Responsive manufacturing and inventory control

• US 20020077850A1
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Campbell, Christopher J., Thompson, David L., Ruble, Barbara K., McMenimen, James L., Fabian, Willa M., Clark, Larry G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,882,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A medical device production and supply information management system synchronous with manufacturing, planning and scheduling, product consumption forecast and component purchase to enable just-in-time inventory control at the manufacturing facility, vendor stocks, material/product tracking, distribution and shipping management, to thereby reduce inventory at all points in the product manufacturing distribution/delivery chain. The system is implemented using a preferably Web-enabled information network and data communication with a programmer. The programmer provides access to product information, specification and related data for implanted medical devices from which build-to-order or build-to-replenish commands are issued to the manufacturing center. The system is interactive within the information management system that is integrally and seamlessly connected with patients, hospitals, sales offices and related consumption hubs, including manufacturing facilities. One aspect of the present invention includes a data base containing the information management system, that may download all pertinent software relative to the implanted device to an automated manufacturing line. Procedurally, the database is examined to determined if there are any custom specifications required for the build-to-replenish or build-to-order. In the event there are custom requirements, the database retrieves any custom software which is then downloaded into the device'"'"'s firmware, during the build-to-replenish or build-to-order. A standard data set will include the device type, model number, serial number, name of the implanting physician, the name of the sales representative and the name of the implanting institution. A customized data set may include, for example, specific functions and/or features, a patient warning alarm, a voice alert in the patient'"'"'s own language, customized shipping parameters, shipping labels, patient'"'"'s name and identification number, scheduled date of implant, and/or the location where the implant is to take place, as well as a sufficient inventory management system level. All this data, when received, will automatically initiate a build-to-order replenishment to match and replace the customized device implanted at that institution. Once an order is made, the manufacturing data base will determine whether all components are required to complete the order available at the factory site located nearest the implanting institution. In the event components are not available, the manufacturing database issues an order to the component supplier. In this manner, the invention enables management of inventory levels of medical devices through the interacting information management system by timely and accurately sharing information across the various hubs, thereby ensuring manufacturing efficiency and cost control throughout the chain of production and supply.

Claims

1. A medical device manufacturing and supply information management system comprising:

a Web-enabled information network having data communications with the manufacturing process;

a programmer; and

at least one implanted medical device having specific features, including customized features having customized data sets deployed from a known source, said Web-enabled information network being in bi-directional data communications scheme with a programmer, and the programmer being in data communication with said implanted medical device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said Web-enabled information network includes one of satellite based telecommunications link and a cellular link.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said programmer is implemented to interface between the medical device and the Web-enabled information network via the bi-directional data communication scheme to store and transfer said customized data set and information about the at least one implanted medical device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one implanted medical device includes said customized data set relating to specific device functions and/or features, a patient warning alarm, a voice alert in the patient'"'"'s own language, patient'"'"'s name and identification number, name of the implanting institution and physician and the date of the implant, as well as the hubs inventory management system label.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said known source includes at least one of the manufacturing center, hospital, sales office, distributor, having data communications with the Web-enabled information network.

6. A medical device inventory and production control system synchronous with various phases of product manufacturing for customized devices and to start various consumption hubs including hospitals, sales offices, distributors and sales representatives on a build-to-order basis and a build-to-order production scheme, the system comprising:

a Web-enabled information network being in data communication with manufacturing, shipping/delivery and the various consumption hubs;

at least one programmer being in a bi-directional data communication scheme with a Web-enabled information network; and

at least one device implanted in a patient taken out of one of the consumption hubs, and having a customized data set downloadable to the Web-enabled information network via the programmer to thereby route device information to the manufacturing facility, having access to the Web-enabled information network.

7. A method for managing medical device inventory production to coordinate and maintain a just-in-time inventory when a build-to-order/build-to-replenish production scheme, wherein the manufacturing process and sales distribution hubs are synchronized to tract the implantation of a customized medical device, the method comprising:

providing a Web-enabled information network, having bi-directional data communication with the hubs;

maintaining an inventory of all medical devices at the hubs and at the manufacturing facility;

downloading a customized data set for the device in a programmer transferring the customized data set to a manufacturing plant via the Web-enabled information network to start a build-to-order/build-to-replenish operation.