Methods, systems, and products for tracking surgical items

• US 7,996,286 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett, Reeves, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew S
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAWLEY, TALIA F
• Application Number:
  US12/823,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 340/572.1, 340/539.12, 606/1, 606/130, 600/424
• US Class Current: 705/28
• 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: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/00 ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical references
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products track equipment used during surgical procedures. An allowable zone associated with a surgical procedure is identified. The allowable zone determines where surgical items may be used during the surgical procedure. A location of a surgical item is determined. When the location is outside the allowable zone, an alarm is triggered to indicate the surgical item is moving outside the allowable zone towards an area in which the surgical item may not be used.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

querying a database for a surgical procedure;

identifying, using a computing device, an allowable zone in a patient'"'"'s body associated with the surgical procedure in which surgical items may be used;

determining a location of a surgical item;

determining the location is outside the allowable zone; and

triggering an alarm to indicate the surgical item is moving outside the allowable zone towards an area in which the surgical item may not be used.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising associating the surgical procedure to a patient.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising interrogating a tag to determine the location of the surgical item.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying a zone in which the surgical item may not be used.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising matching the surgical item to the surgical procedure.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising producing the alarm when the surgical item does not match the surgical procedure.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising billing for the surgical item used during the surgical procedure.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining an inventory of the surgical item.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

comparing a remaining inventory of the surgical item to a reorder point; and

when the remaining inventory is at or below the reorder point, ordering new inventory of the surgical item.

10. A system, comprising:

a processor executing a program that causes the processor to;

query a database for a surgical procedure;

identify an allowable zone in a patient'"'"'s body associated with the surgical procedure in which surgical items may be used;

determine a location of a surgical item;

determine the location is outside the allowable zone; and

trigger an alarm to indicate the surgical item is moving outside the allowable zone towards an area in which the surgical item may not be used.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the program further causes the processor to associate the surgical procedure to a patient.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the program further causes the processor to produce the alarm when the surgical procedure does not match the patient.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the program further causes the processor to interrogate a tag to determine the location of the surgical item.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the program further causes the processor to identify a zone in which the surgical item may not be used.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein the program further causes the processor to match the surgical item to the surgical procedure.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the program further causes the processor to produce the alarm when the surgical item does not match the surgical procedure.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein the program further causes the processor to bill for the surgical item used during the surgical procedure.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein the program further causes the processor to determine an inventory of the surgical item.

19. The system according to claim 10, wherein the program further causes the processor to:

compare a remaining inventory of the surgical item to a reorder point; and

when the remaining inventory is at or below the reorder point, order new inventory of the surgical item.

20. The system according to claim 10, wherein the program further causes the processor to track a time the surgical item was used during the surgical procedure.