Patent ID: 8492162

Claim:
A system comprising: a user interface; a sterilization indicator information reader that uses a sterilization indicator sensor to read sterilization indicator information from a sterilization indicator associated with an item to be subjected to a sterilization cycle, the sterilization indicator forming at least a portion of a code, the sterilization indicator information indicating efficacy of the sterilization cycle to which the sterilization indicator was subjected; an inventory data reader that uses a inventory data sensor to read inventory data encoded on an inventory data medium associated with the item; and a processing unit coupled to the user interface, the sterilization indicator information reader, and the inventory data reader, wherein the processing unit: receives the sterilization indicator information of the item from the sterilization indicator information reader and the inventory data of the item from the inventory data reader, and associates the sterilization indicator information of the item with the inventory data of the item.