Methods, Systems, and Products for Tracking Surgical Items

• US 20100017224A1
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett, Reeves, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• 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

Systems and methods provides the ability to accurately track all equipment used in a surgical suite through the use of RFID tags.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

querying a database for a surgical procedure associated with a patient;

determining allowable zone on the patient'"'"'s body associated with the surgical procedure in which surgical items may be used;

interrogating an RFID tag to determine a location of a surgical item;

detecting movement of the surgical item outside the allowable zone; and

triggering an alarm to indicate the surgical item is moving outside the allowable zone towards an area of the patient'"'"'s body in which the surgical item may not be used.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing the alarm when the surgical procedure does not match the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an identity of the surgical item.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the surgical item is associated with the surgical procedure.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising producing the alarm when the surgical item does not match the surgical procedure.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing the alarm at the surgical item.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising tracking a time the surgical item was used during the surgical procedure.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising billing for the time the surgical item was used during the surgical procedure.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an inventory of the surgical item that remains after the surgical procedure is performed.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising reordering the surgical item.

11. A system, comprising:

a processor communicating with a database, the processor querying the database for a surgical procedure associated with a patient and determining allowable zone on the patient'"'"'s body associated with the surgical procedure in which surgical items may be used;

the processor interrogating an RFID tag to determine a location of a surgical item and detecting movement of the surgical item outside the allowable zone; and

the processor triggering an alarm to indicate the surgical item is moving outside the allowable zone towards an area of the patient'"'"'s body in which the surgical item may not be used.

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

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor further determines an identity of the surgical item.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor further determines whether the surgical item is associated with the surgical procedure.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the processor further produces the alarm when the surgical item does not match the surgical procedure.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor further produces the alarm at the surgical item.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor further tracks a time the surgical item was used during the surgical procedure.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processor further bills for the time the surgical item was used during the surgical procedure.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor further determines an inventory of the surgical item that remains after the surgical procedure is performed.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the processor further reorders the surgical item.