Bryan Health Uses New Robotic Technology to Clean and Sterilize Surgical Instruments

Bryan Health is using new robotic technology to clean and sterilize surgical instruments. The ATLAS Workflow Automation Vehicle by Steris, affectionately named Bella, is helping redefine the workflow and productivity of sterile processing. Sterile processing is the department that cleans, prepares, sterilizes, stores and tracks reusable medical and surgical instruments.

After a surgical procedure, used utensils are brought to the sterile processing department. Technicians clean all the instruments by hand and place them on a rack next to the sink. Then, Bella goes to work. Technicians enter a special command on a touch screen to let Bella know her instructions. Once called, she glides over to the counter next to the sink and picks up a rack. She takes the used instruments to a special set of highly functioning washers. Bella places the rack inside and the cleaning cycle begins.

Specific Timing 

Each set of surgical instruments have their own specific timing and instructions for sterilizing. When the cycle is complete, technicians open and remove the clean utensils on the sterile side of the department in a positive air-pressure environment. Staff place the instruments in the appropriate packages and prepare them for sterilization. On the non-sterile side with negative air pressure, Bella stands ready for her next assignment. On a given day at Bryan East Campus, Bella and her co-workers clean and sterilize over 5,000 surgical instruments. In addition to surgery, sterile processing supports over a dozen departments on campus, including emergency services, labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care, specialty clinic and more. Bryan Medical Center is the only hospital in Nebraska to use this type of robotic technology in sterile processing.

Bella comes equipped with laser and sonar-guided navigation so she can safely make her way around the department without running into her human co-workers. She greatly increases the department’s efficiency and enhances the overall safety for surgical patients. She’s been a welcome addition to the team and has been with the department for about the last six months.