Apparatus and method for automated invoicing of medical device systems

• US 6,385,593 B2
• Filed: 10/29/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rosellini Scientific Benelux SPRL
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Linberg, Kurt R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/430,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20010047314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 705/24
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

A system and method for remote invoicing and inventory control of medical components of an implantable medical device system upon implantation into a patient is described. The system includes at least one medical component implanted in a patient. A programmer is capable of identifying each medical component implanted in the patient. A remote expert data center globally accessible to the programmer is connected to the programmer via an interface. An invoice module positioned on the remote expert data center receives information identifying each medical component implanted in the patient and prepares an invoice including each medical component implanted into the patient. An inventory module updates records regarding inventory of each implanted medical component.

Claims

1. A system for automatic inventory control and invoice preparation for implantable medical devices at a medical facility, comprising:

an implantable medical device having identifying information stored therein;

a programmer at the medical facility in bi-directional data communication with the implantable medical device during an implant procedure for the implantable medical device to access the stored identifying information; and

a remote expert data center in data communication with the programmer over a first network link to obtain the implantable medical device identifying information accessed by the programmer;

said remote expert data center having data processing software, including an invoice preparation module and an inventory control module, to analyze the implantable medical device identifying information obtained from the programmer and generate an itemized invoice of the implantable medical device;

said remote expert data center being in data communication with the medical facility over a second network link to transmit an itemized invoice data for the implantable medical device implanted during the implant procedure; and

said remote expert data center being in data communication with a manufacturer of the implantable medical device over a third network link to transmit an order for an inventory replacement of the implantable medical device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmer records information during the implant procedure regarding the implanting physician, the date and time of the implant procedure, and location of the medical facility for transmission to the expert data center along with the implantable medical device identifying information.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the implantable medical device is selected from a group consisting of a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a drug delivery system, a neuro-stimulator, a muscle stimulator, or a heart-assist pump.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the stored implantable medical device identifying information is selected from a group consisting of bar code information, serial number information, or model number information.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the first, second and third network links for data communication is selected from a group consisting of an Internet connection, a telephone line connection, a satellite connection, or a local area network connection.