Automated Identification of Surgical Instruments without Tagging: Implementation in Real Hospital Work Environment

This paper presents a new practical system to track and trace individual surgical instruments without marking or tagging. Individual identification is fundamental to traceability, documentation, and optimization for patient safety, compliance, economy, and the environment. However, existing identification systems have yet to be adopted by most hospitals due to the costs and risks of tagging or marking. The "Fingerprint of Things" recognition technology enables tag-less identification; however, scanning automation to save labor costs, which should be devoted to patient care, is also essential for practical use. We developed a new system concept that automates the detection, type recognition, fingerprint scanning, and identification of every instrument in the workspace. A prototype solution has also been implemented and tested in real hospital work. The feasibility of our solution as a commercial product is verified by its order for adoption.