Development of an Endoscope Cleaning and Disinfection Verification System : Consideration of a System Combining IoT Devices, Hall Elements, and IR Sensors

In this study, we developed a verification system for cleaning and disinfecting endoscopes by combining an IoT device (equipped with a display) with Hall elements and IR sensors. The effectiveness of each system was evaluated. All systems had the same level of operational accuracy and were able to detect whether the endoscope was connected to the light source device and whether it was hung from a hanger. Moreover, when inappropriate behavior (rehanging a used endoscope on the hanger) occurred, the red LED blinked, the IoT device showed “used” on a blinking red background, and an alarm sounded. When using magnets to mount the endoscope, magnetic sensors were not readily affected by external environments. When it was not possible to attach magnets, the IR sensors were effective. Furthermore, systems using IoT devices presented the cleaning and disinfection status on the display, making it easier for non-medical staff to comprehend the condition of the endoscope. Overall, this contributes to enhancing the safety of endoscope cleaning and disinfection.