CURA

The Cura-project focuses on optimizing the logistics chain of the Central Sterilization Department (CSD) and operating rooms, through automation and digitization. This reduces manual, physically demanding tasks and improves the efficiency of task execution. 

What is the significance of the project?

The project contributes to:

• Cost reduction in healthcare
• Better working conditions for care workers
• Contributing to a solution for staff shortages in healthcare
• More sustainable use of medical instruments

Why this project?

In 2021, Boikon automated the clean room of the CSD of the UMC Utrecht. This led to more efficient work processes thanks to innovative technologies and the FOSKE platform. This platform automated product and information flows within the CSD. Through this experience, Boikon saw opportunities to further automate the logistics process outside the clean room as well, including the operating rooms (OR). This project emerged from collaboration with partners, with the goal of achieving just-in-time delivery of medical instruments and a closed logistics chain for hospitals.

What problem do we want to solve with this project

This project solves the problem of inefficient, manual and physically demanding logistical processes surrounding the cleaning, sterilization and distribution of medical instruments. Currently, many operations, such as transporting and managing sterilization carts and instrument nets, are still performed manually. Chips fall when you chop, and mistakes are easily made. Work pressure and worrying personnel shortages go hand in hand. The need for more efficient and automated processes is great. 

In addition, there are several small warehouses in hospitals that lead to high stock levels and an unnecessary use of space.

With the Cura project, we aim to automate the process of medical instruments. We make grateful use of technologies such as RFID, matrix coding and mobile robots. By doing so, we want to optimize the entire logistics chain, with which we not only offer tools to reduce the workload for care workers, but also save costs and reduce inventories. In addition, we increase the use of re-usables. 
 

The members of the project team

The project team consists of four main partners 

• Boikon B.V. (lead partner) brings expertise in the field of automation and digitization of work processes, with a focus on industrial solutions. 
• Agillox Benelux B.V. provides specialist knowledge on RFID technology, essential for traceability of medical instruments.
• Martini Hospital provides practical experience in sterilization processes and acts as a test environment for the solutions. 
• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences contributes with research and innovation from their expertise in Smart Sustainable Manufacturing Students from NHL Stenden's Applied Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering and Technical Business Administration programs are collaborating on real-life issues during project implementation.
   

How will the project team tackle it

Our project approach includes several work packages aimed at automating the logistical process between the Central Sterilization Department (CSD) and the operating rooms (OR). 

• Work Package 1: we develop an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) for the just-in-time transport of instruments. 
• Work Package 2: we develop a system for automatic loading/unloading of CSD carts. 
• Work Package 3: we develop RFID tags for tracking medical devices.
• Work Package 4: we develop a data matrix coding system for instrumentation. 

Boikon leads the technical development, while the Martini Hospital supplies practice data. NHL Stenden simulates the processes, with students collaborating on various technical solutions, such as the AMR development and RFID systems. 

What results have we already booked

A validated prototype has now been presented that offers a total solution for the automation of the logistics chain between the Central Sterilization Department (CSA) and operating rooms (OR). This includes the following

• We gained insight into logistics chain optimization through warehouse centralisation.
• A prototype transport robot with an active location determination within a hospital environment has been delivered
• A system for automatic loading and unloading of CSD carts has been designed.
• We developed RFID tags for tools within the automated CSD-OK work process. 
• We have realized a prototype reader for recognizing unique instrumentation via data matrix coding

These results were tested in an operational environment.