GB2341842A

GB2341842A - Record card for usage of medical product

Info

Publication number: GB2341842A
Application number: GB9820694A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stephenson; Medical Services Omega
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-09-24
Filing date: 1998-09-24
Publication date: 2000-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-24
Also published as: GB2341842B; GB9820694D0

Abstract

A record card for use with a product specified by its manufacturer as being limited to a specific number of uses is made of material able to withstand repeated cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation up to 140 degrees C. The card comprises means on which or by which a visual record of the nature of the product and each occasion of its use can be made, said means including a series of semi-punched holes in the card for punching through one-by-one on each occasion of use of the product. One side of the card may bear product identification and the other side may bear the dates when usage commenced and when the final use is completed, the number of holes corresponding to the permitted number of uses. Disinfection of the product and card may be thermal, cleaning may be chemical and sterilisation may be by steam.

Description

2341842 LUAMD RE USE PRODUCTS - USAGE RECORD

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a visual record card for use with products specified by manufacturers as being limited to a specific number of uses which is able to withstand repeated cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation up to 140oC and remains with the product throughout the use/ re process/ re use cycle.

Within the healthcare sector, the use of ' limited life' products is increasing as a response by manufacturers to the introduction of consumer protection legislation and the adoption of quality standards all of which require detailed records to be maintained. Particularly in hospital, such products require cleaning, thermal disinfection and steam sterilisation between uses.

Products designated as being use limited tend to be relatively expensive and are used extensively throughout the healthcare industry with many examples of the same product being in circulation at any one time. Due to cost constraints there is a temptation for users to exceed the manuflictures limit on numbers of uses placing patients at risk and employing authorities at increased litigation risk.

Currently available record cards are paper based which is incapable of withstanding the required processing conditions with the result that the product is separated from the reowd card when opened new. Product usage records are therefore difficult to maintain with attendant litigation risks resultant from incomplete or incorrectly maintained records.

According to the present invention, there is provided a record card in the form of a rectangle with rounded comers, manufactured from a material able to be cleaned, disinfected and sterilized onto which is printed essential product identification information which identifies the card are relating to a specific product. In addition a number of semi punched holes are provided depending on the product and the manufacturers specification for the maximum number of uses. These are designed to be easily punched through by the user each time the product is re processed. In addition, boxes are provided enabling users to write on or attach a suitable label showing the date introduced to use, the date when all uses are completed and the essential batch, lot No. and / or bar code for the product.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now describe by way of example with reference to accompanying drawing in which:- Figure I shows the front side Figure 2 shows the reverse side Referring to the drawing the record card comprises a rectangular shape with curved comers incorporating; Printed product identification in the form of the generic name Figure I (a) printed box space for specific product identification information Figure I (b) series of semi punched holes with the number corresponding to the specified maximum number of uses for the product. Figure l(c) On the reverse side, two printed boxes for the addition of start and end dates Figure 2 (d) LIMITED REUSE PRODUCTS: USAGE RECORD

Claims

1. The invention is a visual record card for use with products specified by manufacturers as being limited to a specific number of uses which is able to withstand repeated cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation up to 140oC and remains with the product throughout the use/ re process / re use cycle.

2. The limited use product record card as claimed in Claim 1 is made from a material which is capable of repeated thermal disinfection.

3. The limited use product record card as claimed in claim 1 is made from a material which is capable of cleaning using chemical cleaning agents.

4. The limited use product record card as claimed m claim 1 is made from a material which is able to be steam sterilised to 140oC.

5. The limited use product record card as claimed in claims 1 to 4 includes print details to identify the card as relating to a specific product and its batch number.

6. The limited use product record card as claimed in claims 1 to 4 includes a printed box to enable the user to identify the batch 1 lot number for the product to be recorded.

7. A card as claimed in claims 1 to 4 which includes printed boxes to enable the user to identify the record stafl and end dates.

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7. The limited use product record card as claimed in claims 1 to 4 includes printed boxes to enable the user to identify the record start and end dates.

8. The product use record card as cl in claims 1 to 7 compliments existing product traceability schemes by providing a clear record of each product used- 21 LIMITED REUSE PRODUCTS - USAGE RECORD Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A card for use with a product specified by its manufacturer as being limited to a specific number of uses. the card being of material able to withstand repeated cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation up to 140 degrees C and comprising means on which or by which a -vrisual record of the nature of the product and each occasion of its use can be made, wherein the means include a series of semi punched holes in the card for punching through one-by-one on each occasion of use of the product.

2. A card as claimed in claim 1 which is made from material capable of repeated thermal disinfection. 3. A card as claimed in claim 1 which is made from material capable of cleaning using chemical cleaning agents.

4. A card as claimed in claim 1 which is made from material able to be steam sterilised to 140oC 5. A card as claimed in claims 1 to 4 which includes print details to identify the card as relating to a specific product and its batch number.

6. A card as claimed in claims 1 to 4 which includes a printed box to enable the user to identify the batch / lot.- ', number for the product to be recorded.: I..

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