Handheld computing device for performing multitasks in healthcare applications
First Claim
1. A handheld computing device for performing multiple applications in an operating room of a healthcare facility comprising:
- a. a processor;
b. a memory;
c. a display;
d. one or more embedded environmental sensors for sensing, recording and storing in the memory environmental conditions within the operating room;
e. an inventory management module for accounting for items used during the course of a surgery within the operating room; and
f. the inventory management module including one or more scanners for reading identifiers associated with items used in the course of the surgery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld computing device for use in hospitals, operating rooms, and other medical care facilities. The handheld computing device includes a processor, display, user interface, memory, one or more embedded environmental sensors, and one or more scanners for reading identifier codes that uniquely identify sterile and non-sterile supplies, instruments and disposable components thereof and other inventory items and supplies that are used in the course of a medical procedure such as surgery. To manage the accounting of various items used in an operating room for example, the handheld computing device is provided with an RF tag reader and a barcode reader to read and identify medical items that are used in the course of a medical procedure. In the course of scanning such identifier codes, the handheld computing device receives inventory accounting information that is stored within the memory of the device, and which can be subsequently downloaded and transferred to one or more external databases. Further, in one embodiment, the environmental sensors may include temperature, humidity and pressure sensors that sense, record and store temperature, humidity and pressure data.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A handheld computing device for performing multiple applications in an operating room of a healthcare facility comprising:
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a. a processor; b. a memory; c. a display; d. one or more embedded environmental sensors for sensing, recording and storing in the memory environmental conditions within the operating room; e. an inventory management module for accounting for items used during the course of a surgery within the operating room; and f. the inventory management module including one or more scanners for reading identifiers associated with items used in the course of the surgery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of accounting for items used during a surgical procedure in an operating room of a medical facility, comprising:
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a. utilizing a handheld computing device in the operating room to account for items used during the course of a surgery performed in the operating room; b. utilizing the handheld computing device including; i. directing a signal from the handheld computing device towards an identifier that uniquely identifies an item to be used in the surgery; ii. reading the unique identifier and counting the item identified by the unique identifier; iii. storing the count in the handheld computing device and correlating the count with the item counted; iv. from time to time, downloading inventory accounting information from the handheld computer to an external database; and c. directing stored inventory accounting information from the handheld computing device to at least two databases including a healthcare facility database and a database of an insurance entity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A handheld computing device for performing multiple applications, comprising:
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a. a base; b. a flip pivotally connected to the base and rotatable back and forth with respect to the base; c. a keyboard; d. the handheld computing device including a processor, memory, and a display; and e. the keyboard rotatively mounted on the base, rotatable with respect to the flip, and rotatable between first and second positions separated by at least 90°
;f. wherein the flip and keyboard are both simultaneously rotatable with respect to the base; and g. a transverse structure that forms at least a part of a pivot connection that pivotally connects the flip to the base, and an RF tag reader including a lens disposed in the transverse structure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of sensing and recording environmental conditions within an operating room of a medical care facility comprising:
- placing a handheld computing device within an operating room wherein the handheld computing device includes one or more embedded environmental sensors;
sensing one or more environmental conditions within the operating room with the sensors embedded within the handheld computing device; and
storing the sensed environmental conditions within a memory within the handheld computing device;
the computing device communicating with a sensor associated with an operating table within the operating room, and sensing the presence of a patient on the operating table; and
sensing and recording the time period that the patient occupies the operating table. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
- placing a handheld computing device within an operating room wherein the handheld computing device includes one or more embedded environmental sensors;
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30. A method of accounting for items used during a surgical procedure in an operating room of a medical facility, comprising:
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a. utilizing a handheld computing device in the operating room to account for items used during the course of a surgery performed in the operating room; b. utilizing the handheld computing device including; i. directing a signal from the handheld computing device towards an identifier that uniquely identifies an item to be used in the surgery; ii. reading the unique identifier and counting the item identified by the unique identifier; iii. storing the count in the handheld computing device and correlating the count with the item counted; iv. from time to time, downloading inventory accounting information from the handheld computer to an external database; and c. sensing selected environmental conditions within the operating room with the handheld computing device including sensing and recording within the handheld computing device at least one of temperature, humidity, or pressure within the operating room.
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31. A method of accounting for items used during a surgical procedure in an operating room of a medical facility, comprising:
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a. utilizing a handheld computing device in the operating room to account for items used during the course of a surgery performed in the operating room; b. utilizing the handheld computing device including; i. directing a signal from the handheld computing device towards an identifier that uniquely identifies an item to be used in the surgery; ii. reading the unique identifier and counting the item identified by the unique identifier; iii. storing the count in the handheld computing device and correlating the count with the item counted; iv. from time to time, downloading inventory accounting information from the handheld computer to an external database; and c. utilizing the handheld computing device to determine the time a patient occupied an operating table within the operating room during a surgical procedure.
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32. A method of accounting for items used during a surgical procedure in an operating room of a medical facility, comprising:
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a. utilizing a handheld computing device in the operating room to account for items used during the course of a surgery performed in the operating room; b. utilizing the handheld computing device including; i. directing a signal from the handheld computing device towards an identifier that uniquely identifies an item to be used in the surgery; ii. reading the unique identifier and counting the item identified by the unique identifier; iii. storing the count in the handheld computing device and correlating the count with the item counted; iv. from time to time, downloading inventory accounting information from the handheld computer to an external database; and c. utilizing the handheld computing device to monitor one or more doors to the operating room and recording the number of times one or more doors to the operating room are opened during a surgical procedure. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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Specification