Responsive manufacturing and inventory control

• US 20030061123A1
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Published: 03/27/2003
• 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 6,925,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• 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 communications with a programmer. The programmer provides access to product information, specification and related data for implanted medical devices from which build-to-order and build-to-replenish commands are issued to the manufacturing center. The system is interactive within the consumption management system that is integrally and seamlessly connected with patients, hospitals, sales offices and related information hubs including manufacturing facilities. The invention enables management of inventory levels of medical devices through the interactive information management system by accurately accounting for inventory stored in sales offices, distributors and sales representatives, as well as implanting institutions to ensure that all centers have appropriate and adequate stock that is replaced on just-in-time basis under the build-to-replenish scheme.

Claims

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

a Web-enabled information network;

a programmer; and

at least one implanted medical device, deployed from a known source, said Web-enabled information network being in bi-directional data communications scheme with the 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 implements a Global Communications and Monitoring system (GCMS).

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

4. 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 communications scheme to store manufacturing information in addition to information about the at least one implanted medical device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one implanted medical device includes one of a new implant or an old implant needing an upgrade.

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

7. A medical device inventory and production control system synchronous with various phases of product manufacturing for standard, customized and newly approved, modified/redesigned devices and to stock various consumption hubs including hospitals, sales offices, distributors and sales representatives on a just-in-time basis under a build to order and build to replenish production scheme, the system comprising:

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

at lest one programmer being in a bi-directional communications link with the Web-enabled information network; and

at least one device implanted in a patient taken out of one of the consumption hubs, and having a wireless communication with the programmer to thereby route device information to the Web-enabled information network.

8. A method for managing medical device inventory and production to coordinate and maintain a just-in-time inventory on a build-to-order production scheme wherein a manufacturing process and sales/distribution hubs are synchronized to track the medical device at all points in the product manufacture, sale, delivery and implantation chain, the method comprising:

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

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

updating a hub'"'"'s inventory when a medical device is consumed by implementing a build-to-order and build-to-replenish scheme; and

maintaining device identity and associated patient information via a programmer interface.