CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AN RFID-BASED SYSTEM FOR ASSEMBLING AND VERIFYING OUTBOUND SURGICAL EQUIPMENT CORRESPONDING TO A PARTICULAR SURGERY
First Claim
1. A system for assembling and verifying outbound surgical equipment corresponding to a particular surgery comprising:
- a data processor adapted to receive a data input comprising an identification number of a surgical procedure;
a communications link coupled to the data processor adapted to query a database using at least the identification number of the surgical procedure;
a user interface adapted to display information corresponding to surgical equipment required for that surgical procedure;
a container adapted to contain the corresponding surgical equipment;
an RFID reader adapted to read identification information from RFID tags attached to the surgical equipment and to supply the read information to the data processor; and
a status indicator adapted to provide a status indication to a user, wherein the status indicator indicates to a user a status of the surgical equipment for the surgical procedure based on a determination by the data processor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for an RFID-based system for assembling and verifying outbound surgical equipment corresponding to a particular surgery. A user enters a identification number of a surgery. The control system queries a database of surgery information and outputs a list of required surgical equipment, such as surgical instrument sets. An operator uses the list to pick instrument sets for loading into a shipping tote. Each set is tagged with an RFID inventory tag that stores identification information for that set such as a set name and ID number. The shipping tote is passed through an RFID reader and identification data read from the tags is compared against the identification data for sets required for that surgery. A status indicator is activated to alert a user as to whether the surgery is complete that is, all expected sets are present, or that exception handling is required. The control system updates a database such as an ERP system to reflect that the surgery including the required sets has shipped—and the sets are inventoried out to the intended recipient.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A system for assembling and verifying outbound surgical equipment corresponding to a particular surgery comprising:
-
a data processor adapted to receive a data input comprising an identification number of a surgical procedure;
a communications link coupled to the data processor adapted to query a database using at least the identification number of the surgical procedure;
a user interface adapted to display information corresponding to surgical equipment required for that surgical procedure;
a container adapted to contain the corresponding surgical equipment;
an RFID reader adapted to read identification information from RFID tags attached to the surgical equipment and to supply the read information to the data processor; and
a status indicator adapted to provide a status indication to a user, wherein the status indicator indicates to a user a status of the surgical equipment for the surgical procedure based on a determination by the data processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A computer readable storage medium containing computer readable instructions stored therein for operating a system for assembling and verifying outbound surgical equipment corresponding to a particular surgery, the instructions comprising:
-
instructions for receiving a first data input identifying a surgical procedure;
instructions for querying a database using the first data input;
instructions for outputting a list of surgical equipment associated with the particular surgery;
instructions for activating an RFID reader to read identification information from surgical equipment placed in proximity to the RFID reader;
instructions for comparing the identification information with identification information associated with the list of surgical equipment; and
instructions for activating an indicator based on a results of comparing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A control system for a system for assembling and verifying outbound surgical equipment corresponding to a particular surgical procedure comprising:
-
a data input module for receiving a user input indicative of a identification number of a surgical procedure;
a database module storing a plurality of surgical procedures and a list of surgical equipment associated with each procedure;
a data processor module adapted to query the database module using the data input to determine a list of required surgical equipment;
an output module adapted to output the list of surgical equipment so that a user can pick the required equipment;
an RFID reader module adapted to acquire identification information from RFID tags associated with each item of surgical equipment and to provide the identification information to the data processor module to be compared against identification information of equipment on the list; and
a status indication module adapted to output a status of the surgical procedure based on results of the comparison, wherein the status indicates whether the surgical procedure is ready for shipping or that exception handling is required.
-
Specification