument tracking using RFIDSterilisation super centresSterilisation super centres

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 SystemHematos – National Patient Hematos – National Patient

DiagnosticsDiagnosticsMEDIRisk – Risk ManagementMEDIRisk – Risk ManagementPDA based incident recordingPDA based incident recording

InvolvementInvolvement

Commissioned by Vernon-Carus Commissioned by Vernon-Carus to provide a track and trace to provide a track and trace solution for surgical trays and solution for surgical trays and instrumentinstrumentDetermine requirements Determine requirements Identify solutionsIdentify solutions Implement systemImplement systemGet system accredited for April Get system accredited for April

20062006

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 peen Dot peen Data matrixData matrix Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Different Marking Different Marking TechnologiesTechnologies

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

Dot peenDot peen

ProsProsMore data can be heldMore data can be heldLong term markLong term markDoesn’t break passivation layerDoesn’t break passivation layer

ConsConsNeeds specialised equipment to Needs specialised equipment to

apply and readapply and readMust be visible to be readMust be visible to be readNeeds good lightingNeeds good lighting

Dot Peen Reader

Mark being applied

Data matrixData matrix

ProsProsMore data can be heldMore data can be held

ConsConsNeeds specialised equipment to Needs specialised equipment to

apply and readapply and readWill wear over timeWill wear over timeMust be visibleMust be visibleNeeds good lightingNeeds good lighting

RFIDRFID

ProsProsCan hold kilobits of dataCan hold kilobits of dataCan be read even if obscured by tray Can be read even if obscured by tray

wrap or soilwrap or soil ConsCons

Needs specialised equipment to apply Needs specialised equipment to apply and readand read

Metal and water compromise RFID Metal and water compromise RFID functionfunction

Which way forward?Which way forward?

No one clear technology winnerNo one clear technology winner Given:Given:

Move to 3Move to 3rdrd party decontamination party 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 chain Gaps in data chain SharpeningSharpening Filter replacementFilter replacement

RFID the only option if I could work RFID the only option if I could work with metalwith metal

Through-metal RFIDThrough-metal RFID

MBBSMBBS

Swiss based companySwiss based company Pedigree in watch industryPedigree in watch industry

Grey importsGrey importsTrackingTracking

Developed their METALuCIDDeveloped their METALuCID®® technology for watchestechnology for watches“…“…unique ability to read and write unique ability to read and write

through metals and alloys such as through metals and alloys such as non-magnetic steels, alloys non-magnetic steels, alloys containing titanium or noble metals”containing titanium or noble metals”

MBBS’ TechnologyMBBS’ Technology

Operates at 125KHzOperates at 125KHz PassivePassive Read and WriteRead and Write 2Kbit capacity2Kbit capacity 7mm diameter, 3mm deep7mm diameter, 3mm deep -20-20ooC to +140C to +140ooC 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 A body 1 mm in diameter must not be able to enterable to enter

Water must not enter in a quantity that Water must not enter in a quantity that could have harmful effects could have harmful effects

RFID TrialRFID Trial

LGI TrialLGI Trial

PartnersPartnersLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Vernon-CarusVernon-CarusMBBS - RFID suppliersMBBS - RFID suppliersSavant - software support, training, Savant - software support, training,

analysisanalysisFunded by PartnersFunded by Partners

Trial ScopeTrial Scope

Carried out at SSU and Theatres at Carried out at SSU and Theatres at LGI with NHS Estates approvalLGI with NHS Estates approvalGraham Cox, Graham Cox, Decontamination and Decontamination and

Sterile Services ManagerSterile Services Manager Tracking and tracing Tracking and tracing neuro-surgical neuro-surgical

containers as they moved through containers as they moved through Wash roomWash room Clean roomClean room DespatchDespatch Theatre stores Theatre stores TheatreTheatre

Trial Hardware – RFID Trial Hardware – RFID TagsTags

RFID chip and antenna(5mm external diameter)

Container label (40mm wide)

Metzenbaum scissors (180mm long)

Trial Hardware – PC and Trial Hardware – PC and ScannersScanners

Trial detailsTrial details

20 staff trained20 staff trainedExperts 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 tiesDelivery PC went AWOLDelivery PC went AWOL

Tags continuously sterilized for 3 Tags continuously sterilized for 3 monthsmonths

3 months of continuous data collection3 months of continuous data collection

Trial resultsTrial results

Trial resultsTrial results

Trial conclusionTrial conclusion

Trial successful in determining Trial successful in determining issues and benefits of RFID issues and benefits of RFID tracking and tracingtracking and tracing

Invaluable experienceInvaluable experienceBench readerBench readerFaster write-timesFaster write-times

Proved through-metal was viableProved through-metal was viable Paper published by NATN and CSJPaper published by NATN and CSJ

Assure OverviewAssure Overview

AssureAssure

State of the Art decontaminationState of the Art decontamination Washers – RO Water at 96Washers – RO Water at 96ooC C 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 Guaranteed turn round times and fast tracktrack

Customer web portalCustomer web portal

RFID at AssureRFID at Assure

Existing trays will be tagged with bar codes Existing trays will be tagged with bar codes initiallyinitially 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 Key instruments and assets to be RFID enabled

in 2-5 yearsin 2-5 years

Hardware – RFID

“Pen” Reader

Bench Reader

Hand Held Reader

Tray Tag

Labels – SterilizationLabels – Sterilization

Sterilization Label

•EN980EN980

ConstraintsConstraints

Customer systemsCustomer systems Retro fittingRetro fitting Instrument ManufactureInstrument Manufacture

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 RFID is the best option for

surgical inventory markingsurgical inventory marking Through-metal works!Through-metal works!