Device and method for simultaneously identifying a plurality of surgical instruments

1. A device for a batch detection of a plurality of different surgical instruments or instrument groups, the device comprising:

a first detecting device including a first detection technology comprising an RFID technology for detecting instruments and related instrument-specific information (E 1 );

a second detecting device including a second detection technology different from the first detection technology, said second detection technology comprising an optical instrument shape identification for detecting instruments and related instrument-specific information (E 2 ); and

a comparing device for comparing the detection results (E 1 ) and (E 2 ) of the first and second detection devices, respectively,

wherein the comparing device outputs a positive evaluation regarding the correctness of detected instruments if the detection results (E 1 ) and (E 2 ) are matching,

wherein the device further includes a scale for weight detection; and

wherein said comparing device carries out a plausibility check of a positive evaluation based on the detected instruments and their weight data deposited in a predetermined data set, by comparing a detected actual weight to the weight data.

2. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a display device by which an evaluation and product-specific information are displayed, wherein the predetermined data set (L 1 ) contains additional information, which is output by the display device when the respective instrument is identified.

3. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a vibrating device and/or a conveyor belt device for separating the instruments arranged upstream or downstream in time and/or in place; and

a control device for controlling the vibrating device and/or conveyor belt device which at least once actuates the vibrating device and/or conveyor belt device for a predetermined period of time before the instrument information is detected or repeatedly detected.

4. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a device for changing a relative orientation and/or a relative distance between the instruments and the detecting devices.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is configured as a tunnel reader, and the tunnel reader is an encapsulated housing in the form of a pass-through.

6. A method for a batch detection of a plurality of

different surgical instruments or instrument groups, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the instruments by a first detecting device by means of a first detection technology comprising an RFID technology, the first detecting device detecting a detection result (E 1 );

detecting the instruments by a second detecting device by means of a second detecting technology that comprises optical instrument shape identification, the second detecting device detecting a detection result (E 2 );

comparing the detection results (E 1 ) and (E 2 ) with a comparing device, wherein a positive evaluation is output if the detection results (E 1 ) and (E 2 ) are matching;

detecting an actual weight of the instruments by means of a scale for weight detection; and

carrying out a plausibility check of the positive evaluation based on the instruments and their weight data deposited in a predetermined data set by comparing a detected actual weight to the weight data.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising the step of actuating a vibrating device for a predetermined period of time when no positive evaluation can be output, wherein after actuating the vibrating device the detection results (E 1 ) and (E 2 ) are repeatedly detected.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the comparing device compares the two detection results (E1, E2) to a predetermined data set (L1) and outputs a positive evaluation if at least one of the two detection results (E1, E2) or at least a combination of the two detection results (E1, E2) matches the predetermined data set (L1).

9. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:

comparing the detection results (E1) and (E2) to a predetermined data set (L1); and

outputting a positive evaluation if at least one of the two detection results (E1) and (E2) matches the predetermined data set (L1) or a combination of the two detection results (E1) and (E2) matches the predetermined data set (L1).