Medical Device Radio Frequency Identification System and Method

• US 20070272746A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bennett Ortiz, Norman Sandberg
• Original Assignee: Bennett Ortiz, Norman Sandberg
• Inventors: Ortiz, Bennett, Sandberg, Norman
• Application Number:
  US10/579,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20070272746A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

A medical device inventory management system, including one or more radiofrequency identification (RFID) transponder or “tag” associated with one or more medical devices or attached to the medical device packaging. One or more RFID readers may be used, which may take the form of a handheld device or a shelf or shelving system for holding medical devices, or a handheld device may be used in conjunction with a shelving system. The RFID reader communicates automatically with a computer or computer network, providing such information as inventory status, whether a specific medical device is present in inventory, inventory amount of medical devices, etc.

Claims

1. a medical device inventory management system, comprising:

a medical device defining an expiration date, in medical device packaging;

an RFID transponder affixed to the medical device packaging;

the RFID transponder being initialized with an identification code;

an RFID reader defining a proximity distance at which an RFID transponder is readable, adapted to generate and receive wireless signals to and from an RFID transponder, thereby reading the identification number from the RFID transponder;

a computer having memory loaded with software;

such that when the medical device is in proximity to the RFID reader, the RFID reader interrogates the RFID transponder to read the identification code into the computer memory; and

when the medical device is removed from proximity to the RFID reader, the RFID reader communicates the removal of that identification code to the computer memory; and

if the medical device is again placed in proximity to the RFID reader, the RFID reader will again interrogate the RFID transponder to read the identification code into the computer memory;

wherein the computer software is adapted to periodically communicate all identification codes of medical device RFID transponders in proximity to the RFID reader to an inventory administrator; and

to automatically communicate an alert to the inventory administrator if an inventory of medical devices is reduced below a preselected amount; and

to automatically communicate an alert to the inventory administrator if a medical device has reached the expiration date or is within a preselected time period of the expiration date.

2. The medical device inventory management system of claim 1, further comprising a bar-code reader.

3. The medical device inventory management system of claim 1, further comprising a patient wristband reader.

4. The medical device inventory management system of claim 1, wherein the medical device packaging is at least partially metal, wherein the RFID tag has a shape that maximizes the accuracy of the RFID reader.

5. The medical device inventory management system of claim 1, wherein the medical device packaging further comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the RFID reader is adapted to also interrogate the temperature sensor.