INTEGRATED SURGICAL IMPLANT DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150149330A1
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spinal Generations LLC (Life Spine, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spinal Generations LLC (Life Spine, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sweeney, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,827,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/256 having a database of accessory information, e.g. including context sensitive help or scientific articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/96 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Systems and methods for medical device inventory tracking are described. One embodiment is a medical device inventory tracking system, including a shipping container configured to contain a medical device, a sensor coupled to the shipping container and configured to detect the presence of the medical device, and a processing circuit integrated into the shipping container and configured to receive a signal from the sensor and perform an action based upon the signal. Another embodiment is a system for monitoring a surgical procedure using a medical device in an operating room, including a camera and display mounted in the operating room and a telecommunications interface configured to permit a videoconference between personnel in the operating room and a product specialist associated with the medical device using the display and the camera.

Claims

1. A medical device inventory tracking system, comprising:

a shipping container configured to contain a medical device;

a sensor coupled to the shipping container and configured to detect the presence of the medical device; and

a processing circuit integrated into the shipping container, the processing circuit configured to;

receive a signal from the sensor; and

perform an action based upon the signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical device is a tool or an implant.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical device has an RFID tag and the sensor is an RFID reader.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit comprises a processor and a memory, and wherein a medical device inventory history is stored in the memory.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to control a camera used to provide video of an operating room.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the container and wherein the action is displaying a notification on the display.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the action is the generation of an invoice.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the action is providing a notification that a medical inventory must be replenished.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the notification is sent to a distributor of the medical device.

10. A system for monitoring a surgical procedure using a medical device in an operating room, comprising:

a camera positioned in the operating room;

a display positioned in the operation room; and

a telecommunications interface configured to permit a videoconference between personnel in the operating room and a product specialist associated with the medical device using the display and the camera.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical device is a tool or an implant.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical device has an identifier configured to enable optical scanning by the camera.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the identifier is a bar code and the camera is configured to read the bar code.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising a processing circuit configured to identify the medical device based upon an image provided by the camera.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising a RFID reader provided in the operating room and wherein the medical device includes a RFID tag permitting the medical device to be identified by the RFID reader.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a shipping container configured to contain the medical device, wherein the shipping container comprises a processing circuit configured to track the location of the medical device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing circuit is coupled to the telecommunications interface to permit the transfer of information from the processing circuit to a medical device provider.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the information is an inventory of the shipping container.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising an RFID reader coupled to the container.

20. A method for providing support to a surgical team conducting a procedure involving a medical device, comprising:

providing a camera and a display;

establishing a video connection between the operating room and a product specialist, wherein video of the product specialist is provided on the display; and

using the camera to provide video to the product specialist.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising identifying the medical device using information provided by the camera.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the product specialist is selected based upon the identification.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating an invoice based upon the identification.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising updating an inventory for the medical device.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising sending the updated inventory of the medical device to a provider of the medical device.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising ordering a product based upon a detected use of the medical device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the product is a replacement for the medical device.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the product specialist monitors a surgical procedure conducted in the operating room.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing surgical guidance to the surgical team via the display.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing training to the surgical team via the display.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the product specialist provides advisory services to the surgical team via the display.