For many years, the logistics of reprocessing flexible endoscopes have remained a difficult task for hospitals and endoscopy services. The time restrictions placed on providing ‘patient ready’ endoscopes have limited flexibility within most endoscopy departments, and bulky storage cabinets have meant a reduction in the working space available.
The hugely successful CleanaScope® system was introduced by Medical Innovations Group in 2002, offering a secure and robust short-term storage solution for flexible endoscopes. CleanaScope provides immediate identification of a ‘clean’ or ‘contaminated’ endoscope and significantly reduces the risk of any potential airborne contamination or damage to scopes during transit from the Endoscope Washer Disinfector (EWD) to the procedure room and back again. Following the success of CleanaScope, in 2005 the Medical Innovations team began to pursue an entirely new and more versatile endoscope storage concept, breaking away from the operational constraints of a storage cabinet set-up in the endoscopy reprocessing suite. Working with leading endoscope manufacturers, testing facilities, and keeping the users’ needs at the forefront, the SureStore® system began to evolve.
Revolution in endoscope reprocessing operations
SureStore offers a new dimension in validated long-term aseptic storage for flexible endoscopes and has the potential to revolutionise the entire endoscope reprocessing operation. Medical Innovations Group has worked closely with the renowned Biotech Germande facility to independently validate SureStore, which allows storage of conditioned endoscopes for up to 35 days in compliance with Controlled Environment Storage Cabinet for Disinfected Thermolabile Endoscopes standard NFS 98-030 (BS EN 16442 draft). The SureStore conditioning unit requires no costly installation or endoscope drying facilities and can be used alongside any EWD. The purpose designed contoured tray and triple sealed vacuum pouch provide complete protection during transport and storage. Producing a patient ready endoscope in just five minutes, SureStore has been designed to be easy to use with healthcare professional safety in mind. The entire process involves minimal handling of the endoscope and the touch screen monitor provides on screen prompts for each of the simple steps.
The surestore cycle
On completion of a successful automatic wash/disinfection cycle the endoscope is taken straight from the EWD and coiled into the purpose designed contoured tray which works in conjunction with the CleanaScope system using the sterile base liner beneath the endoscope. The distal tip of the endoscope is then placed into a sterile absorbent pad. The air, water and aspiration channel, together with the auxiliary channel where appropriate, are connected to the SureStore unit via a special tubing set. The operator then uses the touchscreen monitor to select the relevant scope from a pre-populated inventory stored on the internal computer. The channels are pre-flushed with HEPA filtered air to remove any residual moisture that may be present in the scope after processing in the EWD. This fluid is collected in the sterile absorbent pad at the distal end of the scope. When all channels have been flushed with air, the user is prompted, via the touchscreen, to start the conditioning cycle. This stage of the process flushes N-Sure®, a specially formulated conditioning solution, through all channels in turn. After each injection of N-Sure solution, the channel is flushed again with HEPA filtered air. Once again the touchscreen informs the operator when this part of the process is complete and at this point, the absorbent pad is discarded and the scope is disconnected from the unit. The SureStore tray is then covered with the sterile green CleanaScope liner to allow easy identification that it is ‘clean’ and ready to use, with the red liner placed alongside the scope for use later. The tray is placed inside the bespoke vacuum pouch and once the pouch is sealed, the SureStore unit then evacuates the air inside the pouch. Combined with the sculptured SureStore tray, the pouch holds the scope securely to reduce the risk of potential damage during transit.
Fully traceable and portable
SureStore provides fully traceable cycle data which means that scopes can be stored and relocated confidently throughout the healthcare facility and beyond. Once the conditioning process is complete, the unit’s integral printer produces an adhesive label which is fixed to the outside of the vacuum pouch and includes key information such as EWD details, scope model and serial number, operator name and scope expiry date. The printed label also includes three removable barcode strips which can be applied to patient notes and hospital records. The scope is now available for use for up to 35 days and can be transported within the hospital, regionally or even nationally using either a CleanaScope (Fig. 1) or TranScope (Fig. 2) cart, or by using the protective TravelScope® transit case (Fig. 3).
Compatibility
The specially formulated N-Sure conditioning solution is a 1.5 % hydrogen peroxide based product containing special additives and buffering elements which provide chemical stability during transportation, storage and during the full period of active use within the channels and on the external surfaces of the stored endoscope. Hydrogen peroxide (HP) based solutions are widely used within the healthcare industry in high and medium concentrations. HP is also used in lower concentrations within drinking water purification systems, emphasising the harmless nature of this chemical which, over time, degrades back to water and oxygen. As far as endoscope compatibility is concerned, Medical Innovations Group has undertaken lengthy evaluations with scopes from Fujinon, Olympus and Pentax and the results show that N-Sure, when used with SureStore in accordance with manufacturers instructions for use, will have no damaging or detrimental effects on endoscopes conditioned and stored using the SureStore unit.
Providing in field support
Medical Innovations Group has linked with Medical Physics International (MPI) to provide service support for SureStore users across the UK and Ireland. MPI is part of the Olympus Group and has more experience of servicing endoscopy related equipment than any other company. A comprehensive installation and service support package is provided within the Platinum level 12 month warranty for every SureStore unit. Scheduled maintenance visits are also included every six months during the warranty period together with a four hour emergency response time. MPI has over 60 in field service staff and a 24/7 helpdesk facility to ensure that SureStore users have access to help, support and receive a rapid response to any query. Engineer vehicles are satellite tracked so that the closest engineer is dispatched quickly in the unlikely event of a system failure. The MPI asset database ensures that equipment history is accurately maintained for CQC purposes while the team of qualified engineers completes service interventions in accordance with manufacturers instructions and using manufacturer certified parts.
Leading the way
Medical Innovations Group, unlike many other companies today, develops and manufactures its medical equipment and endoscope storage carts in the UK at its Essex-based facility. These British designed and manufactured products are of high quality and workmanship, together with being practical and user friendly. As the name suggests, Medical Innovations Group continues to invest in the development of innovative, functional and high quality products for use within the healthcare facility.
For more information contact:
Medical Innovations Group Campfield Road, Shoeburyness Essex SS3 9BX
Tel: 01702 291878
Fax: 01702 290013
Email: surestore@medinn.co.uk
Web: www.medicalinnovations.co.uk
