METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND PRODUCTS FOR TRACKING SURGICAL ITEMS

• US 20150302492A1
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reeves, Jonathan L., KREINER, BARRETT M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,108,992 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• 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 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/00 ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical references
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products track equipment used during surgical procedures. An allowable zone associated with a surgical procedure is identified. The allowable zone determines where surgical items may be used during the procedure. A location of a surgical item is determined. When the location is outside the allowable zone, an alarm is triggered to indicate the surgical item is moving outside the allowable zone towards an area in which the surgical item may not be used.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, via a computing device, a type of surgical procedure in which a surgical item is to be used;

associating, via the computing device, the type of surgical procedure to a patient;

determining, via the computing device, a location of the surgical item;

determining, via the computing device, a usage of the surgical item based on the location of the surgical item; and

billing, via the computing device, for the usage of the surgical item for the type of surgical procedure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the surgical item comprises interrogating a tag to determine the location of the surgical item.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an allowable zone of the patient in which the surgical item is not to be used.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining when the location of the surgical item is outside the allowable zone.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

triggering an alarm to indicate that the surgical item is outside the allowable zone, when the location of the surgical item is outside the allowable zone.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

matching the surgical item to the type of surgical procedure.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

producing an alarm when the surgical item does not match the type of surgical procedure.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an inventory of the surgical item.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing a remaining inventory of the surgical item to a reorder point.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

when the remaining inventory is below the reorder point, ordering a new inventory of the surgical item.

11. A system, comprising:

a processor executing a program that causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

identifying a type of surgical procedure in which a surgical item is to be used;

associating the type of surgical procedure to a patient;

determining a location of the surgical item;

determining a usage of the surgical item based on the location of the surgical item; and

billing for the usage of the surgical item for the type of surgical procedure.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the determining the location of the surgical item comprises interrogating a tag to determine the location of the surgical item.

13. The system of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

identifying an allowable zone of the patient in which the surgical item is not to be used.

14. The system of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

determining when the location of the surgical item is outside the allowable zone.

15. The system of claim 14, the operations further comprising:

triggering an alarm to indicate that the surgical item is outside the allowable zone, when the location of the surgical item is outside the allowable zone.

16. The system of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

matching the surgical item to the type of surgical procedure.

17. The system of claim 16, the operations further comprising:

producing an alarm when the surgical item does not match the type of surgical procedure.

18. The system of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

determining an inventory of the surgical item.

19. The system of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

comparing a remaining inventory of the surgical item to a reorder point.

20. The system of claim 19, the operations further comprising:

when the remaining inventory is below the reorder point, ordering a new inventory of the surgical item.