Systems and methods for managing information relating to medical fluids and containers therefor

• US 7,975,922 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Nuclear Medicine LLC (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Bausmith, William E., Gibson, Chad M., Fago, Frank M., Ortenzi, Vernon D., Wagner, Gary S., Borgemenke, Elaine F., Haynes, Elaine E., Lewis, John H., Wilson, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haupt; Kristy A
• Application Number:
  US11/618,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20070235534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 235/451, 235/375, 235/491, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/451
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14553 comprising a pressure jacket
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1785 comprising radioactive shield means syringe shields or holders for storage of radioactive sources G21F5/018
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 : for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

The present invention relates to management of information relating to medical fluids, containers therefor, and medical fluid administration devices for administering such medical fluids to patients. Data tags (e.g., RFID tags) are generally associated with containers of the invention and may be electromagnetically read from and/or written to using an electromagnetic device, for example, that may be associated with a medical fluid administration device of the invention.

Claims

1. A radiopharmaceutical administration device supporting a radiopharmaceutical container having an RF data tag for use in a radiopharmaceutical administration procedure, the radiopharmaceutical administration device comprising:

an electromagnetic device for reading data from the data tag, the data comprising data relating to a time at which a radiopharmaceutical in the radiopharmaceutical container is to be injected and data indicative of whether the radiopharmaceutical container was previously used with the radiopharmaceutical administration device.

2. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 1, wherein the data tag further stores data indicative of configuration information for the radiopharmaceutical administration device and comprising one or more of:

a code that is required by the radiopharmaceutical administration device prior to use of the radiopharmaceutical container, a software update for the radiopharmaceutical administration device, a product promotion, and references to information, and wherein the configuration information is used by the radiopharmaceutical administration device in self-configuration upon reading of the data tag.

3. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 2, wherein the radiopharmaceutical administration device utilizes an electronic coupon code included in the data tag in purchases of further products.

4. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises data indicative of an amount of a radiopharmaceutical in the radiopharmaceutical container.

5. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises data indicative of an identity of a radiopharmaceutical in the container.

6. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises data indicative of manufacturing information for the radiopharmaceutical in the container.

7. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises data indicative of a use code for the radiopharmaceutical in the container.

8. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises data indicative of configuration information for a radiopharmaceutical administration device used with the container.

9. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises data indicative of an identity of a radiopharmaceutical in the container and manufacturing information for the radiopharmaceutical in the container.

10. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises data indicative of manufacturing information for the radiopharmaceutical in the container and configuration information for a radiopharmaceutical administration device used with the container.

11. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises data indicative of an identity of a radiopharmaceutical in the container and configuration information for a radiopharmaceutical administration device used with the container.

12. A method for using a radiopharmaceutical administration device having an electromagnetic device and a radiopharmaceutical container having an RF data tag, the method comprising:

supporting the radiopharmaceutical container in the radiopharmaceutical administration device; and

reading data from the data tag by the electromagnetic device, at least some of the data relating to a time at which a radiopharmaceutical in the radiopharmaceutical container is to be injected and data indicative of whether the radiopharmaceutical container was previously used with a radiopharmaceutical administration device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

storing in the data tag data indicative of configuration information for the radiopharmaceutical administration device and comprising one of a code that is required by the radiopharmaceutical administration device prior to use of the radiopharmaceutical container, a software update for the radiopharmaceutical administration device, a product promotion, and references to information, and wherein the configuration information is used by the radiopharmaceutical administration device in self-configuration upon reading of the data tag.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the data read from the data tag comprises data indicative of an amount of a radiopharmaceutical in the radiopharmaceutical container.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the data read from the data tag comprises data indicative of an identity of a radiopharmaceutical in the container.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the data read from the data tag comprises data indicative of manufacturing information for the radiopharmaceutical in the container.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the data read from the data tag comprises data indicative of a use code for the radiopharmaceutical in the container.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the data read from the data tag comprises data indicative of configuration information for a radiopharmaceutical administration device used with the container.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the data read from the data tag comprises data indicative of an identity of a radiopharmaceutical in the container and manufacturing information for the radiopharmaceutical in the container.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the data read from the data tag data comprises data indicative of manufacturing information for the radiopharmaceutical in the container and configuration information for a radiopharmaceutical administration device used with the container.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the data read from the data tag comprises data indicative of an identity of a radiopharmaceutical in the container and configuration information for a radiopharmaceutical administration device used with the container.

22. A radiopharmaceutical administration device supporting a radiopharmaceutical container containing a liquid radiopharmaceutical therein and having an RF data tag for use in a radiopharmaceutical administration procedure, the radiopharmaceutical administration device comprising:

a mount for receiving and supporting the radiopharmaceutical container;

an electromagnetic device for reading data from the data tag; and

the data tag including data related to a radioactivity level for the liquid radiopharmaceutical in the radiopharmaceutical container.

23. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 22, wherein the data tag comprises data indicative of a decay factor for the radiopharmaceutical.

24. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 22, wherein the data tag comprises data indicative of a prescribed activity level at an injection time.

25. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 22, wherein the radioactivity level is a radioactivity level of the radiopharmaceutical at a time other than an injection time.

26. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 22, wherein the data tag comprises data indicative of a time at which the radiopharmaceutical is assumed to be injected.

27. A method for using a radiopharmaceutical administration device having a mount for receiving and supporting a radiopharmaceutical syringe and an electromagnetic device and a radiopharmaceutical container containing a liquid radiopharmaceutical therein and having an RF data tag, the method comprising:

supporting the radiopharmaceutical container in the mount of the radiopharmaceutical administration device; and

reading data from the data tag by the electromagnetic device, at least some of the data relating to a radioactivity level for the liquid radiopharmaceutical in the radiopharmaceutical container.

28. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 27, wherein the data read from the data tag comprises data indicative of a decay factor for the radiopharmaceutical.

29. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 27, wherein the data read from the data tag comprises data indicative of a prescribed activity level at an injection time.

30. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 27, wherein the radioactivity level is a radioactivity level of the radiopharmaceutical at a time other than an injection time.

31. The radiopharmaceutical administration device of claim 27, wherein the data read from the data tag comprises data indicative of a time at which the radiopharmaceutical is assumed to be injected.