Method and equipment adapted for verifying presence of a medical implant within a patient

• US 20040172286A1
• Filed: 02/18/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Andrus Flood
• Original Assignee: Mark Andrus Flood
• Inventors: Flood, Mark Andrus
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS

Abstract

One embodiment of the disclosures made herein is a method adapted for verifying presence of a medical implant within a patient. Such an embodiment includes performing an operation for authenticating a medical implant patient, whereby the patient includes an authenticated-patient. In response to successfully authenticating the medical implant patient, an operation is performed for creating an authenticated-patient medical implant verification account (MIVA) for the medical implant patient. An operation is performed for issuing an authenticated-patient medical implant verification card (MIVC) to the medical implant patient in response to creating the authenticated-patient MIVA for the medical implant patient. After creating the authenticate-patient MIVA and issuing the MIVC, an operation is performed for facilitating patient-authorized access to the MIVA.

Claims

1. A method adapted for verifying presence of a medical implant within a patient, comprising:

authenticating a medical implant patient;

creating an authenticated-patient medical implant verification account (MIVA) for the medical implant patient in response to successfully authenticating the medical implant patient; and

issuing an authenticated-patient medical implant verification card (MIVC) to the medical implant patient in response to creating the authenticated-patient MIVA for the medical implant patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein authenticating the medical implant patient includes correlating an x-ray image of a medical implant, patient identification information and an implant operation scar.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein authenticating the medical implant patient includes correlating an operative report of the medical implant patient, an x-ray image of a medical implant, patient identification information and an implant operation scar.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein authenticating the medical implant patient includes correlating at least a required portion of an operative report, an x-ray image of a medical implant, patient identification information and an implant operation scar.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein creating the authenticated-patient MIVA includes generating a MIVA number and a generating a MIVA passcode.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein creating the authenticated-patient MIVA includes instantiating an account instance with a system-generated MIVA number and a MIVA passcode.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein creating the authenticated-patient MIVA further includes transmitting a MIVA creation confirmation message for reception by the medical implant patient, wherein the MIVA creation confirmation message includes the MIVA passcode.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein issuing the authenticated-patient MIVC includes providing the system-generated MIVA number on the authenticated-patient MIVC.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein creating the authenticated-patient MIVA further includes instantiating an account instance with an identifier designating a verified image of a medical implant within the medical implant patient and an identifier designating a verified image of an implant operation scar of the medical implant patient.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein creating the authenticated-patient MIVA further includes instantiating an account instance with a system-generated MIVA number, a MIVA passcode, an identifier designating a verified image of a medical implant within the patient, an identifier designating a verified image of an implant operation scar of the patient.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein creating the authenticated-patient MIVA further includes facilitating authorized access to the authenticated-patient MIVA after issuing the authenticated-patient MIVC.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein facilitating authorized access includes enabling MIVA access in response to matching access information maintained in the authenticated-patient MIVA with access information received from a MIVA access system.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein facilitating authorized access further includes receiving said access information from a MIVA access system.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein receiving said access information includes receiving a MIVA number and a MIVA passcode.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the authenticated-patient MIVA includes access information for enabling access to the authenticated-patient MIVA to be granted and patient-specific implant image identifiers;

and further comprising;

enabling a MIVA access system access to verified medical implant information of the medical implant patient in response to matching access information maintained in the authenticated-patient MIVA with access information received from the MIVA access system.

16. A method adapted for verifying presence of a medical implant within a medical implant patient, comprising:

maintaining an authenticated-patient medical implant verification account (MIVA) for a medical implant patient, wherein the authenticated-patient MIVA includes access information for enabling access to the authenticated-patient MIVA to be granted and patient-specific implant image identifiers; and

enabling a MIVA access system access to verified medical implant information of the medical implant patient in response to matching access information maintained in the authenticated-patient MIVA with access information received from the MIVA access system.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said access information includes a MIVA number and a MIVA passcode.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said patient-specific implant image identifiers include an identifier designating a verified image of a medical implant within the medical implant patient and an identifier designating a verified image of an implant operation scar of the medical implant patient.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing images corresponding to said patient-specific implant image identifiers within storage of a Medical Implant Verification System (MIVS).

20. The method of claim 19 wherein storing said images includes storing a verified image of a medical implant within the medical implant patient and a verified image of an implant operation scar of the medical implant patient.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein enabling the MIVA access system access to said verified medical implant information includes enabling downloading of images corresponding to said patient-specific implant image identifiers for reception by the MIVA access system.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said patient-specific implant image identifiers include an identifier designating a verified image of a medical implant within the medical implant patient and an identifier designating a verified image of an implant operation scar of the medical implant patient.

23. An apparatus adapted for verifying presence of a medical implant within a medical implant patient, comprising:

memory;

a data processor coupled to said memory; and

a data processor program accessible from said memory by the data processor, wherein said data processor program is adapted for enabling the data processor to facilitate;

authenticating a medical implant patient;

creating an authenticated-patient medical implant verification account (MIVA) for the medical implant patient in response to successfully authenticating the medical implant patient; and

issuing an authenticated-patient medical implant verification card (MIVC) to the medical implant patient in response to creating the authenticated-patient MIVA for the medical implant patient.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate authenticating the medical implant patient includes enabling the data processor to facilitate correlating an x-ray image of a medical implant, patient identification information and an implant operation scar.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate authenticating the medical implant patient includes enabling the data processor to facilitate correlating an operative report, an x-ray image of a medical implant, patient identification information and an implant operation scar.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate authenticating the medical implant patient includes enabling the data processor to facilitate correlating at least a required portion of an operative report, an x-ray image of a medical implant, patient identification information and an implant operation scar.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate creating the authenticated-patient MIVA includes enabling the data processor to facilitate generating a MIVA number and a generating a MIVA passcode.

28. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate creating the authenticated-patient MIVA includes enabling the data processor to facilitate instantiating an account instance with a system-generated MIVA number and a MIVA passcode.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein:

the data processor program is further adapted for enabling the data processor to facilitate transmitting a MIVA creation confirmation message for reception by the medical implant patient; and

the MIVA creation confirmation message includes the MIVA passcode.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate issuing the authenticated-patient MIVC includes enabling the data processor to facilitate providing the system-generated MIVA number on the authenticated-patient MIVC.

31. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate creating the authenticated-patient MIVA further includes enabling the data processor to facilitate instantiating an account instance with an identifier designating a verified image of a medical implant within the medical implant patient and an identifier designating a verified image of an implant operation scar of the medical implant patient.

32. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate creating the authenticated-patient MIVA further includes enabling the data processor to facilitate instantiating an account instance with a system-generated MIVA number, a MIVA passcode, an identifier designating a verified image of a medical implant within the medical implant patient, an identifier designating a verified image of an implant operation scar of the medical implant patient.

33. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the data processor program is further adapted for enabling the data processor to facilitate authorizing access to the authenticated-patient MIVA after enabling the data processor to facilitate issuing the authenticated-patient MIVC.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate authorizing access includes enabling the data processor to facilitate enabling MIVA access in response to matching access information maintained in the authenticated-patient MIVA with access information received from a MIVA access system.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate authorizing access further includes enabling the data processor to facilitate receiving said access information from a MIVA access system.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate receiving said access information includes enabling the data processor to facilitate receiving a MIVA number and a MIVA passcode.

37. An apparatus adapted for verifying presence of a medical implant within a patient, comprising:

memory;

a data processor coupled to said memory; and

a data processor program accessible from said memory by the data processor, wherein said data processor program is adapted for enabling the data processor to facilitate;

maintaining an authenticated-patient medical implant verification account (MIVA) for a patient, wherein the authenticated-patient MIVA includes access information for enabling access to the authenticated-patient MIVA to be granted and patient-specific implant image identifiers; and

enabling a MIVA access system access to verified medical implant information of the medical implant patient in response to matching access information maintained in the authenticated-patient MIVA with access information received from the MIVA access system.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said access information includes a MIVA number and a MIVA passcode.

39. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said patient-specific implant image identifiers include an identifier designating a verified image of a medical implant within medical implant patient and an identifier designating a verified image of an implant operation scar of medical implant patient.

40. The apparatus of claim 37 the data processor program is further adapted for enabling the data processor to facilitate storing images corresponding to said patient-specific implant image identifiers within storage of a Medical Implant Verification System (MIVS).

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate storing said images includes enabling the data processor to facilitate storing a verified image of a medical implant within medical implant patient and a verified image of an implant operation scar of medical implant patient.

42. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate enabling the MIVA access system access to said verified medical implant information includes enabling the data processor to facilitate enabling downloading of images corresponding to said patient-specific implant image identifiers for reception by the MIVA access system.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said patient-specific implant image identifiers include an identifier designating a verified image of a medical implant within medical implant patient and an identifier designating a verified image of an implant operation scar of medical implant patient.

44. An apparatus adapted for verifying presence of a medical implant within a patient, comprising:

means for authenticating a medical implant patient;

means for creating an authenticated-patient medical implant verification account (MIVA) for medical implant patient in response to successfully authenticating the medical implant patient; and

means for issuing an authenticated-patient medical implant verification card (MIVC) to medical implant patient in response to creating the authenticated-patient MIVA for medical implant patient.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said means for authenticating the medical implant patient is adapted for correlating an x-ray image of a medical implant, patient identification information and an implant operation scar.

46. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said means for authenticating the medical implant patient is adapted for correlating an operative report of medical implant patient, an x-ray image of a medical implant, patient identification information and an implant operation scar of medical implant patient.

47. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said means for authenticating the medical implant patient is adapted for correlating at least a required portion of an operative report, an x-ray image of a medical implant, patient identification information and an implant operation scar.

48. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said means for creating the authenticated-patient MIVA is adapted for generating a MIVA number and a generating a MIVA passcode.

49. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said means for creating the authenticated-patient MIVA is adapted for instantiating an account instance with a system-generated MIVA number and a MIVA passcode.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein said means for issuing the authenticated-patient MIVC is adapted for providing the system-generated MIVA number on the authenticated-patient MIVC.

51. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said means for creating the authenticated-patient MIVA is adapted for instantiating an account instance with an identifier designating a verified image of a medical implant within medical implant patient and an identifier designating a verified image of an implant operation scar of medical implant patient.

52. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said means for creating the authenticated-patient MIVA is adapted for instantiating an account instance with a system-generated MIVA number, a MIVA passcode, an identifier designating a verified image of a medical implant within medical implant patient, an identifier designating a verified image of an implant operation scar of medical implant patient.

53. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising:

means for facilitating authorized access to the authenticated-patient MIVA after issuing the authenticated-patient MIVC.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein said means for facilitating authorized access is adapted for enabling MIVA access in response to matching access information maintained in the authenticated-patient MIVA with access information received from a MIVA access system.

55. The apparatus of claim 54 wherein said means for facilitating authorized access is adapted for receiving said access information from a MIVA access system.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein receiving said access information includes receiving a MIVA number and a MIVA passcode.

57. An apparatus adapted for verifying presence of a medical implant within a patient, comprising:

means for maintaining an authenticated-patient medical implant verification account (MIVA) for a patient, wherein the authenticated-patient MIVA includes access information for enabling access to the authenticated-patient MIVA to be granted and patient-specific implant image identifiers; and

means for enabling a MIVA access system access to verified medical implant information of the medical implant patient in response to matching access information maintained in the authenticated-patient MIVA with access information received from the MIVA access system.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein said access information includes a MIVA number and a MIVA passcode.

59. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein said patient-specific implant image identifiers include an identifier designating a verified image of a medical implant within medical implant patient and an identifier designating a verified image of an implant operation scar of medical implant patient.

60. The apparatus of claim 57, further comprising:

means for storing images corresponding to said patient-specific implant image identifiers within storage of a Medical Implant Verification System (MIVS).

61. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein said means for storing said images is adapted for storing a verified image of a medical implant within medical implant patient and a verified image of an implant operation scar of medical implant patient.

62. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein said means for enabling the MIVA access system access to said verified medical implant information is adapted for enabling downloading of images corresponding to said patient-specific implant image identifiers for reception by the MIVA access system.

63. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein said patient-specific implant image identifiers include an identifier designating a verified image of a medical implant within medical implant patient and an identifier designating a verified image of an implant operation scar of the medical implant patient.

64. A Medical Implant Verification Card (MIVC), comprising:

a card having a first side and a second side,

a Medical Implant Verification Account (MIVA) number of a patient on one of said sides of the card;

an verified image of an implanted medical implant of the patient on one of said sides of the card.

65. The MIVC of claim 64 wherein the MIVA number is a number generated by a medical implant verification system.

66. The MIVC of claim 64 wherein:

the MIVA number is provided on the first side of the card; and

the verified image of the implanted medical implant is provided on a second side of the card.

67. The MIVC of claim 66 wherein the verified image of the implanted medical implant is a reproduction of an X-ray image.

68. The MIVC of claim 64, further comprising:

a verified image of an actual implant operation scar of the patient provided on one of said sides of the of the card.

69. The MIVC of claim 68 wherein:

the MIVA number is provided on the first side of the card;

the verified image of the implanted medical implant is provided on a second side of the card; and

the verified image of the actual implant operation scar is provided on the second side of the card.

70. The MIVC of claim 69 wherein the verified image of the implanted medical implant is a reproduction of an X-ray image.