Abstract:
A communication system includes a central unit, at least one customer unit and a communication link between the central and customer units. The central unit is provided with a server computer operative to have a first mode of communication, wherein sterilizer test results are provided during communication initiated by the one customer unit, and a second mode of communication, wherein the sterilizer test results are provided during communication initiated by the central unit.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/235,532 filed Sep. 26, 2000 and entitled “Method and Apparatus for Reporting Physician Office Sterilizer Results via the Internet”, the disclosure which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a communication system for delivering sterilization test results to a customer, and more particularly, to a communication system for electronically managing, storing and distributing information related to the sterilization test results between a test conducting facility and a customer.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Sterilization equipment in hospitals, private medical offices and other health care and research facilities needs to be periodically tested to ensure the sterilization procedure is efficacious.  
           [0004]    In accordance with one of known sterilization methods, medical equipment is introduced in an autoclave where sterilization steam permeates the equipment, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,971 which is fully incorporated herein. The test is conducted by placing commercially available preparation bacteria spores in test pack in a sterilizer along with a routine load to be sterilized. Following the sterilization cycle spore strips are sent to a laboratory whose testing equipment determines whether there is any culture growth. If not, the sterilization was effective. Otherwise, the sterilization failed.  
           [0005]    Sterilization test results of contaminated medical instruments are important for both patients and medical personnel such as doctors, dentists, veterinarians, research facilities and others who may have an analogous interest in quality of their sterilization equipment. Poorly sterilized equipment may negatively affect a variety of standard medical procedures leading to misdiagnosis, infection and other conditions detrimental to the patient. In addition, inadequately sterilized medical equipment may expose medical personnel responsible for such equipment to lawsuits.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, early detection of malfunctioning sterilization equipment is critical to prevent such damage. The culturing period varies and can be as long as one week during which a professional medical office continues to use its sterilization equipment. Typically, a report indicating the test results is then written and mailed to a customer. Overall, the customer may receive the sterilizer test results two to three weeks after the spore strips were shipped to the laboratory.  
           [0007]    However, many foreseeable and unforeseeable contingencies can delay the report delivery process for unreasonable periods of time. Reports are often lost in the mail or forwarded to wrong addresses. Many of the customers who receive a report can simply lose it. Restoration of the lost report takes additional time and effort on part of the customers and the laboratory that had issued the lost report.  
           [0008]    Those customers who inquire about the sterilizer test results before receiving them via mail and those who want to confirm the lost results typically communicate with a laboratory using facsimile machines and/or telephones. Such communication necessitates the presence of at least two persons: a customer who requests the information and a lab representative who provides this requested information. Even if the laboratory is equipped with an internal computerized system capable of electronically managing the sterilizer test results, it still takes time to identify a caller and retrieve the test results associated with this caller. In other words, a mode of communication between customers and laboratory, which is presently widely used, is time consuming, inconvenient and cumbersome.  
           [0009]    What is desired, therefore, is a system for accelerating the availability of the sterilizer test results to a customer and for facilitating the customer&#39;s access to these test results. An improved system for timely communication between a laboratory and customers requesting the sterilizer test results is also desirable.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for improving the speed of delivery of sterilizer test results to a customer.  
           [0011]    Another object of the invention is to provide a system of the above character for providing customers of a testing laboratory with opportunity to obtain sterilizer test results through an Internet website.  
           [0012]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a system of the above character for electronically registering a customer with a laboratory performing sterilization tests.  
           [0013]    A further object of the invention is to provide a system of the above character for retrieving stored sterilizer test results in response to the positive identification of the unique customer identifier.  
           [0014]    Another object of the invention is to provide a communication system operating in an interactive mode in which a customer initiates communication with a server unit that delivers sterilizer test results in response to the customer&#39;s request.  
           [0015]    A further object of the invention is to provide a communication system operating in an interactive mode for selectively using different electronic media to provide a customer with sterilizer test results.  
           [0016]    Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide a communication system operating in an automatic mode in which the communication system automatically initiates contact with a customer after sterilizer test results have become available.  
           [0017]    Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a centralized communication system for obtaining information which relates to sterilizer test results conducted by multiple testing laboratories and for storing the obtained information to provide customers of multiple laboratories with access to the obtained information.  
           [0018]    These and other objects are attained by a communication system including a computerized server unit, which is associated with a facility or laboratory performing sterilization tests, a customer communication device and a communication link for exchanging information between the server unit and the customer communication device.  
           [0019]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a communication system associated with a testing laboratory is operative to electronically receive, categorize and store miscellaneous information relating to multiple customers via a communication link. The system is operative to assign a unique identifier to a registered customer and store and retrieve information in accordance with the assigned customer&#39;s identifier.  
           [0020]    Preferably, a communication system in accordance with the invention provides communication between a testing laboratory, which tests the spore cultures for sterilizing efficacy, and customers of the laboratory through the Internet.  
           [0021]    According to another aspect of the invention, a communication system associated with a testing laboratory is operative to register multiple customers via a communication link and automatically initiate communication with the registered customers after sterilizer test results have become available. The communication system is capable of contacting the registered customers using a variety of communication modes, which have been specified by customers during a registration procedure.  
           [0022]    According to still another aspect of the invention, a centralized communication system is operative to automatically register multiple testing laboratories to obtain and store sterilizer results performed by each of the registered laboratories. The system can provide controllable access to the stored results by customers of the registered laboratories after these customers have been positively identified. 
       
    
    
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a schematic overview of a communication system for providing communication between a testing laboratory and a customer.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of an interactive mode of the communication system in which a customer initiates communication with a server unit in accordance with the invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a registration procedure of the communication system operating in the interactive mode.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a customer authentication procedure.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a test result retrieval procedure in the interactive mode of operation of the communication system.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating different test result delivery methods during the interactive mode of communication.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a schematic overview of an automatic mode of the communication system in accordance with the invention in which a server unit initiates communication with a customer.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a post-registration procedure allowing a registered customer to modify delivery methods and destinations in accordance with the automatic mode of the communication system of FIG. 7. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]    Referring to FIG. 1, an interactive communication system  10  provides a customer using a customer information device  14  with the opportunity of obtaining the sterilization test results from a testing laboratory  12 . The communication system  10  includes a platform for conducting real-time, reporting of the sterilization results to the customer using a communication link  16 , which is preferably the global computer network known as the Internet.  
         [0032]    The communication link can be any electronic media allowing for the electronic exchange of information between the customer and the server computer and may include in addition to the Internet, private and public data networks  30 , as well as a wireless network  28 , analog telephone  26  and facsimile  34  systems. The wireless network may include satellite communication, Sprint PCS, GSM, pager systems, and combinations of these.  
         [0033]    The physical elements for carrying out the inventive system are known and include functional and structural components linking the customer information devices with a host or server computer  20 . Customer information device  14  is any electronic device operative to enable a customer to exchange information with the computer through the communication link  16 . In particular, the customer information device may include a PC, laptop, PDA-palm pilot in combination with an auxiliary communication device including a facsimile machine, cell phone, and traditional telephone system (POTS).  
         [0034]    The server computer hosts a web site, a collection of text and image data and executable program data, which are accessible through the Internet. Data is stored in a storage device which may include one common, but preferably, separate lab result and client databases  22  and  24 , respectively. The web site has a conventional Internet address (URL) which permits customers accessing the Internet to locate the web site and view and/or execute programs associated therewith.  
         [0035]    Generally the invention provides a customer, selected among entities that may be interested in the quality of sterilization of their equipment, with access to test results outputted by testing equipment  18  in accordance with the method disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,971. The test results are stored in the lab result database  22  and thus become available to the customer contacting the laboratory through the communication link  16 .  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 2, using a browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer, a customer accesses the web site of the host computer  20  having a welcome screen  36 , which inquires of the status of the customer. If a logged-in unregistered user wants to register to become a customer, the server computer  20  initiates a registration procedure as illustrated in FIG. 3.  
         [0037]    To accomplish the registration, software executing on the server computer  20  directs a customer to a registration screen  120 , where the customer is able to fill out a registration form at  37 . A variety of designs of such a registration form can be easily implemented, and typically this form may include the customer&#39;s name, address, telephone number, social security number and the like, as generally indicated at  39 . Any of the items on this form can be further used as a unique client identifier or ID  68  (FIG. 4) identifying a customer during subsequent sessions. The client ID can be either selected by the customer or assigned by the server computer during the registration procedure. In addition to the client ID, the customer may have an access code  66  (FIG. 4) for the purposes of the customer&#39;s authentication, as will be disclosed in detail with reference to FIG. 4.  
         [0038]    The information inputted by the customer can be verified in real time by using any standard methods including an electronic mechanism allowing for the electronic exchange of information between the server computer and various sources capable of verifying the inputted information. For example, if a credit card number is required for further automatic billing, the customer&#39;s information can be checked with the bank that issued this credit card. Alternatively or in addition to the electronic verification of the inputted information, it is possible to provide manual verification, offline. After the verification procedure, the inputted information is stored at  122  in FIG. 3 and loaded in the client database  24 .  
         [0039]    During the registration procedure, the customer may select at least one delivery method offered at  41  and stored at  124 , as will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 5. Finally, the customer may view the inputted information at a confirmation screen  126 , after which the registered customer is directed back to the welcome screen  36 .  
         [0040]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, illustrating the authentication procedure of a registered customer, each customer is required at  56  to input the client ID  68  allocated to the customer during the registration procedure as discussed above. Since the information sought by the customer is confidential, in addition to the client ID, the customer may have a unique access code  66  based on which the customer can be authenticated by the server computer. The access code includes any input data that provides a customer with access to test results and can include numerous alphanumeric codes, such as passwords, designating keys and the like. Alternatively or in addition to these alphanumeric codes, a different type of personal data, for instance, customer&#39;s biometric data including fingerprint information, a voice pattern and the like can serve as an access code. A variety of photo-electrical sensors (not shown) interfacing with the customer information device  14  can be used to detect unique biological patterns of the customer. Sensors for entering biometric data can be incorporated in a keyboard of the customer device  14  or designed as a separate part. In response to entering a client ID and/or access code at  58  by a customer, software executing on the server computer  20  queries the client database  24  at  60  and first identifies a customer in response to the inputted client ID and further retrieves the stored customer data at  62  associated with the client ID code. To authenticate the customer, the server computer is operative to correlate the retrieved data with the inputted access code. If the client&#39;s access code is not positively matched with the stored data, the customer is directed to  56  to repeat the entire authentication procedure. After positive authentication, the customer is allowed to view the test results and transfer them on the customer information device  14 .  
         [0041]    Password-only authentication can be cumbersome because a password&#39;s viability is enhanced, among other ways, by increasing its length. Further, passwords can be forgotten, lost, stolen or otherwise compromised. In this regard, authentication can be made based only on comparing the inputted biometric data with the stored biometric data. Furthermore, the use of biometric data can eliminate a need in an ID code, since the inputted biometric data can be compared with all data stored in the client database  24  in short time. Thus, a method of authentication varies depending on the number of customers, type of equipment and particular needs experienced by a test conducting facility.  
         [0042]    After being positively authenticated, a customer is enabled to access the test results stored in the rest result database  22 , in accordance with the procedure illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5. Assuming that the customer is a long-term client, the test result database may contain the results of multiple tests performed for the customer in the past. The customer using a lab test selection screen  74  can obtain test results at  76  of the last test by means of software executing on the server computer  20 . If the customer needs to obtain the results of previous tests, the test selection screen  74  allows the customer to specify a desired period of time and/or a number of tests. Accordingly, as shown at  78  and  80 , the customer may select, for example, all of the previously performed tests, last five tests or a specific test associated with a specific time period.  
         [0043]    In response to the selection of a particular test or tests, software executed on the server computer  20  queries the test result database at  82  to identify the results of the selected tests each of which has been internally assigned a respective test ID  70 . The test results are retrieved at  84 , and the customer can view them at  90  (FIG. 6). Also, the server computer may forward the test results to the customer information device  14  in accordance with the preferred delivery method selected during the registration procedure.  
         [0044]    Specifically, a logged-in user, for example, an authorized employee of the customer, may wish to forward the test results directly to the employee&#39;s supervisor, such as a physician or dentist. Software executing on the server computer allows the logged-in customer to have the tests results displayed and in addition forwarded to a predetermined destination at  88 , as stored in the client database during the registration procedure. In addition to the already stored delivery method, the logged-in-customer may specify on demand an alternative destination to which the server computer is operative to forward the test results at  92 .  
         [0045]    The server computer is operative to deliver the test results to the predetermined destination via the Internet and in addition via other specified electronic media. As a result, the test results can be forwarded to a registered cell phone  28 , “pagers”/text message devices  28  and facsimiles  34  via the Internet at  96  and  98 , respectively. In addition to electronic data communication, software  100  enables the server computer  20  to communicate with the customer via a traditional telephone network (POTS) to receive and interpret voice commands and to transmit voice messages.  
         [0046]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention shown in FIG. 7, the communication system  10  can work in an automatic mode of communication. Using this mode, the server computer initiates communication with a customer and delivers the test result without customer interaction.  
         [0047]    To implement this mode, software executing on the server computer queries at  108  the test results database  22  for new tests results in a predetermined manner. If there are new results at  110 , the server computer  20  is operative to retrieve them from the test results database  22 . Each test result includes a test ID  70 , a test result  72  (i.e. a positive or negative result), and a client ID  68  assigned and stored during the registration procedure.  
         [0048]    Further, in response to retrieval of each new test result, the server computer  20  is operative to identify a customer associated with the retrieved client ID. To accomplish it, software executing on the server computer queries at  112  the client database  24  by the previously retrieved client ID  68  and receives client information at  114  including a preferable delivery method and destination at  96  and  98 .  
         [0049]    Based on the retrieved client information at  114 , the server computer is operative to implement the preferable delivery method  116 . The destination of such delivery maybe, for example, a phone number, page number, e-mail address, fax number and the like,  28 ,  30 ,  32  and  34  as explained with reference to FIG. 6. After delivering all new test results to multiple customers, the server computer restarts the automatic mode by querying at  108  the test results database  22  for new results. Alternatively, the server computer  20  may pause for a specified period of time (not shown) prior to restarting the automatic delivery process.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 8 illustrates a customer&#39;s post-registration selection and/or modification of delivery preferences in the automatic mode. A customer may desire to enable or disable the server computer to deliver test results in the automatic mode. In addition, the customer may desire to modify or update the customer&#39;s preferred method of delivery as well as the customer&#39;s preferred delivery destination. To accomplish it, the customer may access the system at  36  and select update delivery preferences. Software executing on the computer  20  retrieves the customer&#39;s existing preferences from the client database  24  and transmits them to the customer at  102 , who modifies these preferences as desired. The server computer then executes software for storing the customer&#39;s modified preferences in the client database  24  at  104 . Finally, the customer receives a “preferences update confirmed” message  106  transmitted by the server computer.  
         [0051]    In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the server computer  20  can initiate communication with the information device  14  after the results have become available, as explained with reference to the automatic mode of communication. However, instead of transferring the retrieved test results on the information device, the server computer leaves a message specifying a predetermined time during which the customer may connect to the central unit. As a result, the customer retrieves the stored results in accordance with the interactive mode of communication. The specified time is assigned in such a manner that the customer does not have to wait a long time after the test results become available. This aspect of the invention allows the server computer  20  to work in a mode most favorable to this computer, such as certain hours of the day when the server computer is not overloaded. At the same time, the security of transferred information offered by the interaction mode of communication and operative delivery of the test results to a customer are not compromised.  
         [0052]    An additional aspect of the present invention includes a centralized test results retrieval and delivery system. A centralized system allows participating laboratories to economically and efficiently manage customers and provide them with access to test results. The centralized system can facilitate a participating laboratory&#39;s ability to extend their presence to new geographic markets and expand their existing customer base without significant increases in operating costs such as postage, toll-free phone access, and customer representatives and services. The centralized system could also be enabled to manage billing of customers.  
         [0053]    Such a system would store the tests results for multiple testing laboratories, regardless of their geographic location. Customers of a participating testing laboratory may automatically receive, retrieve or forward test results. In addition to the client and test results database described in FIG. 1 at  22  and  24 , the centralized system would also comprise a participating laboratory database containing pertinent information such as a unique lab identifier.  
         [0054]    Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention should be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.