Billing method for pump usage

• US 20080005000A1
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Technologies LP (Boehringer Laboratories, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Technologies LP (Boehringer Laboratories, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boehringer, John, Radl, Christopher, Karpowicz, John, Klocek, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,933,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/09 Flow through the pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2207/043 of time
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1657 the picking arrangements using suction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/06 for inflating-pumps
• 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 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Disclosed are methods of leasing or billing for the usage of a portable suction pump adapted for use in a suction-assisted would treatment system. The pump has means for recording time units corresponding to periods of time when the pump is operating and for providing reports of usage time. The pump further has means for detecting that the wound treatment system is operating normally so as to be compliant with standards for suction wound treatment, and for recording and reporting time of normal operation or compliant usage. The methods include leasing the pump at a payment schedule that is based upon the amount of actual usage time or the amount of compliant usage time. The lease payment may include an amount of pre-paid time units such that unused time units can be credited to a new or renewed lease for a replacement pump. The billing methods can also be based in whole or in part on a planned maintenance schedule for the pump.

Claims

1. A method of billing for the usage of a portable suction pump for suction-assisted wound treatment, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a portable suction pump adapted for recording time units of compliant usage; and

billing for the pump at a payment schedule that is based at least in part upon the recorded compliant usage time units.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

including in the payment schedule a pre-payment for pre-programmed time units;

comparing the recorded compliant usage time units with the pre-programmed time units to determine unused time units; and

providing a credit or partial return of payment for said unused time units.

3. The method as in claim 2, the pump including a user interface, the method further comprising the step of:

changing the pre-programmed time units using the user interface.

4. The method as in claim 1, the pump further being adapted for reporting recorded time units, the pump including a user interface, the method further comprising the steps of:

requesting a report from the pump using the user interface; and

receiving the report from the pump using the user interface.

5. The method as in claim 4, further comprising the step of:

assessing a fee corresponding to the report.

6. The method as in claim 4, wherein the user interface comprises one or more of a keypad, a user-viewable display, and a data port for connecting to an electronic device adapted for requesting and/or receiving the report.

12. The method as in claim 11, further including the step of:

assessing a fee corresponding to the report.

7. A method of leasing a portable suction pump for suction-assisted wound treatment, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a portable suction pump capable of delivering a predetermined amount of compliant usage; and

computing a lease payment component corresponding to the predetermined amount of compliant usage.

8. The method as in claim 7, the pump being adapted for recording an amount of compliant usage, the method further comprising the steps of:

comparing the recorded amount of compliant usage with the predetermined amount of compliant usage to determine an amount of unused compliant usage; and

providing a credit or partial return of payment corresponding to the amount of unused compliant usage.

9. The method as in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

providing a lease option to return the pump for a replacement pump; and

applying the credit or partial return of payment to a lease payment for the replacement pump.

10. The method as in claim 7, the pump being adapted for recording an amount of compliant usage and for reporting the amount of compliant usage, the pump including a user interface.

11. The method as in claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

requesting a report from the pump using the user interface; and

receiving the report from the pump using the user interface.

13. The method as in claim 10, wherein the user interface comprises one or more of a keypad, a user-viewable display, and a data port for connecting to an electronic device adapted for requesting and/or receiving the report.

14. A method of leasing a portable suction pump for suction-assisted wound treatment, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a portable suction pump capable of delivering an amount of pre-programmed time units corresponding to a pump maintenance schedule;

computing a lease payment component corresponding to the amount of pre-programmed time units; and

establishing a lease term based on the amount of pre-programmed time units and the pump maintenance schedule.

15. The method as in claim 14, the pump being adapted for recording time units of usage, the method further comprising the steps of:

comparing the recorded time units of usage with the pre-programmed time units to determine unused time units; and

providing a credit or partial return of the lease payment component corresponding to the unused time units.

16. The method as in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

providing a lease option to return the pump for a replacement pump; and

applying the credit or partial return of the pre-payment to a lease payment for the replacement pump.

17. The method as in claim 14, the pump being adapted for recording time units of usage, further comprising the step of:

establishing a safety limit of time units in excess of the pre-programmed time units;

comparing the recorded usage time units with the safety limit; and

disabling the pump from running if the recorded usage time units exceed the safety limit.

18. The method as in claim 14, the pump being adapted for recording time units of usage and for reporting the recorded time units of usage, the pump including a user interface, the method further comprising the steps of:

requesting a report from the pump using the user interface; and

receiving the report from the pump using the user interface.

19. The method as in claim 18, further including the step of:

assessing a fee corresponding to the report.

20. A method of leasing a portable suction pump in a suction-assisted wound treatment system, the pump having means for detecting normal operation of the system, the pump being adapted for recording time units of usage, the pump being further adapted for recording time units of compliant usage when the system is operating normally, the method comprising the steps of:

relating the recorded usage time units and the recorded compliant usage time units to a standard for determining a compliant treatment factor for wound healing; and

leasing the pump at a payment schedule that is based at least in part on the compliant treatment factor.

21. The method as in claim 20, wherein the means for detecting that the suction-assisted wound treatment system is operating normally is a device for monitoring flow rate into the pump, comparing the flow rate to a reference flow rate, and indicating normal operation when the flow rate is within a range of the reference flow rate.

22. The method as in claim 20, the pump being further adapted for reporting the recorded usage time units and the recorded compliant usage time units, the method further comprising the steps of:

requesting a report from the pump using a user interface provided on the pump, the report comprising an indication of one or more of said recorded usage time units, said recorded compliant usage time units, and said compliant treatment factor; and

receiving the report from the pump using the user interface.

23. The method as in claim 22, further comprising the step of:

assessing a fee corresponding to the report.

24. The method as in claim 22, wherein the user interface comprises one or more of a keypad, a user-viewable display, and a data port for connecting to an electronic device.

25. A method of billing for usage of suction-assisted wound treatment system, comprising the steps of:

detecting normal operation of the system using a flow rate monitor;

recording time units of normal operation; and

billing at a payment schedule that is based at least in part upon the recorded normal operation time units.

26. The method as in claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

detecting time units of operation of the system using the flow rate monitor;

recording time units of operation;

relating the ratio of the recorded operation time units and the recorded normal operation time units to a standard for determining a compliant treatment factor for wound healing; and

billing at a payment schedule that is based at least in part on the compliant treatment factor.

27. A portable suction pump adapted for use in a suction-assisted wound treatment system, comprising:

a flow rate monitor for detecting compliant operation of the system; and

a timing subsystem for recording time units of compliant operation;

wherein the pump is leased on a payment schedule that is based at least in part on the recorded compliant operation time units.

28. The pump as in claim 27, further comprising a reporting subsystem for reporting the compliant operation time units.

29. The pump as in claim 28, further comprising a user interface for requesting a report from the reporting subsystem and for receiving the report from the reporting subsystem.

30. The pump as in claim 29, wherein a fee is charged corresponding to the report.

31. The pump as in claim 28, wherein the user interface comprises a keypad and a user-viewable display.

32. The pump as in claim 28, wherein the user interface comprises a data port for connecting to an electronic device adapted for requesting and/or receiving the report.

33. A method of billing for the usage of a portable suction pump for suction-assisted wound treatment, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a portable suction pump adapted for recording time units of usage; and

billing for the pump at a payment schedule that is based at least in part upon the recorded usage time units.

34. The method as in claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

including in the payment schedule a pre-payment for pre-programmed time units;

comparing the recorded usage time units with the pre-programmed time units to determine unused time units; and

providing a credit or partial return of payment for said unused time units.

35. The method as in claim 34, the pump including a user interface, the method further comprising the step of:

changing the pre-programmed time units using the user interface.

36. The method as in claim 33, the pump further being adapted for reporting recorded time units, the pump including a user interface, the method further comprising the steps of:

requesting a report from the pump using the user interface; and

receiving the report from the pump using the user interface.

37. The method as in claim 36, further comprising the step of:

assessing a fee corresponding to the report.

38. The method as in claim 36, wherein the user interface comprises one or more of a keypad, a user-viewable display, and a data port for connecting to an electronic device adapted for requesting and/or receiving the report.