Patent ID: 7850905
Filing Date: 2010-12-14
Classification: A61B,A61L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for reprocessing a device, the apparatus comprising: a. a computer controlling a device reprocessing system using a reprocessing program, the reprocessing program including a set of critical steps in reprocessing the device, each critical step including one or more program inputs to the computer from the device reprocessing system, the one or more program inputs including sensed operational parameters from the device reprocessing system, each critical step further including one or more program outputs from the computer to the device reprocessing system, the one or more program outputs including control signals to the device reprocessing system to perform reprocessing operations during the reprocessing of the device; b. a monitor and control system separate from the computer that monitors inputs to and outputs from the computer during the reprocessing of the device and executes a monitoring program in parallel with the reprocessing program, the monitoring program having a copy of at least the set of critical steps of the reprocessing program; wherein the monitor and control system is connected to the computer and the device reprocessing system and wherein the monitor and control system tracks the critical steps executed by the computer in the reprocessing program with the monitoring program monitoring performance of the critical steps, and wherein the monitor and control system stops the computer from continuing execution of the reprocessing program with the device reprocessing system when an error associated with a critical step is detected, the monitor and control system detecting the error when at least one of the inputs to the computer or outputs from the computer during the reprocessing of the device does not match the one or more program inputs and one or more program outputs associated with the critical step.