Management and distribution of surgical supplies within an RFID enabled network
First Claim
1. A method for distributing and processing reusable articles adapted with RFID tags, said method including the steps of:
- adapting each of a plurality of reusable articles with an RFID tag having a discrete identification number;
distributing said reusable articles to at least one customer for use;
receiving said reusable articles after use by said at least one customer;
processing said received reusable articles to restore said articles to condition for use;
passing each of said reusable articles in proximity to a tag reader that identifies each of said articles by automatically reading the discrete identification number associated with the attached RFID tag; and
generating an output signal for each RFID tag read to a computer network thereby tracking the number of use cycles for each reusable article.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention contributes to advancements in the art of inventory management and distribution by providing a system and method for processing, distributing, and tracking reusable inventory items. Reusable articles, such as surgical garments and accessories, are adapted with radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tags having unique identification numbers. A “reader” is used to retrieve stored information from the tags without requiring direct contact or clear line-of-sight. The reusable articles are processed and distributed using an inventory management system wherein lifecycle data is obtained for each reusable article. The reusable articles are distributed to the end users from central processing facilities, used, returned, cleaned, inspected, folded, sterilized, and returned to inventory for re-distribution. Periodic quality control inspections are conducted in response to predetermined usage parameters. The use of RFID tags and a corresponding computer network allows for the acquisition of data corresponding to each reusable article within a distribution system having multiple remote distribution and processing facilities. The acquired data is transmitted to a central computer processing system via a secured wide area computer network for use and analysis. Data processing computer servers at each remote distribution and processing facility electronically linked to a central data processing server provide a fail-safe network for acquired data.
69 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for distributing and processing reusable articles adapted with RFID tags, said method including the steps of:
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adapting each of a plurality of reusable articles with an RFID tag having a discrete identification number;
distributing said reusable articles to at least one customer for use;
receiving said reusable articles after use by said at least one customer;
processing said received reusable articles to restore said articles to condition for use;
passing each of said reusable articles in proximity to a tag reader that identifies each of said articles by automatically reading the discrete identification number associated with the attached RFID tag; and
generating an output signal for each RFID tag read to a computer network thereby tracking the number of use cycles for each reusable article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for distributing and processing reusable surgical textile articles adapted with RFID tags, said method including the steps of:
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adapting each of a plurality of reusable textile articles with an RFID tag having discrete identification information;
distributing said reusable articles to at least one customer for use in a surgical procedure;
receiving said distributed reusable textile articles after said articles have been used in at least one surgical procedure;
decontaminating said received reusable textile articles;
inspecting said decontaminated reusable textile articles for damage;
passing each of said reusable textile articles in proximity to a tag reader to automatically identify each of said articles by reading the discrete identification information associated with the attached RFID tag;
outputting an output signal including the discrete identification information for each RFID tag detected to a computer network thereby tracking the number of use cycles for each reusable article;
said computer network generating a signal indicating a need for quality control testing of a reusable article in response to data indicating the reusable article has experienced a predetermined number of use cycles;
folding said reusable textile articles; and
sterilizing said reusable textile articles. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. An inventory tracking and control system for tracking and controlling the distribution of reusable articles adapted with RFID tags, said system comprising:
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a distribution facility;
said distribution facility having an inventory consisting of a plurality of reusable articles, each of said articles adapted with an RFID tag having a discrete identification number;
means for distributing said reusable articles to at least one customer for use;
means for receiving said reusable articles after use by said at least one customer;
means for processing said received reusable articles to restore said articles to condition for use;
means for passing each of said reusable articles in proximity to a tag reader that identifies each of said articles by automatically reading the discrete identification number associated with the attached RFID tag; and
means for outputting an interrogation output signal for each RFID tag detected to a computer network thereby tracking the number of use cycles for each reusable article. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An inventory tracking and control system for tracking and controlling the distribution of reusable articles adapted with RFID tags from multiple distribution and processing facilities, said system comprising:
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a plurality of distribution facilities;
each of said plurality of distribution facilities having an inventory consisting of a plurality of reusable articles, each of said articles adapted with an RFID tag having a discrete identification number;
each of said distribution facilities including means for distributing said reusable articles to at least one customer for use;
each of said distribution facilities including means for receiving said reusable articles returned after use by said at least one customer;
each of said distribution facilities including means for processing said received reusable articles to restore said articles to condition for use;
each of said distribution facilities including means for passing each of said reusable articles in proximity to a tag reader that identifies each of said articles by automatically reading the discrete identification number associated with the attached RFID tag; and
each of said distribution facilities including means for generating an output signal for each RFID tag detected to a computer network thereby tracking the number of use cycles for each reusable article;
said computer network including a computer data processing and data storage system located at each of said plurality of distribution facilities;
said computer network further including a central computer data processing and data storage system;
each of said computer data processing and data storage systems located at each of said plurality of distribution facilities in electronic communication with said central computer data processing and data storage system - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification