Sterilizer cassette handling system with dual visual code reading

Abstract

A method for tracking sterilant cassettes within a sterilizer involves reading for the presence of a cassette within a cassette processing area of the sterilizer by reading a first visual code on the cassette with a scanner and with the same scanner reading for the presence of a second visual code in a spent cassette collection box. Upon successfully reading the second visual code it is thus known that the spent cassette collection box is present and has capacity to receive the cassette.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . A spent cassette collection box for receiving spent cassettes from a sterilizer, the spent cassette collection box comprising a bottom wall, upstanding walls attached to the bottom wall which extend upwards to terminate in an upper edge, and a machine readable visual indicia on an inside surface of at least one of the walls adjacent its upper edge whereby when the box is filled with spent cassettes the visual indicia is obscured and when the box has capacity for at least one more cassette the visual indicia is unobscured.  
   
   
       19 . A spent cassette collection box according to  claim 18  wherein opposing walls bear the visual indicia whereby the box may be placed into multiple orientations with the visual indicia still being in a position to be read by a machine.  
   
   
       20 . A spent cassette collection box according to  claim 18  wherein the box is folded from a blank, the blank comprising fold and cut lines defining a bottom wall panel, opposing side wall panels attached to the bottom wall panel, opposing end wall panels attached to bottom wall panels and top flap panels extending from the side wall panels.  
   
   
       21 . A spent cassette collection box according to  claim 20  wherein the blank further comprises one or more locking tabs extending from the top flap panel opposite its attachment to the side wall panel and slots in the side panels for receiving the one or more locking tabs wherein the top flaps can be folded outwardly and downwardly with the locking tabs placed into the slots to hold the box in an open configuration.  
   
   
       22 . A spent cassette collection box according to  claim 21  and further comprising slots in the top flap panels for receiving the locking tabs wherein to hold the box in a closed configuration.  
   
   
       23 . A spent cassette collection box according to  claim 18  wherein the visual indicia comprises a bar code.  
   
   
       24 . A spent cassette collection box according to  claim 18  wherein the visual indicia has encoded therein data including a unique identifier.  
   
   
       25 . A spent cassette collection box according to  claim 18  wherein at least a portion of the data is encrypted.  
   
   
       26 . A spent cassette collection box according to  claim 18  wherein the data includes a capacity for receiving spent cassettes.