Material tracking, monitoring and management systems and methods
First Claim
1. A material movement tracking system for tracking a movement of a medical material within a desired environment, the system comprising:
- a radio frequency identification tag affixed to a container holding the medical material; and
at least one radio frequency identification reader adapted to at least one of read and write information to the radio frequency identification tag when the tag comes within a predetermined range of the reader, the reader being placed in a strategic location within the desired environment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for tracking, monitoring and managing a material are provided. The system and method include material having a radio frequency identification tag storing material information including tracking information, usage information and inventory information. A number of radio frequency identification readers are strategically placed throughout a desired environment to track and monitor the movement of the material within the desired environment. Further radio frequency identification readers throughout the desired environment are configured to track the usage of the material and to monitor the material for improper usage. Thus, the readers are able to create a comprehensive material tracking, monitoring and managing system.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A material movement tracking system for tracking a movement of a medical material within a desired environment, the system comprising:
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a radio frequency identification tag affixed to a container holding the medical material; and
at least one radio frequency identification reader adapted to at least one of read and write information to the radio frequency identification tag when the tag comes within a predetermined range of the reader, the reader being placed in a strategic location within the desired environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of tracking a movement of a material within a desired environment, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing at least one radio frequency identification reader in a strategic location within the desired environment, the reader designed to read a radio frequency identification tag affixed to a container holding the material;
reading the tag when the tag comes within a predetermined area surrounding the reader; and
writing information to the tag each time the tag comes within the predetermined area surrounding the reader. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A material usage monitoring system, comprising:
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a radio frequency identification tag affixed to a container holding a material; and
a handheld computing device having a radio frequency identification reader, the handheld computing device being configured to read and write usage information to the radio frequency identification tag via the radio frequency identification reader. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of monitoring a usage of a material, the method comprising the steps of:
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reading usage data stored in a radio frequency identification tag affixed to a container holding the material, the usage data including a current amount of the material in the container;
noting a usage amount of the material; and
writing usage information to the tag, the usage information reflecting an updated amount which includes the usage amount subtracted from the current amount. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A medical disposable monitoring system, comprising:
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a medical disposable having a radio frequency identification tag affixed thereto, the radio frequency identification tag storing at least one usage parameter for the medical disposable and at least one key operating parameter for the medical disposable, the usage parameters corresponding to the key operating parameters;
a radio frequency identification reader for reading the usage parameters and the key operating parameters; and
a computing device in communication with the radio frequency identification reader for creating an alert if at least one of the key operating parameters exceeds a limit set by the corresponding usage parameters. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of monitoring a medical disposable, the method comprising the steps of:
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reading a radio frequency identification tag affixed to the medical disposable before each use of the medical disposable, the tag storing at least one usage parameter for the medical disposable and at least one key operating parameter for the medical disposable, the usage parameters corresponding to the key operating parameters; and
creating an alert when at least one of the key operating parameters exceeds a limit set by the corresponding usage parameters;
- View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification