Point-of-Care Inventory Management System and Method

• US 20140348204A1
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Published: 11/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Point Of Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Point Of Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Tirinato, Jody Ann, Zelin, Michael P., Gibson, Paul Andrew, Zaltsman, Lyudmila, Davis, Graham
• Granted Patent: US 10,024,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/102
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/02 Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/04 in respect of time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0223 based on inventory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• 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: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for controlling an inventory of point-of-care diagnostic devices. The inventory includes a main inventory and at least one subinventory. Each device has an ambient temperature shelf life. Data associated with the devices is entered, including: the current quantity and predetermined minimum quantity of devices in the main inventory; and the current quantity and predetermined minimum quantity of devices in the subinventory. A first timestamp is associated with each device when the device is transferred from the main inventory to the ambient temperature subinventory. The first timestamp is compared to a second timestamp prior to use of the device to determine whether the device'"'"'s ambient temperature shelf life is exceeded. The current quantity of devices in the subinventory is updated in response to an event that causes a change in the current quantity of devices in the subinventory.

Claims

1. A point of care testing device having a finite shelf life, comprising:

a port configured to receive a patient sample; and

a time and temperature sensor comprising temperature-sensing circuitry configured to;

monitor a temperature of the device prior to receiving the patient sample;

determine that the temperature of the device has remained within a predetermined temperature range for a time greater than a predetermined shelf life, wherein the predetermined shelf life is a usable lifetime of the device in said predetermined temperature range; and

provide an indicator that the device has remained within the predetermined temperature range for the time greater than said predetermined shelf life.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined shelf life is dependent upon a temperature in which said device is stored.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein:

said predetermined shelf life is a finite ambient temperature shelf life, a finite refrigerated temperature shelf life, or a combination thereof; and

said indicator is a flashing, blinking or steady light, a change in color, a sound, or a combination thereof.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said finite ambient temperature shelf life is from about 3 days to 3 months.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said finite refrigerated temperature shelf life is from about 3 months to 3 years.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein said temperature is a temperature at which the device is stored.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said time and temperature sensor further comprises a chemical component, a liquid crystal, a mechanical device, a threshold device, or combinations thereof.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said patient sample comprises blood, plasma, serum, interstitial fluid, spinal fluid, urine, bodily secretions or combinations thereof.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said device comprises a blood analysis device, a urine analysis device, a serum analysis device, a plasma analysis device, a saliva analysis device, a cheek swab analysis device, or a diagnostic device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said temperature-sensing circuitry is further configured to increase or decrease said predetermined shelf life based on the temperature of the device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is a disposable cartridge further comprising analytical elements including electrodes or optics for sensing analytes within said patient sample.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said temperature-sensing circuitry is further configured to provide an electrical signal to the indicator that causes the indicator to emit an indication that the device has remained within the predetermined temperature range for the time greater than said predetermined shelf life.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said temperature is a temperature at which the device is stored, and said temperature-sensing circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether said temperature has remained below or above the predetermined temperature range; and

in response to determining that said temperature has remained below or above the predetermined temperature range, increase or decrease, respectively, said predetermined shelf life by a predetermined amount of time to generate a modified shelf life.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said temperature is an ambient temperature at which said device is stored after refrigerated storage, and said modified shelf life is a finite ambient temperature shelf life.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein temperature-sensing circuitry is further configured to:

determine that the temperature of the device has remained within said modified shelf life for a time greater than the modified shelf life; and

provide the indicator that the device has remained within the modified shelf life for the time greater than the modified shelf life.