Abstract: Objective: To evaluate an Internet of Things (IoT)-based intelligent logistics management platform for surgical instruments and provide evidence for refined instrument management. Methods: The platform was built through IoT deployment across the operating room and Central Sterile Supply Department, unique chip-based identification of instrument sets, intelligent pre-allocation, and automated circulation by logistics robots. Surgical instruments used in 5,016 operations performed from May to July 2025 in a tertiary grade A hospital in Zhejiang province were assigned to the observation group, while 5,887 operations during the same period in 2024 served as the control group. Efficiency, safety, and economic outcomes were compared before and after platform implementation. Results: After implementation, the daily inventory-checking time in the sterile storage area decreased from 203.90±1.14 min/day to 24.73±0.16 min/day (P<0.001). The intraoperative instrument localization rate increased from 82.13% to 98.37%, and the instrument turnover rate increased from 87.50% to 97.61% (all P<0.001). For safety outcomes, the incidence of instrument handover abnormalities decreased from 1.65% to 0.22%, and the pre-allocation defect rate decreased from 8.77% to 1.28% (all P<0.001). For economic outcomes, both the processing cost per instrument set and labor costs were lower in the observation group than those in the control group. Conclusion: This platform can reduce nurses' time spent on instrument processing, improve instrument localization and turnover efficiency, decrease pre-allocation defects and handover abnormalities, reduce safety risks, optimize resource utilization, and help control hospital operating costs.

Key words: surgical instrument; Internet of Things; RFID; intelligent logistics; nursing management