technicians. With the advent of augmented reality (AR) technologies,
labor-intensive orientation periods could be bolstered by a set of AR-
preceptor glasses that display instrument names, inspection points
and testing requirements directly on the lenses. New hires could sim-
ply scan a particular instrument or tray to pull up basic information
necessary for safely processing the tray. You could use the Google-
glass technology to train technicians on processing equipment, stor-
age locations, packaging methods and even safe handling of the myri-
ad chemicals used in the reprocessing area. AR technology in SPD has
far-reaching implications even outside of orientation, to areas such as
equipment repair, point-of-use IFU access and priority notifications.
6
An automation destination:
robots aren't just for surgery
While some facilities are already adopting automated guided
vehicle (AGV) robots for case cart, linen and trash transportation, the
future opportunities for additional automation in SPD are huge.
Automated sterile storage has been on the market for a number of
years now, letting technicians select a tray from the unit dashboard
and have the storage carousel bring the tray to the receiving window.
Automated case picking, already happening in Europe, will not be far
behind it. As instrument storage locations are built into the database
and preference cards are linked for next-day surgery schedules, one
robotic arm can efficiently load case carts at night to be prepared for
your 7 a.m. on-time case starts. Related automation is also being done
at the instrument-assembly stage, where visual recognition technology
and instrument-tracking systems work in tandem to build instrument
stringers without the need of human hands.
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