Challenges with Medical Device Barcode Scanning
Barcodes play a crucial role in streamlining workflow efficiency, ensuring patient safety, and enhancing data accuracy within the medical industry. However, barcode scanning in medical labs and healthcare settings presents distinct challenges. These include scanning multiple barcodes simultaneously, dealing with small barcodes or those on curved surfaces such as lab sample vials, and managing poor direct part marking (DPM) image quality caused by frequent sterilization of medical devices.
Such factors can significantly impact scanning reliability and accuracy, requiring advanced barcode scanning technology to overcome these hurdles. This blog will discuss key challenges and how you can address them.
Challenges in Medical Device Barcode Scanning
Medical device barcode scanning faces several challenges, some are outlined below. These issues can impact the accuracy and efficiency of barcode scanning in critical healthcare environments.
1. Batch Scanning
Batch scanning multiple barcodes is common in the medical laboratories, where multiple samples are analyzed quickly. Multiple barcodes scanning poses issues such as long scanning times, missed barcodes, and a need for more accuracy when scanning barcodes simultaneously.
One of the primary issues is that multiple barcode types need to be scanned simultaneously. These barcodes can vary in size, shape, and angle, making it difficult for scanners to accurately read all of them at once. In many cases, barcodes are tiny, curved, or stamped onto materials like plastic, which further complicates the scanning process. For example, barcodes on small medical vials or tubes are often curved and the scanners must compensate for this distortion to ensure a correct read.
Also, the scanning environment may introduce variables that affect barcode readability. Poor lighting conditions, fast movement of samples, or occlusion (where one barcode is partially blocked by another) can cause certain barcodes to be missed. These factors make it challenging for medical device scanners to capture every barcode in a batch accurately.
2. Poor Image Quality
Barcodes with poor image quality are one of the most significant challenges in medical device scanning. Exposure to moisture, sanitizers, various harsh chemicals and rays, or insufficient lighting can degrade the quality of the barcode image, making it difficult for the scanner to interpret the information accurately. In medical environments, where precision is paramount, even a slight error in scanning can lead to significant risks.
3. Glare
Glare is a significant obstacle in barcode scanning, particularly when barcodes are placed on reflective surfaces. Items like plastic-wrapped medical supplies or containers can produce glare that reduces the contrast between the barcode’s dark lines and the lighter spaces. This makes it harder for scanners to accurately read the barcode as they rely on this contrast to capture the image correctly.
In addition, smartphone scanners with built-in flashlights can worsen the problem, as the light may reflect off glossy surfaces, further disrupting the barcode’s visibility. Tape placed over barcodes can also create glare, adding another layer of difficulty in obtaining an accurate scan.
These challenges not only slow down the scanning process but can also lead to errors in reading critical information, especially in medical environments where precision is essential.
4. Curved Barcodes
Many medical devices, vials, or tubes have barcodes placed on curved surfaces. These curved surfaces can distort the barcode’s alignment, complicating the scanning process. The difficulty increases when barcodes are placed on small or irregularly shaped surfaces, leading to higher chances of scanning errors.
Overcoming Challenges with Dynamsoft’s Advanced Scanning Solution
Dynamsoft’s advanced barcode scanning technology provides tailored solutions to address the unique challenges in medical environments, ensuring reliable, accurate, and fast barcode scanning. Its cutting-edge features and technologies help tackle challenges related to barcode scanning such as multiple barcode scanning, poor image quality and barcodes on curved surfaces.
Listed below are some ways by which Dynamsoft Barcode Reader aids in improving image quality and scanning barcodes on medical devices:
1. Advanced Batch Scanning
Enhanced batch scanning for high accuracy is crucial for environments requiring rapid processing. Medical environments often handle large volumes of items that need to be scanned simultaneously.
Dynamsoft Barcode Reader can process over 100 barcodes at once, maintaining a near-perfect read rate. A unique feature is its ability to generate a panoramic image of all scanned barcodes, highlighting any unreadable or duplicated ones for quick review. This improves productivity by speeding up batch scanning and also reduces human errors, streamlining medical operations.
2. Poor Image Quality and Other Concerns
Medical device barcodes can often be worn out, poorly printed, or exposed to variable lighting conditions. One of the key features of Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK (DBR) is advanced camera control and image processing. It directly addresses the issue of poor image quality. It integrates high-precision camera controls and sophisticated image processing techniques to overcome these hurdles.
With dynamic adjustments to lighting conditions and image enhancement methods such as contrast boosting and noise reduction, even degraded barcodes can be scanned with high accuracy. This improves scanning success rates, especially in medical settings where barcode legibility may vary.
3. Blurred Images and Error Handling
Another critical feature is dynamic deblurring and error handling. Medical device barcodes are often blurred due to regular wear and tear, handling, or damage. This can slow down scanning processes or lead to errors.
Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK incorporates configurable deblurring modes to solve this. Advanced deblurring modes, such as DM_DEEP_ANALYSIS, allow thorough decoding of highly blurred barcodes. Simpler modes like DM_BASED_ON_LOC_BIN and DM_THRESHOLD_BINARIZATION ensure quicker scans when high accuracy is not the topmost priority.
This adaptability helps the medical staff adjust their scanning strategies based on the complexity of the task, maintaining a balance between speed and precision.
4. Minimizing Glare from Reflective Surfaces
Glare from reflective surfaces such as plastic-wrapped medical supplies or containers can significantly reduce the contrast between barcode lines, making scanning difficult.
Dynamsoft Barcode Reader offers an effective solution to this issue through its adaptive binarization mode called BM_LOCAL_BLOCK. This intelligent technique adjusts the thresholding for different regions of the image, allowing the scanner to overcome glare from reflective surfaces or tape-covered barcodes. By improving contrast dynamically in problematic areas, glare is minimized, and barcode readability is enhanced, even under challenging lighting conditions.
Another powerful feature is the GEM_GRAY_EQUALIZE mode. It preprocesses the grayscale image using an equalization algorithm. This mode boosts the contrast in barcodes that have low contrast between the content and background, helping mitigate glare-related issues.
These features ensure accurate barcode scanning in diverse lighting conditions, allowing medical professionals to focus on efficiency without worrying about readability.
5. Decoding Curved and Distorted Barcodes
Lastly, adapting to curved and distorted barcodes is essential in medical devices, where barcodes are frequently placed on curved surfaces. DBR’s specialized image processing algorithms and DeformationResistingModes compensate for distortions caused by curved surfaces, ensuring accurate decoding even when barcodes are stretched or warped. With adjustments in scanning angles or specific algorithms for non-flat surfaces, medical staff can confidently scan barcodes, minimizing the risk of errors.
By incorporating these advanced methods, Dynamsoft Barcode Reader ensures smooth and efficient barcode scanning in critical medical environments, enhancing accuracy and productivity
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