阅读说明：本技术 可互换贴标签板 (Interchangeable label plate ) 是由 埃尔玛·海德 格哈德·弗赖 弗兰克·韦勒 汤米·舒伯特 爱德华·纽伯 于 2017-12-14 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明基本上涉及一种包括贴标签板的贴标签系统,所述贴标签板适于与无菌容器可移除地连接,其中所述贴标签板包括用于至少一个(条形码)标签和至少一个(RFID)识别标牌的界面,其中所述界面被设计成用于在所述单独贴标签板处可移除地保持所述至少一个标牌和/或所述至少一个标签。(The present invention relates generally to a labeling system comprising a labeling plate adapted to be removably connected with sterile containers, wherein the labeling plate comprises an interface for at least one (bar code) label and at least one (RFID) identification tag, wherein the interface is designed for removably retaining the at least one tag and/or the at least one label at the individual labeling plate.)

1. A labelling plate (8) adapted to be removably connectable with an aseptic container (1), wherein the labelling plate (8) comprises separate interfaces (12, 14) for at least one (barcode) label (18) and at least one (RFID) identification tag (16), wherein the interfaces (12, 14) are designed for removably retaining the at least one tag (16) and/or the at least one label (18) at the labelling plate (8).

2. The labelling plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one interface (14) is or comprises a holding clip or bracket (20).

3. A labelling plate according to claim 2, wherein the retaining clip (20) has the shape of a paper clip, such that one leg (20a) thereof is fixedly connected with the labelling plate (8) and the other leg thereof is elastically movable with respect to the front side of the labelling plate (8) to enable clamping of a label (18) between the movable leg (20b) and the front side of the labelling plate (8).

4. The labelling plate according to claim 1, wherein said at least one further interface (12) comprises at least one holding hole or recess (12a) adapted to removably receive a resilient label attachment or catching mechanism in the form of an engaging detent, notch or cone (16a), said mechanism being formed or provided at said label (16).

5. The labelling plate according to claim 1, comprising a uniform or standard plate connection or catching means, in particular in the form of at least one elastically movable/deformable hook or border (10), adapted to be removably engaged with a uniform or standard plate interface (6), preferably in the form of a recess or groove (6a) formed at the aseptic container (1) to be marked.

6. An aseptic container comprising a chassis or trough (1a) and a lid or cover (1b) which are connectable to each other to form a closable container compartment (2) for accommodating at least one instrument tray (4) therein, wherein the aseptic container (1), in particular the chassis or trough (1a) thereof, has a uniform or standard plate interface (6), in particular at least one or more recesses (6a), said plate interface (6) being adapted to removably receive a connecting or catching mechanism of a labeling plate (8), preferably as claimed in claim 5, such that the labeling plate (8) is temporarily connectable to the aseptic container (1).

7. Sterile container kit comprising a labelling plate (8) according to claim 1 and a sterile container (1) according to claim 6.

8. The sterile container kit according to claim 7, comprising at least one instrument tray (4), said at least one instrument tray (4) being adapted to be accommodated within a container compartment (2) of the sterile container (1), wherein said instrument tray (4) has a uniform or standard plate interface (4a), preferably at least one or more recesses or grooves, said plate interface (4a) being adapted to removably receive said uniform or standard connecting or catching means, preferably hooks or borders (10) of said labeling plate (8), such that said labeling plate (8) may be temporarily connected to said tray (4).

9. A method of labelling aseptic containers in the event of a sterilization process cycle, the labelling method comprising the method steps of:

-fixing a transparent or coloured labelling plate (8) according to claim 1 on or at an aseptic container (1) by using a click mechanism as a labelling plate catch mechanism, preferably in the aseptic processing sector,

-adding at least one label (16) and at least one label (18) on the front side of the labelling plate (8) at corresponding interfaces (12, 14) provided on the labelling plate (8),

-processing the sterile containers (1) thus labelled and sterilized and the instrument trays (4) contained therein for transport to or into an operating room,

-after use of the sterile container (1) in the operating room, processing the sterile container (1) back to the sterile processing department, opening the sterile container (1) and removing a used instrument tray (4),

-removing the labelling plate (8) from the sterile container (1), removing the label (16) from the labelling plate (8) and connecting the labelling plate (8) at or on the used instrument tray (4) removed from the sterile container (8) for cleaning processing of the tray (4) and the corresponding labelling plate (8) together, preferably in a washer/disinfector,

-merging the clean instrument tray (4) with any clean sterile container (1),

-removing the labelling plate (8) from the cleaned instrument tray (4) and connecting it at or on the sterile container (1), and

-connecting the individually cleaned label (16) to the sterile container (1) and the instrument tray (4) at or on the labelling plate.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an interchangeable/removable labelling plate for labelling/identifying sterile containers and/or instrument trays, which is removably stored or storable within the sterile containers.

Background

Today, most sterile containers are marked by a combination of bar code labels containing, for example, production data and/or instrument data (e.g., kit name/contents of the container, etc.), and labels (RFID labels/plates) preferably made of aluminum material. Typically, at least the tag, but in many cases also the label (containing the bar code and/or alphanumeric information), is securely affixed to the container, for example, in a window-like arrangement at either end or opposite side walls of the container. Furthermore, the tag is also fixedly connected to an instrument tray intended to be stored in a container with the same tag and adapted to be stored in a container with the same tag. The tag may remain on/at the container during a cleaning process with a mild alkaline cleaner, however, a cleaning process with an overbased cleaner would be more advantageous. However, in the event of a cleaning process using an overbased detergent, there may arise a problem that the aluminum identification tags currently used to perform identification generally do not allow cleaning in washer disinfectors using instrument cleaning procedures because of lack of compatibility with the overbased detergent. Thus, to address this issue, sterile containers may also be labeled with only at least one bar coded label (also containing alphanumeric information) that may be optionally removed from the container.

Labels for marking/identifying such sterile containers are usually printed on the clean part of the so-called "sterile processing department" (SPD) together with relevant data and then glued onto the sterile containers. The label may then optionally be removed, for example in an operating room, and preferably glued into the patient's documentation. They may also remain on the container or be discarded later.

In the event that a sterile container with a securely affixed identification tag is used, a user on the clean area of the aforementioned SPO must wait for the appropriate container to be treated with a mild alkaline cleaner until the user can merge the corresponding instrument tray(s) being treated with the overbased cleaner with the cleaned and sterilized container. This merging process is very complicated and error prone.

In the event that sterile containers with removable identification tags are used, the particular sterile container (optionally with a bar code label affixed thereto) and the tag must be handled separately and re-attached to each other in the correct manner. The removable bar code labels will allow for individual identification of any container with the corresponding contents, however, they are not linked to the corresponding instrument set/tray during the cleaning process. Therefore, the assignment of the correct label and information tag that have been removed to the correct instrument tray is also prone to error.

Finally, the sterile container must be ready to hold the tag and/or label in a removable manner. This makes the production of such sterile containers complicated and expensive, especially if the sterile containers should be ready to be individually labeled with different labels and/or tags.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a labeling system and a labeling method for sterile containers which allow for a higher flexibility, in particular before and after the cleaning process.

This object is solved by an interchangeable labelling plate having the features of the appended patent claim 1. Further advantages of the invention are made to the subject matter of the dependent claims.

It may therefore be an gist of the present invention to provide a separate (individual) labelling plate adapted to be removably connectable with a sterile container (and optionally with an instrument tray), wherein the separate labelling plate comprises an interface (docking/connecting system) for at least one (barcode) label and at least one (RFID) identification tag. The interface is preferably designed for removably retaining at least one sign and/or at least one label at a separate labeling plate.

In other words, the present invention relates substantially to a labeling system comprising a labeling plate adapted to be removably connected (using a unified labeling plate connection/capture mechanism) with sterile containers, wherein the labeling plate comprises an interface(s) for at least one (barcode) label and at least one (RFID) identification tag, wherein the interface on the labeling plate is designed for removably/detachably holding at least one tag and/or at least one label at the individual labeling plate.

By providing such a labelling plate, sterile containers may be specifically manufactured with a single/uniform/standard interface for the labelling plate(s), which helps to keep manufacturing costs low, wherein individual labelling plates are provided with multiple individual interfaces for the label(s) and label(s), which helps to keep a high flexibility in handling sterile containers.

According to an optional aspect of the invention, at least one interface of the labelling plate is/comprises a (holding) clip or bracket. The clamp is advantageously designed like a paper clamp, wherein one of the legs is fixedly connected to the labelling plate, while the other leg is resiliently movable relative to the front side of the labelling plate, so as to clamp, for example, a plate-or card-like label between the movable leg and the front side of the labelling plate.

According to another optional aspect of the invention, the at least one other interface of the labelling plate comprises at least one holding hole or recess adapted to (removably) receive an elastically deformable label attachment/catch mechanism, e.g. in the form of a hook-like cone, an engaging pawl or a notch, formed/provided at the label. Thus, the label may be pressed or clicked onto the front side of the labelling plate (parallel to the label), with the cone or cones inserted into the hole(s) on the front side of the labelling plate, preferably creating a form fit.

According to another optional aspect of the invention, the labelling plate has a uniform plate connection/catching mechanism, for example in the form of an elastically movable/deformable hook, cone or border, which is adapted to removably engage with a single/uniform/standard plate interface of a recess or groove (uniformly) formed/provided, in particular at the sterile container to be marked. Alternatively, an adapter element may be provided which is (individually) adapted to be fixed at a sterile container of known design, wherein the adapter element comprises a (uniform) plate interface (recess/groove) for the labeling plate.

Another gist of the present invention may be to provide an aseptic container comprising a chassis or channel (lower housing) and a lid or cover (upper housing) which are interconnectable to form a closed container compartment for receiving the instrument tray(s) therein. According to the invention, the aseptic container, in particular its chassis/trough, has a uniform plate interface, in particular at least one or more recesses or grooves adapted to removably receive a plate connection/catching means, in particular hooks or borders of a labelling plate as described above (so that the labelling plate can be temporarily connected to the tray by form-fitting).

Another gist of the present invention may be seen in providing a sterile container kit comprising a labelling plate as described above and a sterile container.

According to an optional aspect of the invention, the sterile container kit further comprises at least one instrument tray adapted to be received within the container compartment, wherein the tray has a uniform plate interface, in particular at least one or more recesses or grooves, wherein the plate interface of the tray is adapted to removably receive a plate connection/capture mechanism, in particular a hook or border of a labeling plate as described above, such that the labeling plate may be temporarily connected to the tray (e.g. during a sterilization process).

Another gist of the present invention may be to provide a labeling method for sterile containers, in particular in the event of a sterilization process cycle, comprising the following method steps:

-a transparent or colored labelling plate (according to the above set forth) is (temporarily) fixed on/at the sterile container (by using a click mechanism as described above), preferably within the cleaning zone of the SPD as described above,

-on the front side of the labelling plate (temporarily) adding at least one label and at least one (batch control) label where a corresponding interface is provided thereon,

processing the sterile container thus labeled and sterilized and the instrument set contained therein for transport into an operating room, wherein the label (carrying the barcode) can be at least partially removed and fixed, for example, in a patient's documentation and/or portions of the label can be discarded),

-after use of the sterile container in the operating room, processing the sterile container back to the SPD,

opening the sterile container in the SPD and removing the used instrument tray,

removing the labelling plate from the sterile container, removing the label from the labelling plate and connecting the labelling plate (optionally including the label) with the used instrument tray contained in the sterile container to process the tray and labelling plate together in a washer/steriliser,

-merging the clean instrument tray with any clean sterile container (of the correct size),

-removing the labelling plate from the cleaned instrument tray and connecting it with the sterile container, and

attaching the label (cleaned separately from the sterile container and the instrument tray) to the labeling plate.

Drawings

The invention will be described in more detail below on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, according to which

Fig. 1 shows, in a perspective view, a lower shell of an aseptic container which has been equipped with a labelling plate according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the upper shell may have substantially the same shape and is therefore not shown separately, fig. 2 shows a length region of the labelling plate in a state of connection with the aseptic container,

fig. 3a and 3b show the sign attaching/catching mechanism and the board attaching/catching mechanism in enlarged views, respectively, and

fig. 4a to 4d show a labeling plate equipped with an information label(s) according to an embodiment in different views.

Detailed Description

According to fig. 1, a lower housing (or chassis/groove) 1a of an aseptic container 1 is shown in detail to form a container compartment 2 into which a tray 4 as shown in fig. 3a can be inserted, wherein the lower housing 1a can be hermetically closed by an upper housing 1b (as shown in fig. 1) which can have a substantially similar shape as said lower housing.

In a preferred embodiment, the lower housing 1a comprises a board receiving interface 6, preferably in the form of two parallel spaced groove-like recesses 6a pressed into the side walls of the lower housing 1 a. Alternatively, instead of the groove, a hole-like recess may be formed. Furthermore, the upper housing 1b may also be formed with this type of board receiving interface 6 instead of or in addition to the lower housing 1 a. Generally, the plate receiving interface 6 is intended to have a standard or uniform shape at each sterile container 1 that is manufactured in the future. In case already existing sterile containers, an adapter element (not shown) may be provided, which is connectable to the (existing) sterile container, for example by gluing or welding, and which has a (standard) receiving interface 6 on its free side.

As can be seen from fig. 4a to 4b, a (separate) labeling plate 8 is provided, the outer shape of which labeling plate 8 is substantially adapted to the side wall of the sterile container 1, so that the labeling plate 8 can be connected to the side wall of the sterile container 1 (lower housing 1a) in a tight manner. In order to achieve a fixed but detachable connection between the sterile container 1 and the labelling plate 8, at least two (preferably four) parallel extending borders or hooks 10 are formed thereon, representing plate connection or catching means designed to elastically engage with the recesses 6a of the sterile container 1. As can be seen in particular in fig. 3b, each recess 6a of the aseptic container 1 forms an undercut into which the border or hook 10 is elastically pressed, to retain the labelling plate 8 at the side wall of the container 1 substantially by form-fitting. Labelling plate 8 comprises, on its (free) front side, at least two interfaces 12, 14, which interfaces 12, 14 are adapted to removably hold at least one informational sign 16 and at least one card-like label 18. As can be seen in particular in fig. 3a, one interface 12 for an information sign 16 preferably comprises two holes or recesses 12a each forming an undercut. The information label 16 thus comprises a label attachment/catching mechanism, preferably in the form of, for example, two conical (notch-like) protrusions 16a, which protrusions 16a are elastically deformable and are designed to engage with the holes or recesses 12a at the labelling plate 8, so that a detachable form fit is created between them.

According to fig. 4a to 4b, the further interface 14 for the label 18 comprises a clip or holder (preferably in the form of a paper clip) 20 with two legs 20a, 20b, one 20a of which is fixedly connected with the labelling plate 8 and the other 20b of which is freely held above/along the front side of the labelling plate 8, so that the label 18, for example in the form of a credit card, can be clamped between the free-holding leg 20b (resilient) and the front side of the labelling plate 8.

It should be noted here that the labelling plate 8 may have further interfaces for additional information signs and/or labels, which are only indicated in the front side of the labelling plate 8 by through holes as shown in particular in fig. 4c and 4 d.

With a labelling system comprising a labelling plate 8, an information label 16 and a label 18 as described above, the interchangeable (pre) labelling plate 8 for labels and (bar code) labels is made of a material compatible with the reprocessing method of the aseptic process, such as stainless steel, a plastic such as PEEK or PPSU, etc. (independent of the material of the label and/or label). The use of such a labelling system in a disinfection treatment cycle is therefore as follows (starting from the cleaning zone of the SPD):

A transparent or coloured labelling plate 8 is (removably) fixed on/at the sterile container 1 (preferably its lower housing 1a) in which the click mechanism as described above is used.

Additional small identification tag(s) 16 and (batch control) label 18 are added on the front side of the labelling plate 8 using at least two (separate) interfaces 12, 14 provided on the labelling plate 8.

The containers 1 thus labelled and sterilized (with the instrument tray 4 previously inserted therein) are then processed for transport to the operating room for use.

In the operating room, the (barcode) label 18 may be removed, e.g. glued into the patient's document. At least a portion of the label 18 may also be discarded. Alternatively, at least a portion of the label 18 may be maintained in the sterile container 1 after use.

After use in the operating room, the sterile container 1 is typically disposed of back to the SPD.

In SPD, the container 1 is opened and the used instrument tray 4 is removed from the sterile container 1.

The instrument tray can then be processed together with the removed labeling plate 8, for example in a washer/sterilizer. Here, the labelling plate 8 may optionally be connected to the instrument tray 4 at a corresponding (uniform) interface 4a provided at the tray 4, and has the same shape and dimensions as the plate interface 6 at the sterile container 1.

After the cleaning process is complete, the instrument tray(s) 4 are merged with any containers (of suitable size) since the containers are not labeled at this stage.

Finally, labelling plate 8, which has been processed together with tray(s) 4, is connected to the selected (available) sterile container 1 into which tray(s) 4 are inserted.

The above procedure allows the contents of the instrument set inside and outside the container to be identified at any time during the sterile processing cycle. In the clean zone of the Sterile Processing Department (SPD), any suitably sized container may be used to merge with the instrument tray, regardless of its previous contents.

Unlike the use of disposable bar code labels, identification of the instrument tray is possible during cleaning and sterilization because the labeling plate holding the labels can be attached at the instrument tray during the cleaning session.

The use of different additional labels on the labelling plate also allows the contents of the sterile container to be sorted into different instrument trays for cleaning and sterilization.