Surgical safety procedure and apparatus

• US 20040236871A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Waxman
• Original Assignee: Bruce Waxman
• Inventors: Waxman, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,297,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A safety device and procedure for use in correlating a patient and an intended surgical procedure uses a micro-chip programmed with specific information about the patient and the surgery. Part of the information lists an authorized person that may remove the micro-chip. The micro-chip is attached to the patient at the anatomical location of the intended surgery. The chip is scanned to retrieve the information before surgery and if the patient and the surgery are correlated, a printout is placed in the patient'"'"'s chart. The authorized person removes the chip and surgery proceeds.

Claims

1. A computerized system for accurately correlating patients and the surgical procedure to be performed comprising a micro-chip having information stored in a programmable memory, said information in said memory capable of being retrieved in a readable form by a scanner, a means on said micro-chip for temporary attachment to the anatomy of a patient at the surgical site, said information specific to one patient and one surgical procedure, said information including the date of the surgery, the patient'"'"'s name, the anatomical location of the surgery, the particular surgical procedure, and the name of an authorized person capable of removing said micro-chip.

2. A computerized system of claim 1 further comprising a computer host connected to said micro-chip to program said information in said memory.

3. A computerized system of claim 1 further comprising a scanner capable of retrieving said information in a readable form from said micro-chip.

4. A computerized system of claim 3 further comprising said scanner connected to a printer for producing a written record of said information.

5. A computerized system of claim 3 further comprising a computer host connected to said micro-chip to program said information in said memory.

6. A computerized system of claim 5 further comprising said scanner connected to a printer for producing a written record of said information.

7. A computerized system of claim 1 further comprising a voice synthesizer capable of retrieving said information and reproducing said information through an audible reproduction.

8. A safety procedure for correlating patients with the intended surgical procedure comprising the steps of;

a) programming a micro-chip with specific information concerning a particular patient including his name;

the date of the intended surgery, the anatomical location of the surgery, the particular surgical procedure, and the name of an authorized person to remove said micro-chip,

b) scanning said micro-chip to retrieve said information and reviewing said information with the patient,

c) attaching said micro-chip to said patient at said anatomical site of said surgery;

d) moving said patient to an operating room,

e) scanning said attached micro-chip and retrieving said information,

f) confirming with said authorized person that the patient and the surgical procedure are correlated and the anatomical location of said micro-chip is correct,

g) producing a-printout of said information,

h) said authorized person removing said micro-chip, and

i) proceeding with said surgery at said anatomical location.