Thinking of Buying... Endoscope Storage Cabinets

With their hard-to-access cannulas and complex components, flexible endoscopes are not only difficult to clean, but also difficult to keep dry in storage. The biggest difference among scope storage products is in their complexity. You can get a basic cabinet for an affordable price, but if you really want to go all out for your patients and staff, specialized cabinets with numerous scope-friendly features are available. Here are several aspects you need to consider when deciding which level of investment is right for your facility.

• Capacity. How many scopes do you have, and how many scopes do you envision having in the next several years? Use that number to find out how many cabinets you'll need to store them all.

My former facility recently spent around $100,000 on 3 storage cabinets. We had 46 scopes at that time, but had plans to add to our fleet. Each of the new cabinets held 20 scopes, which gave us the aggregate capacity to hang 60 scopes. Capacity can differ from vendor to vendor and model to model. With limited space, which is virtually a universal problem in our industry, a high-density storage cabinet might be your best bet. Remember: Your scopes should never touch, and they need to hang correctly, so don't go over the product's stated scope capacity.

• Channel-drying capabilities. This is a game-changer because evidence now supports the use of channel-drying technology to prevent biofilm from growing inside endoscope channels. The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) ST91 standard recommends that channels should be dry before endoscopes are stored, and that scopes should be hung in such a way as to prevent the collection of moisture and biofilm from growing in internal channels. AORN's evidence-based recommendation is to use drying cabinets that circulate continuous filtered air through each channel and within the cabinet as well. The Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA) also recommends channel drying during storage.

Appropriately enough, a growing number of cabinets don't just store clean scopes, but actively dry them as well. Now that the prevailing standard is that your scopes must be stored and must be bone dry, this is a feature you should seriously consider.

Different cabinets go about drying in different ways. Some work on timers, and alert you when drying is complete; others will keep drying until they're turned off. For cabinets without built-in drying capabilities, there are separate channel drying devices you can install in the cabinet. Look for circulated air that's HEPA-filtered. Some related cabinet features and options include fluid collection trays.

• Security. You need to restrict access to clean scopes, but also protect them from criminals. (Check out this $450,000 heist at a suburban Philadelphia facility: osmag.net/AQsCc5.) At the very least, get a cabinet that locks. For enhanced security, get one that requires an access code to open.
• Tracking technology. With tracking technology, you don't have to search your building or frantically ask around to find out where a particular scope is located. My former facility's new scopes and storage cabinets, for example, are outfitted with radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensors and tags. RFID detects and documents endoscopes placed into a cabinet. You can program the cabinet to understand when the scope is in storage, and how long it's been in there — which is useful because generally if a scope is in a cabinet for 7 days or more, it should be reprocessed. Some of the newest scopes come with integrated RFID sensors. To get the most out of RFID-enabled cabinets, your older scopes will need to be retrofitted with RFID tags.

Barcoding is a less expensive tracking method. If you already have a barcode tracking system, check to see if cabinet vendors have an interface for it.

Spend some time with several cabinets before you settle on a choice for your department. Get quotes from a few of the companies you think have the best products for your needs, and hopefully you'll find one that also fits your capital budget. OSM

Cantel/Medivators

ENDODRY

medivators.com
800-328-3345

Price: not provided

FYI: This cabinet uses instrument-grade air for direct channel drying. ?The company says a peer-reviewed study showed the cabinet dries internal lumens within 1 hour and external areas within 3 hours, and that scopes can be stored up to 31 days without an increase in microbial levels. A barcode reader is included for consistent data entry, endoscope tracking and user authorization. The cabinet also features a programmable maximum storage time, an alarm in case of pressure or power loss, internal digital documentation of process parameters, and an integrated multilingual information and control panel. This cabinet features 8 endoscope trays with interlocks, and is available in single-sided and pass-through configurations.

Cygnus Medical

Airtime Instrument Channel Dryer

cygnusmedical.com
800-990-7489

Price: under $3,000

FYI: You can easily add this scope drying system to your existing dryerless endoscope storage cabinets. Cygnus touts the dryer's dynamic, HEPA-filtered air flow, which it says shortens drying cycles and maximizes turnaround time and throughput in busy facilities. The low-decibel system ?operates with 2 ?independent ?pumps, and does not divide the ?air ?in half as a second scope is added. Sensors continuously monitor line pressure to prevent over-pressure of obstructed channels. Installation options include countertop, wall-mounted, IV pole or a Dual Airtime Cart that dries 4 scopes at a time.

Harloff

SureDry SC8136DRDP

harloff.com/scope-drying-and-storage-cabinets
800-433-4064

Price: not provided

FYI: Harloff says its scope cabinet's unique feature is its 3 intake and 2 exhaust fans. This setup creates a positive-pressure, HEPA-filtered drying system that replaces inside air 4 times per minute. The HEPA filters are replaceable from the top of the cabinet without having to remove stored scopes. The cabinets can hold 15 to 16 scopes, depending on the model, and can be ordered with numerous locking options. Available in stainless or painted steel, the cabinets are equipped to accommodate TRICOR Systems' Dri-Scope Aid (see below), so you can easily add that internal lumen drying system at a later date or fully integrate it at the time of purchase.

MASS Medical Storage

MASS truAIR

massmedicalstorage.com
800-593-1900

Price: not provided

FYI: HEPA-filtered, pressurized air flows directly into the cabinet's chamber and continuous positive air pressure is directed through each endoscope lumen. ?Designed to satisfy the Joint Commission's standards for endoscope storage, the cabinet includes a ?-?ltration system that replaces cabinet air every 2 minutes to create positive pressure. A padded back wall prevents damage to scopes' distal tips and rotating scope holders ease the loading and unloading of scopes. The cabinet also features a removable drip collection tray for easy cleaning. A separator rack isolates each scope to reduce the chance of cross-contamination.

Olympus

ChanlDry

medical.olympusamerica.com
800-848-9024

Price: not provided

FYI: This drying cabinet includes a pressure relief valve that protects endoscope channels from damage, and its Aux Water Port is designed specifically to dry auxiliary water channels. Olympus says that because the cabinet's compressor features multiple filters, it removes both moisture and 99.99% of air particulates up to 0.01 microns. Two independently filtered air-flow cycles distribute air both around the outside of endoscopes and through their channels at a regulated flow to eliminate the residual moisture that can lead to bacteria growth. A strategically placed air manifold enables easy placement and removal of scopes with a simple squeeze-and-release mechanism, while rotatable hangers allow scopes to hang vertically without touching each other. The cabinet's connectors are compatible with most flexible GI scopes, including colonoscopes, bronchoscopes, EUS scopes, duodenoscopes, gastroscopes and enteroscopes. The cabinet's stainless steel, rust-resistant surface is designed for easy cleaning. It's also available in a pass-through configuration for facilities designed with seperate reprocessing and storage areas.

Solaire Medical

Evolve

solairemedical.com
888-435-2256

Price: not provided

FYI: An automated system built into this cabient provides consistent and continuous delivery of HEPA-filtered, pressurized air into all endoscope channels to keep scopes dry. Specifically, it operates an automated 10-minute drying cycle-per-scope and continuous venting for overnight storage. The company adds that this cabinet is constructed of a proprietary durable, nonporous, bacteria- and moisture-resistant material. Surface finishes include glacier white, brushed aluminum or specified laminate, as well as in stainless steel.

Steelco USA

ED 250

steelco-usa.com
561-791-8313

Price: not provided

FYI: Here's a drying and storage product that not only provides HEPA-filtered air, but also offers the option of employing disinfecting ultraviolet (UV) light. Warm sterile air is incorporated into the cabinet to help dry scope exteriors, while scope channels are actively dried with sterile compressed air. The stainless-steel cabinet comes with tempered glass in single- or double-swing, lockable doors. Available in versions that can vertically hang 9 or 18 scopes of any brand or model, it also features pull-out slides with adjustable instrument supports to ensure scopes don't touch each other, and to allow each scope's distal tip and light source plug to be safely positioned. The cabinet can be outfitted with a barcode reader and printer for logging scopes when they're placed into storage and removed for use.

Steris Healthcare

Reliance

steris.com
800-548-4873

Price: not provided

FYI: This drying and storage cabinet is available in a range of styles and designs that can accommodate a variety of scope sizes. It features non-porous stainless-steel construction, a removable drip pan floor and requires no plumbing, standalone air compressors or other hookups. For drying, air is exchanged every 20 seconds and 3-phase filtration removes 99.7% of particulates. You can see the scopes hanging vertically thanks to tempered glass doors and internal lighting. Barcode tracking data, which can be shown on an attached screen and exported to other software systems, includes inventory planning and hang-time information. An easy-to-use swipe badge provides secure access.

Swinson Medical

EVC

swinsonmedical.com
800-227-1719

Price: from $1,925 (4-scope capacity) to $2,585 (12-scope capacity)

FYI: Value is the calling card of Swinson's no-frills endoscope storage cabinets. Laminated inside and out, with a gray exterior and white interior, they feature vents at the top of each side and the bottom of the cabinet. The company claims scopes will hang straight without touching the top or bottom of the cabinet. A galvanized drip tray ($75) and a rubber pad ($75) that covers the bottom 2 feet of the cabinet's back wall are available options.

TRICOR Systems

Dri-Scope Aid

driscope.com
847-841-2230

Price: not provided

FYI: What if you have an existing endoscope cabinet but, given new standards of care, you want to add drying capabilities? No need to buy a new cabinet with this drying system. It simply attaches to the cabinet you already have to supply HEPA-filtered air to all internal scope channels or lumens. It's available in 2 versions: one uses an internal pump, while the other uses medical or industrial air. Disposable connectors provide protection against cross contamination. With the push of a button, an automated drying cycle starts. For overnight storage, a rotating continuous venting cycle is available. Note: Several cabinet manufacturers now offer Dri-Scope Aid preinstalled.