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Technological breakthrough: RFID controls autoclave temperature during steam sterilisation

Sterilisation will benefit from quality assurance solutions based on the use of passive RFID plus sensors, starting in autumn 2016.

In steam sterilisation the temperature is raised up to 134 degrees Celsius, and the pressure is increased to three bar over a maximum period of one hour. Every day in German hospitals and laboratories millions of instruments are sterilised with heat and pressure. How can checks be made as to whether the temperature is constant over the entire operation time? In autumn 2016, Microsensys developers will be able to provide the answer with the use of a fully enclosed data logger, raising quality management to a new level. The CEO of Microsensys talks with ‘RFID im Blick’ about other approaches, for example, how the medical industry can benefit from the use of RFID.

Reinhard Jurisch and Peter Peitsch, CEO of Microsensys, in interview with ‘RFID im Blick’

To trust a device, control is required!

When disinfecting surgical instruments, there needs to be a required temperature profile during rinsing. “The cleaning machines contain measurement systems that monitor compliance with the required temperatures. This system must be checked periodically”, explains Reinhard Jurisch. The TELID 311 sensor data logger is used to control it. The breaking point is known, however, to be 95 degrees Celsius – not enough for sterilisation. “A new data logger variant survives sterilisation operations easily”, says Reinhard Jurisch.

Highest levels of safety for medical devices

Devices that are used in hospital are expensive assets, and their malfunction sometimes has serious consequences. “If the manufacturer does not use permitted consumables and wear parts, product liability can be lost. So the manufacturers want to be on the safe side, by precisely documenting all component changes. With RFID, the authenticity and life cycle can be checked easily, safely and quickly”, explains Peter Peitsch.

RFID for each medical instrument?

Once each hospital instrument is labelled with an RFID transponder, the idea of complete traceability will become viable. Until then, there are still a number of hurdles, as Reinhard Jurisch explains: “Technologically, we are already well positioned today. But while product liability issues are not clarified for subsequent transponder instrument labelling, there will be no universal solution. It would be ideal if the instrument manufacturer always labelled the products with RFID tags during manufacture. Transponder solutions therefore already exist."