Algorithm and program for the handling and administration of radioactive pharmaceuticals

• US 8,145,502 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ec2 Software Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Biodose LLC
• Inventors: Curnutt, Troy V., Whittacre, Bretten H., Johnson, Jared
• Primary Examiner(s): RANGREJ, SHEETAL
• Application Number:
  US12/632,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20100153136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

An algorithm and associated program for performing method steps in the maintaining of records and generating of reports used in the processing of radioactive pharmaceuticals. The algorithm is used as the basis of a program which can accomplish this method automatically. The method involves the determination of dose, the acquisition of the materials, scheduling for the issuance of doses and for future doses, the actual monitoring and control of material and equipment disposal. The algorithm and method are also adapted for the generation of reports on a periodic basis. In short, the method performed by the algorithm allows for an automation through a computer system and this, in turn, allows for the automatic processing of the steps performed and the controls involved in the dispensing of radioactive pharmaceuticals and automatically allows for the generation of governmental and other reports therefor.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented process for generating presentations on a display screen of an electronic data processing system for controlling administration of radioactive pharmaceuticals to patients comprising steps of:

scheduling administration of at least one required radioactive pharmaceutical to at least one selected patient;

determining availability of the type of radioactive pharmaceutical in an inventory;

receiving, into the electronic data processing system, information regarding prior administrations to the patient of the type of radioactive pharmaceutical, to determine desired activity of the radioactive pharmaceutical at the time of administration to the patient;

displaying, at the electronic data processing system, a plurality of radioactive pharmaceuticals having the desired radioactive activity;

receiving, at the electronic data processing system, a selection of a radioactive pharmaceutical item having the desired activity from the displayed list of the plurality of radioactive pharmaceuticals;

measuring an amount of radiation for the selected radioactive pharmaceutical item and receiving, at the electronic data processing system, the measured amount of radiation for the selected radioactive pharmaceutical item to verify the amount of radiation is within the desired radioactive activity measured for one dose of the radioactive pharmaceutical in the electronic data processing system;

receiving, at the electronic data processing system, information scanned from a label of a container holding the one dose of the radioactive pharmaceutical; and

validating, at the electronic data processing system, information scanned from the label against the inventory for proper radioactive pharmaceutical type and expiration parameters.

2. A computer-implemented process for generating presentations on a display screen of an electronic data processing system for controlling administration of radioactive pharmaceuticals to patients comprising steps of:

receiving an order, at the electronic data processing system, for diagnostic imaging requiring administration of a type of radioactive pharmaceutical;

determining, via the electronic data processing system, if the type of radioactive pharmaceutical is in a hospital inventory;

receiving, into the electronic data processing system, information regarding prior administrations to the patient of the type of radioactive pharmaceutical, to determine desired activity of the radioactive pharmaceutical at a time of administration;

displaying, at the electronic data processing system, a plurality of radioactive pharmaceutical items having the desired radioactive activity;

receiving, into the electronic data processing system, a selection of a radioactive pharmaceutical item having the desired activity from the displayed list of the plurality of radioactive pharmaceuticals;

receiving, at the electronic data processing system, a measured amount of radiation for the selected radioactive pharmaceutical item to verify the amount of radiation is within the desired radioactive activity for the patient, where the measurement occurs after the radioactive pharmaceutical has been selected;

receiving, at the electronic data processing system, information scanned from a label of a container holding the one dose of the radioactive pharmaceutical;

validating, at the electronic data processing system, information scanned from the label against the inventory for proper radioactive pharmaceutical type and expiration parameters; and

receiving, at the electronic data proceeding, dosage information for the selected radioactive pharmaceutical item and transmitting the dosage information to a pharmacy computer.