Management and distribution of surgical supplies within an RFID enabled network

• US 7,142,118 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sri/Surgical Express Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sri/Surgical Express Incorporated
• Inventors: Hamilton, John A., McCoy, Mary L., Largey, Joseph A., Pope, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US10/873,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20050280536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340 59- 592, 705/2, 705/22, 705 28- 29, 235/375, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

The present invention contributes to advancements in the art of inventory management and distribution by providing a system and method for processing, distributing, and tracking reusable inventory items. Reusable articles, such as surgical garments and accessories, are adapted with radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tags having unique identification numbers. A “reader” is used to retrieve stored information from the tags without requiring direct contact or clear line-of-sight. The reusable articles are processed and distributed using an inventory management system wherein lifecycle data is obtained for each reusable article. The reusable articles are distributed to the end users from central processing facilities, used, returned, cleaned, inspected, folded, sterilized, and returned to inventory for re-distribution. Periodic quality control inspections are conducted in response to predetermined usage parameters. The use of RFID tags and a corresponding computer network allows for the acquisition of data corresponding to each reusable article within a distribution system having multiple remote distribution and processing facilities. The acquired data is transmitted to a central computer processing system via a secured wide area computer network for use and analysis. Data processing computer servers at each remote distribution and processing facility electronically linked to a central data processing server provide a fail-safe network for acquired data.

Claims

1. A method for distributing and processing reusable articles for use in a surgical environment in a medical facility wherein said articles will be contaminated and must be processed after each use to restore them to a condition suitable for reuse in said surgical environment, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of reusable articles, each reusable article including a respective RFID tag fixedly secured thereto, each tag having a discrete identification number;

utilizing a processing and distribution facility for distributing said reusable articles to a medical facility wherein the articles will be used in a surgical environment, said processing and distribution facility not forming a part of said medical facility and being located remotely therefrom;

utilizing said processing and distribution facility for receiving said reusable articles after use by said medical facility;

processing and decontaminating said received reusable articles at said processing and distribution facility to restore said articles to condition suitable for reuse in a surgical environment;

passing each of said processed and decontaminated reusable articles in proximity to a tag reader at said processing and distribution facility, whereupon said tag reader identifies each of said processed and decontaminated reusable articles by automatically reading the discrete identification number associated with the RFID tag secured thereto;

generating an output signal for each RFID tag read to a computer network, to provide information tracking the number of use cycles for each reusable article;

inspecting each of said reusable articles and generating an other output signal to said computer network, said other output signal corresponding to the physical condition of said reusable article; and

utilizing said output signals by said computer network to provide analytic information germane to quality control of at least one of the processing, decontamination, inspection and condition of said reusable articles.

2. The method for distributing and processing reusable articles according to claim 1, wherein said reusable articles comprise textile goods.

3. The method for distributing and processing reusable articles according to claim 2, wherein said textile goods include surgical gowns, surgical drapes, surgical sheets, and equipment covers.

4. The method for distributing and processing reusable articles according to claim 1, wherein said reusable articles comprise surgical instruments.

5. The method for distributing and processing reusable surgical textile articles according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

packaging a plurality of said processed and decontaminated reusable articles in individual packs;

passing each of said individual packs in proximity to a multi-read interrogation apparatus that identifies the number and type of processed and decontaminated reusable articles within each individual pack by automatically reading the discrete identification information associated with the attached RFID tag within an individual pack and communicating said identification information to said computer network for verification.

6. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising recording data relating to what is required to be done to the reusable articles for quality control purposes and coordinating that data with the data identifying the reusable articles.

7. The method of claim 6 additionally comprising recording data relating to what processing was done to the reusable articles pursuant to desired quality control practices and coordinating that data with the data identifying the reusable articles.

8. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising recording data relating to what processing was done to the reusable articles pursuant to desired quality control practices and coordinating that data with the data identifying the reusable articles.

9. A method for distributing and processing reusable surgical textile articles for use in surgical environments wherein said articles will be contaminated and must be processed after each use to restore them to a condition suitable for reuse in a surgical environment, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of reusable textile articles, each reusable textile article including a respective RFID tag fixedly secured thereto, each tag having discrete identification information;

distributing said reusable articles to a medical facility wherein the articles will be used in a surgical procedure;

receiving said distributed reusable textile articles at a processing and distribution facility not forming a part of said medical facility and being located remotely therefrom after said articles have been used in at least one surgical procedure;

decontaminating said received reusable textile articles at said processing and distribution facility;

inspecting said decontaminated reusable textile articles for damage at said processing and distribution facility;

passing each of said decontaminated reusable textile articles in proximity to a tag reader at said processing and distribution facility to automatically identify each of said decontaminated reusable textile articles by reading the discrete identification information associated with the attached RFID tag;

outputting an output signal including the discrete identification information for each RFID tag detected to a computer network thereby tracking the number of use cycles for each reusable article;

said computer network generating a signal indicating a need for quality control testing of a decontaminated reusable article in response to data indicating the decontaminated reusable article has experienced a predetermined number of use cycles;

folding said decontaminated reusable textile articles;

sterilizing said decontaminated reusable textile articles; and

utilizing said computer network to provide analytic information germane to quality control of at least one of the processing, decontamination, inspection and condition of said reusable textile articles.

10. An inventory tracking and control system for tracking and controlling the distribution of reusable articles for use in a surgical environment in a medical facility wherein said articles will be contaminated and must be processed after each use to restore them to a condition suitable for reuse in said surgical environment, said system comprising:

a processing and distribution facility;

said processing and distribution facility not forming a part of said medical facility and being located remotely therefrom, said processing and distribution facility having an inventory consisting of a plurality of reusable articles, each of said articles including a respective RFID tag fixedly secured thereto, each tag having a discrete identification number;

means for distributing said reusable articles to said medical facility wherein said reusable articles will be used in said surgical environment;

means for receiving said reusable articles after use by in said surgical environment;

means for processing and decontaminating said received reusable articles to restore said articles to condition suitable for reuse;

means for passing each of said processed and decontaminated reusable articles in proximity to a tag reader that identifies each of said processed and decontaminated reusable articles by automatically reading the discrete identification number associated with the RFID tag secured thereto; and

means for outputting an interrogation output signal for each RFID tag detected to a computer network for tracking the number of use cycles for each reusable article, said computer network being arranged to provide analytic information germane to quality control of at least one of the processing, decontamination, inspection and condition of said reusable articles.

11. The inventory tracking and control system according to claim 10 wherein said reusable articles comprise textile articles and wherein said system further comprises:

means for decontaminating said received reusable textile articles.

12. The inventory tracking and control system according to claim 10, further comprising:

means for inspecting said decontaminated reusable textile articles for damage.

13. The inventory tracking and control system according to claim 10, further comprising:

means for generating a signal indicating a need for quality control testing of a reusable article when the article has experienced a predetermined number of use cycles.

14. An inventory tracking and control system for tracking and controlling the distribution of reusable articles from multiple distribution and processing facilities, each of said articles being arranged for use in a surgical environment in a medical facility wherein said articles will be contaminated and must be processed after each use to restore them to a condition suitable for reuse in said surgical environment, said system comprising:

a plurality of processing and distribution facilities;

each of said plurality of processing and distribution facilities having an inventory consisting of a plurality of reusable articles, each of said reusable articles including a respective RFID tag fixedly secured thereto, each tag having a discrete identification number;

each of said processing and distribution facilities not forming a portion of said medical facility and being located remotely therefrom, each of said processing and distribution facilities including means for distributing said reusable articles to a medical facility wherein said reusable articles will be used in a surgical environment;

each of said processing and distribution facilities including means for receiving said reusable articles returned after use in said surgical environment;

each of said processing and distribution facilities including means for processing and decontaminating said received reusable articles to restore said received reusable articles to a condition suitable for reuse in said surgical environment;

each of said processing and distribution facilities including means for passing each of said processed and decontaminated reusable articles in proximity to a tag reader that identifies each of said processed and decontaminated reusable articles by automatically reading the discrete identification number associated with the RFID tag secured thereto; and

each of said distribution facilities including means for generating an output signal for each RFID tag detected to a computer network for tracking the number of use cycles for each reusable article;

said computer network being arranged to provide analytic information germane to quality control of at least one of the processing, decontamination, inspection and condition of said reusable articles and including a computer data processing and data storage system located at each of said plurality of distribution facilities;

said computer network further including a central computer data processing and data storage system;

each of said computer data processing and data storage systems located at each of said plurality of processing and distribution facilities being in electronic communication with said central computer data processing and data storage system.

15. The inventory tracking and control system according to claim 14, further comprising means for generating a signal indicating a need for quality control testing of a reusable article when the article has experienced a predetermined number of use cycles.

16. A method for processing reusable articles for use in a surgical environment in a medical facility, wherein said articles will be contaminated and must be processed after each use at a processing and distribution facility by cleaning to restore them to a condition suitable for reuse in said surgical environment, said processing and distribution facility not forming a portion of said medical facility and being located remotely therefrom, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of said reusable articles disposed within a sealed package at said processing and distribution facility, at least two of said reusable articles each including an RFID tag permanently secured thereto, each of said tags being arranged to respond to a transmitted electromagnetic signal by producing an output signal indicative of a unique identifier of said reusable article to which said tag is secured;

passing said package to a multi-read interrogation station at said processing and distribution facility;

transmitting an electromagnetic signal into an interrogation region at said multi-read interrogation station, whereupon each of said tags produces an output signal indicative of a unique identifier of said reusable article to which said tag is secured; and

receiving said output signals from said at least two reusable articles in said package to identify the at least two reusable articles within said package and to provide information tracking the number of use cycles for each of the at least two reusable articles.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein each of said reusable articles has been used in a surgical procedure in said surgical environment, and wherein said method additionally comprises:

processing and decontaminating said reusable articles after their usage in said surgical procedure; and

disposing said processed and decontaminated reusable articles in said package.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one of said reusable articles comprises a fabric article.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one of said reusable articles comprises an instrument.

20. The method of claim 17 additionally comprising inspecting said articles after said articles are processing and decontaminated.

21. A system for processing reusable articles for use in a surgical environment in a medical facility, wherein said reusable articles will be contaminated and must be processed after each use by cleaning and sterilization to restore them to a condition suitable for reuse in said surgical environment, said system comprising:

a plurality of said reusable articles, at least two of said reusable articles each including an RFID tag permanently secured thereto and being disposed within a sealed package;

a multi-read interrogation station located at a processing and distribution facility not forming a portion of said medical facility and being located remotely therefrom; and

a computer;

said multi-read interrogation station comprising at least one antenna, said at least one antenna being arranged for transmitting an electromagnetic signal into an interrogation region at said station, each of said tags being arranged when in said interrogation region to respond to said electromagnetic signal by producing an output signal indicative of a unique identifier of said reusable article to which said tag is secured, said sealed package being arranged to be brought to said interrogation region, said at least one antenna being arranged to receive said output signals from said at least two articles in said package for use by said computer to identify said at least two articles within said package and to provide information tracking the number of use cycles for each of said at least two reusable articles within said package.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said at least one of said articles comprises a fabric article.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein said at least one of said articles comprises an instrument.