Drug delivery device incorporating a tracking code

• US 8,140,349 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merative US LP
• Original Assignee: Merge eMed Incorporated
• Inventors: Hanson, Robert, Sudduth, Barry, Detar, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): COBANOGLU, DILEK B
• Application Number:
  US09/997,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,764 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/189, 604/207, 235/375, 235/385, 700/214, 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• 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: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A tracking code is adhered to a syringe label cradle for tracking each activity regarding the syringe label cradle, e.g., drug preparation, drug inventory, drug dispensing, drug administration, drug return, drug charges, etc. The tracking code may be in the form of bar or other machine readable code, as well as human readable indicia. The unique tracking code enables tracking of events pertaining to a specific syringe from the time of being prepared with a prescribed drug to its disposal or return to a hospital pharmacy. A log is created relating the patient to the specific drug used and all information inputted with respect to the tracking code.

Claims

1. A method for tracking event data associated with a medical device adapted for the administration of a drug to a patient, said method comprising:

generating a unique tracking code for a single medical device loaded with a drug, wherein said unique tracking code uniquely identifies said single medical device loaded with a drug such that said unique tracking code is different from each tracking code assigned to other medical devices loaded with said drug,

receiving event data associated with said single medical device loaded with a drug, the received event data including information associated with an action performed relating to the single medical device loaded with a drug, the action including at least one of preparing the single medical device loaded with a drug, administering the single medical device loaded with a drug to a patient, and disposing of the single medical device loaded with a drug,

storing the event data on a storage device with the unique tracking code for the single medical device loaded with a drug to form at least one record uniquely tied to the single medical device loaded with a drug, wherein the at least one record is different from each record created for the other medical devices loaded with said drug,

receiving a request for information regarding the single medical device loaded with a drug, the request including said unique tracking code,

retrieving stored event data from the at least one record including said unique tracking code stored on said storage device, and

outputting the stored event data in response to the request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting said tracking code to at least one printer for printing said tracking code as a bar code.

3. The method of claim 2, further including scanning said bar code for identifying said drug associated with said bar code prior to administration of said drug to a patient.

4. The method of claim 1, further including affixing said single medical device loaded with a drug to a cradle.

5. The method of claim 4, further including adhering a label containing said tracking code to at least one of said cradle and said single medical device loaded with a drug.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said cradle comprises a syringe label cradle.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said cradle comprises a port label cradle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said medical device comprises a syringe.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said medical device comprises an IV port.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said unique tracking code is stored in said storage device in associated with the identification of a patient to be administered said drug.

11. A method for tracking data associated with a medical device adapted for the administration of a drug to a patient, said method comprising:

preparing a single source of a drug to be administered to a patient, wherein said single source of a drug includes an individual drug and an individual medical device,

affixing said single source in a cradle,

providing a label having a bar code corresponding to a unique tracking code affixed to at least one of said source and said cradle, wherein said unique tracking code uniquely identifies said single source such that said unique tracking code is different from each tracking code assigned to other single sources of said drug,

identifying data associated with a first quantity of said drug in said single source and said patient,

storing said data in association with said unique tracking code on a storage device,

administering a second quantity of said drug to said patient from said single source,

disposing of said single source after administration of said drug to said patient;

updating said first quantity of said drug stored in the storage device with the unique tracking code based on the second quantity of said drug, and

retrieving said data from said storage device using said unique tracking code,

wherein said data, retrieved by the tracking code from the storage device, tracks said source from preparation of said source containing said drug to disposing of said source, wherein said unique tracking code conveys no information other than the identity of the tracking code.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said medical device comprises a syringe.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said medical device comprises an IV port.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said tracking code identifies a single source associated with a single patient.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said unique tracking code is stored in said storage device in associated with the identification of a patient to be administered said drug.

16. A method for tracking data associated with a medical device adapted for the administration of a drug to a patient, said method comprising:

preparing a single source of a drug to be administered to a patient, wherein said single source of a drug includes a drug and an individual syringe,

associating a unique tracking code with said single source, wherein the unique tracking code uniquely identifies the single source such that the unique tracking code is different from each tracking code assigned to other single sources loaded with the drug,

providing first data associated with said tracking code relating to said drug in said single source to be administered,

providing second data representing an amount of said drug in said single source administered to said patient from said single source associated with said tracking code,

providing third data associated with disposing of said single source,

storing said first, second, and third data in association with said tracking code on a storage device,

retrieving said first, second, and third data from said storage device using said tracking code,

whereby said first, second, and third data associated with said tracking code and retrieved by the tracking code from the storage device, tracks the preparing of said source, the administration of said drug in said source to a patient, and said disposal of said source.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said unique tracking code is stored in said storage device in associated with the identification of a patient to be administered said drug.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said unique tracking code conveys no information other than the identity of the tracking code.

19. A method for tracking data associated with a medical device adapted for the administration of a drug to a patient, said method comprising:

providing a single source of a drug to be administered to a patient, wherein said single source of a drug includes a drug and an individual syringe,

associating a unique tracking code with said single source, wherein said unique tracking code uniquely identifies said single source such that the unique tracking code is different from each tracking code assigned to other single sources of said drug,

providing data associated with said single source from providing of said single source to disposal of said single source,

storing said data in association with said tracking code on a storage device, whereby the stored data may be altered while still being associated with the same unique tracking code, and

retrieving the stored data from said storage device using said tracking code,

wherein the stored data retrieved by the tracking code from the storage device, tracks the single source from the providing of said source to the disposal of said source.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said unique tracking code is provided on a bar code and the bar code is affixed to the single source.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said single source includes other markings other than said bar code containing said unique tracking code.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said other markings comprises written text, type written text, patient information, drug information, or other bar codes.

23. A method for tracking data associated with a medical device adapted for the administration of a drug to a patient, said method comprising:

preparation of a single source of a drug to be administered to a patient, wherein said single source of a drug includes a drug and an individual syringe,

affixing said single source in a cradle,

providing a label having a bar code corresponding to a unique tracking code, wherein said label is affixed to at least one of said source and said cradle, and wherein said unique tracking code uniquely identifies said single source such that the unique tracking code is different from each tracking code assigned to other single sources of said drug,

identifying data associated with said drug in said single source and said patient,

storing said data in associated with said unique tracking code on a storage device,

administering a quantity of said drug contained in said source to a patient,

disposing of said single source after administration of said drug to a patient,

updating said data in association with the unique tracking code on said storage device, and

retrieving said data from said storage device using said unique tracking code,

wherein said data, retrieved by the tracking code from the storage device, tracks said source from preparation of said source containing said drug to disposing of said source, wherein said unique tracking code conveys no information other than the identity of the tracking code.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said single source includes other markings than said unique tracking code.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said other markings comprises written text, type written text, patient information, drug information, or other bar codes.