Tracking surgical implements with integrated circuits

• US 7,256,696 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olive Shade LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bruce Levin
• Inventors: Levin, Bruce H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US11/048,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20050131397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/572.1, 340/539.12, 340/539.13, 340/506, 340/653, 604/362, 606/1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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: A61F 13/44 with radio-opaque material or signalling means for residual material
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers

Abstract

A system and method of tracking medical products provides for associating a group of medical products with a group location based on a group radio frequency identification (RF ID) device signal, where the group includes a first unit a second unit. The first unit is associated with a first remote location based on a first unit RE ID device signal. The method further provides for associating the second unit with a second remote location based on a second unit RE ID device signal. The signals uniquely identify the units and the group.

Claims

1. An assembly of medical products, the assembly comprising:

a first unit of a medical product including an integral first unit radio frequency identification (RF ID) device, the first unit RF ID device uniquely identifying the medical product and the first unit;

a second unit of the medical product having an integral second unit RF ID device, the second unit RF ID device uniquely identifying the medical product and the second unit;

a first supplemental RF ID device removably attached to the first unit, the first supplemental RF ID device uniquely identifying the first unit; and

a second supplemental RF ID device removably attached to the second unit, the second supplemental RF ID device uniquely identifying the second unit.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second supplemental RF ID devices are configured to be reattached to another item.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the other item is at least one of a medical container, a patient chart, an IV or injection apparatus, and a patient bracelet.

4. An assembly of medical products, the assembly comprising:

a first unit of a medical product including a first unit radio frequency identification (RE ID) device, the first unit RF ID device uniquely identifying the medical product and the first unit;

a second unit of the medical product having a second unit RF ID device, the second unit RF ID device uniquely identifying the medical product and the second unit;

a first supplemental RF ID device removably attached to the first unit, the first supplemental RF ID device uniquely identifying the first unit and configured to be reattached to another medical product or unit; and

a second supplemental RF ID device removably attached to the second unit, the second supplemental RF ID device uniquely identifying the second unit and configured to be reattached to another item.

5. The assembly of medical products of claim 4, wherein the other item includes at least one of a medical container, a patient chart, an IV or injection apparatus, and a patient bracelet.

6. The assembly of medical products of claim 4, wherein the first unit RF ID device is integral with the first unit and the second unit RF ID device is integral with the second unit.

7. A tagged medical product, comprising:

an integral unit radio frequency identification (RF ID) device, the integral unit RF ID device uniquely identifying the medical product;

a removable unit radio frequency identification (RF ID) device, the removable unit RE ID device uniquely identifying the medical product and configured to be reattachable to another item.

8. The tagged medical product of claim 7, wherein the other item is at least one of a medical container, a patient chart, an IV or injection apparatus, and a patient bracelet.