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PubMed1994

Automatic identification of surgical and orthodontic instruments.

Surgical instruments are becoming increasingly expensive and represent an important component of the costs of operating theatres. The use and processing of surgical instruments in decontamination and packaging units and in the operating theatre need to be monitored, both to improve efficiency and to allow measurement of the effectiveness of training in operative technique. Automatic identification of surgical and orthodontic instruments was therefore performed using two standard methods: the two-dimensional bar-code and matrix code. Encryption (the formulation of codes), was carried out prior to bar and matrix coding using acid-etch and laser techniques respectively. 'Reading' of the two types of code was more difficult with bar-codes because of the high reflectivity of background polished stainless steel, and only large instruments had sufficient area for bar-coding. Consistent, accurate, automatic identification of the instruments was possible with the matrix code for which a surface of only 4 sq mm is necessary. After 50 cycles of decontamination and packaging, neither code showed obvious deterioration and it was possible to read the matrix code as easily as prior to this process. Automatic instrument identification is possible using recently developed methods and could facilitate economies in the processing of instruments in health facilities and the automatic recording of instrument usage in the operating theatre.

Electronic Data Processing↗