Drug delivery device incorporating a tracking code

• US 20020099334A1
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merative US LP
• Original Assignee: Merge Healthcare Solutions Incorporated (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanson, Robert, Sudduth, Barry, Detar, Don
• Granted Patent: US 8,140,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/189
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A tracking code is adhered to a syringe label cradle for tracking each activity regarding the syringe label cradle, e.g., drug preparation, drug inventory, drug dispensing, drug administration, drug return, drug charges, etc. The tracking code may be in the form of bar or other machine readable code, as well as human readable indicia. The unique tracking code enables tracking of events pertaining to a specific syringe from the time of being prepared with a prescribed drug to its disposal or return to a hospital pharmacy. A log is created relating the patient to the specific drug used and all information inputted with respect to the tracking code.

Claims

1. A medical device for the administration of a drug, said device comprising a source of a drug to be administered to a patient, a holder for said source, and a tracking code operatively associated with said source.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said tracking code comprises a bar code.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said source comprises a syringe.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said holder comprises a syringe label cradle, said syringe attached to said cradle.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said source comprises an IV port.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said holder comprises a port label cradle, said IV port being attached to said cradle.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said tracking code comprises a bar code printed onto a label adhered to said holder.

8. A syringe label cradle unit comprising a syringe label cradle, a syringe attached to said cradle, and a tracking code affixed to at least one of said cradle and said syringe.

9. The unit of claim 8, wherein said tracking code comprises a bar code printed onto a label affixed to at least one of said cradle and said syringe.

10. The unit of claim 9, wherein said label is affixed to said cradle.

11. The unit of claim 8, wherein said tracking code identifies a single syringe associated with a single patient.

13. The unit of claim 12, wherein said tracking code comprises a bar code printed onto a label affixed to at least one of said cradle and said IV port.

14. The unit of claim 13, wherein said label is affixed to said cradle.

15. The unit of claim 14, wherein said tracking code identifies a single IV port associated with a single patient.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said data is stored on a storage device.

18. The method of claim 17, further including retrieving said data associated with said tracking code from said storage device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said tracking code comprises a bar code.

20. The method of claim 19, further including scanning said bar code for identifying said drug associated with said bar code prior to administration of said drug to a patient.

21. The method of claim 16, further including affixing said source to a cradle.

22. The method of claim 21, further including adhering a label containing said tracking code to at least one of said cradle and said source.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said cradle comprises a syringe label cradle.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said cradle comprises a port label cradle.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein said source comprises a syringe.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein said source comprises an IV port.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said source comprises a syringe.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said source comprises an IV port.

30. The method of claim 27, said tracking code identifies a single source associated with a single patient.

12. A port label cradle unit comprising a port label cradle, an IV port attached to said cradle, and a tracking code affixed to at least one of said cradle and said IV port.

16. A method for tracking data associated with a medical device adapted for the administration of a drug to a patient, said method comprising providing a source of a drug to be administered to a patient, associating a tracking code with said source, providing date associated with said drug to be administered, and storing said data in association with said tracking code.

27. A method for tracking data associated with a medical device adapted for the administration of a drug to a patient, said method comprising providing a source of a drug to be administered to a patient, affixing said source in a cradle, providing a label having a bar code corresponding to a tracking code affixed to at least one of said source and said cradle, identifying data associated with said drug and said patient, storing said data in association with said tracking code on a storage device, and retrieving said data from said storage device in response to said tracking code.

31. A system for tracking data associated with a medical device adapted for the administration of a drug to a patient, said device comprising a cradle, a source of a drug to be administered to a patient attached to said cradle, a tracking code associated with at least one of said cradle and said source, and a storage and retrieval device for storing and retrieving data related to said drug in association with said tracking code.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said source comprises a syringe.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein said source comprises an IV port.

34. The system of claim 31, said tracking code comprises a bar code.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein said tracking code is printed on a label adhered to said cradle.

36. The system of claim 31, further including a scanner for reading said tracking code.