IMPLANT INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20120316987A1
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deroyal Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Deroyal Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: DeBusk, Brian Clark, Sewell, Angela Michelle, Jacobs, John Garner, Hurd, Rex Alan, White, Elizabeth Ann, Griffith, Jeffrey Dennis, Fox, Samuel Joseph Elijah
• Granted Patent: US 10,311,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

An inventory data management system manages information related to items, such as implants, used during a medical procedure. The inventory data management system includes multiple sensing devices for reading set identification information from a container in which the set of items is disposed. The sensing devices are connected to a communication network and are placed in multiple locations, where each location is associated with a particular status of the set of items. The system also includes an inventory management computer that executes an inventory management application for receiving the set identification information from the communication network, and associating the set identification information with set status information based on the location of the sensing device that read the set identification information. An item inventory database stores the set identification information in association with the set status information.

Claims

1. An inventory data management system for managing information related to a set of items for use during a medical procedure, the inventory data management system comprising:

a plurality of sensing devices for reading set identification information from a container in which the set of items is disposed, the sensing devices provided in a plurality of locations, each location associated with a particular status of the set of items, the sensing devices in communication with a communication network;

an inventory management computer for executing an inventory management application to receive the set identification information from the communication network and associate the set identification information with set status information based on the location of the sensing device that read the set identification information; and

an item inventory database in communication with the inventory management computer, the item inventory database for storing the set identification information in association with the set status information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein

the plurality of sensing devices includes a sensing device disposed in an inventory storage location, and

the inventory management computer receives the set identification information from the communication network, and associates the set identification information with set status information indicating that the set of items is located in the inventory storage location.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein

the plurality of sensing devices includes a sensing device disposed in an operating room location, and

the inventory management computer receives the set identification information from the communication network, and associates the set identification information with set status information indicating that the set of items is located in the operating room location.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein

the plurality of sensing devices includes a sensing device disposed in a decontamination location, and

the inventory management computer receives the set identification information from the communication network, and associates the set identification information with set status information indicating that the set of items is located in the decontamination location.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein

the plurality of sensing devices includes a sensing device disposed in a restocking location, and

the inventory management computer receives the set identification information from the communication network, and associates the set identification information with set status information indicating that the set of items is located in the restocking location.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein

the plurality of sensing devices includes a sensing device disposed in a sterilization location, and

the inventory management computer receives the set identification information from the communication network, and associates the set identification information with set status information indicating that the set of items is located in the sterilization location.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein

the plurality of sensing devices includes a sensing device disposed in a manufacturer location, and

the inventory management computer receives the set identification information from the communication network, and associates the set identification information with set status information indicating that the set of items is located in the manufacturer location.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein

the plurality of sensing devices includes a sensing device disposed in a Physician Owned Distributorship (POD) location, and

the inventory management computer receives the set identification information from the communication network, and associates the set identification information with set status information indicating that the set of items is located in the POD location.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the set identification information is stored in one or more of a barcode, a Quick Response code, and an RFID device disposed on the container.

10. A computer-implemented method for ordering medical items for use during a medical procedure at a customer medical facility, the method comprising:

(a) displaying information on a display device to prompt a user at the customer medical facility to choose either a construct-based pricing option or a line-item pricing option for the medical items;

(b) receiving input from the user to select the construct-based pricing option or the line-item pricing option;

(c) generating a list of medical items from which the user may choose to order, the list including pricing information for the medical items that is determined based at least in part on the selection made in step (b); and

(d) displaying the list of medical items on a display device for viewing by the user.

11. A computer-implemented method for ordering medical items for use during a medical procedure at a customer medical facility, the method comprising:

(a) displaying information on a display device to prompt a user at the customer medical facility to choose to order the medical items from a Physician Owned Distributorship (POD) or to order directly from a manufacturer of the medical items;

(b) receiving input from the user to select to order from the POD or from the manufacturer;

(c) generating a list of medical items from which the user may choose to order, the list including pricing information for the medical items that is determined based at least in part on the selection made in step (b); and

(d) displaying the list of medical items on a display device for viewing by the user.