Medical system and tracking device

• US 7,868,754 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SIP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: SIP Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Salvat, Roberto Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US11/861,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20090079569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.12, 340/571, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• 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 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A tracking device and system for tracking medical supplies, in particular, medical trays and their components is disclosed. The tracking device utilizes GPRS/GSM technology to enable an individual to locate and monitor the movement of a medical tray at any given time and for any desired period of time. The tracking system utilizes geo-fences established within buildings to assist in determining the specific location of the medical trays within these buildings. The tracking devices can also be activated by motion sensors to alert the tracking system of a possible theft of the tray. The tracking system incorporates software which enables an individual to determine the location of medical trays, determine the contents of the trays and schedule the use of the medical trays by specific doctors and at specific locations. The tracking system also retains information regarding the doctors, the medical device manufacture representatives, the hospitals and sales of the medical devices.

Claims

1. A tracking system comprising:

a first communicator located in at least one object to be tracked;

a second communicator receiving signals from said first communicator;

said first communicator and said second communicator are located proximate each other and being encased in a material which provides thermal protection during an autoclaving process, said first communicator and said second communicator being located in said at least one object to be tracked;

a third communicator communicating with said first communicator to provide said first communicator with information regarding the identification and the location of said at least one object to be tracked;

said second communicator transmitting information to a network server with respect to the location of said at least one object to be tracked, said information includes identification of said at least one object to be tracked;

said tracking system including information regarding the intended use of said at least one object to be tracked;

said system enabling a user to arrange delivery of said at least one object to be tracked to a location where said at least one object to be tracked is to be utilized;

said system further including information regarding the intended user of said at least one object to be tracked;

said system enabling a user of said system to schedule the use of and arrange the location said at least one object to be tracked so that said intended user will have use of said at least one object to be tracked when necessary.

2. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein said information regarding the identification and location of said at least one object to be tracked and said information regarding the intended use and intended user of said at least one object to be tracked is transmitted to a cellular network tower using CDMA and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in the web-based platform.

3. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein said information regarding the identification and location of said at least one object to be tracked and said information regarding the intended use and intended user of said at least one object to be tracked is transmitted to a global satellite using GPS, AGPS and GPRS and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in the web-based platform.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein information regarding the intended user of said object is retained in said system.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein information regarding the user of said system is retained in said system.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein information regarding the location of said at least one object and other intended locations of said at least one object is retained in said system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said object is a medical device.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein said intended user is a doctor.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said object is a medication.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said object is a patient.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said user is a representative of a medical device manufacturer.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said representative can order specific medical devices.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted to a cellular network tower using GSM and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in a web-based platform.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted to a cellular network tower using CDMA and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in software.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted to a cellular network tower using GSM and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in a web-based platform and software.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted to a cellular network tower using CDMA and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in a web-based platform and software.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted to a cellular network tower using GSM and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in a web-based platform and software.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein said information regarding the identification and location of said at least one object to be tracked and said information including the identification of said at least one object to be tracked is transmitted to a cellular network tower using AGPS and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in a web-based platform and software.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted to a global satellite using GPS, AGPS and GPRS and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in the software.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted to a global satellite using GPS and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in a web-based platform.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted to a global satellite using GPS and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in software.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted from a global satellite and combined with information from a network using AGPS and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in a web-based platform.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted from a global satellite and combined with information from a network using AGPS and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in software.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted from a global satellite and combined with information from a network using AGPS and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in a web-based platform and software.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted through a communication network using GPRS and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in a web-based platform.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted through a communication network using GPRS and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in software.

30. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is a steam sterilizable implant.

31. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is a steam sterilizable instrument.

32. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is a steam sterilizable battery for operation of an instrument.

33. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is a steam sterilizable container.

36. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is an autoclavable implant.

37. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is an autoclavable instrument.

38. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is an autoclavable battery for operation of an instrument.

39. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is an autoclavable container.

40. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is a dry heat sterilizable implant.

41. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is a dry heat sterilizable instrument.

42. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is a dry heat sterilizable battery for operation of an instrument.

43. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is a dry heat sterilizable container.

44. The system of claim 1 wherein said first communicator is a Bluetooth device.

45. The system of claim 1 wherein said second communicator is a SMS enabled device.

49. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is a non-sterile container for medical parts.

50. The system of claim 7 wherein said medical device is a computer system.

51. The system of claim 1 wherein said first communicator is a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader.

52. The system of claim 1 wherein said third communicator is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

53. The system of claim 1 wherein said third communicator is a Bluetooth chip.

54. The system of claim 1 including a motion sensor, said motion sensor located in said at least one object to be tracked, said motion sensor communicating with said second communicator.

55. The system of claim 1 wherein said second communicator includes a pager.

56. The system of claim 1 wherein said second communicator includes a beeper.

59. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein said information regarding the identification and location of said at least one object to be tracked and said information regarding the intended use and intended user of said at least one object to be tracked is transmitted to a cellular network tower using CDMA and processed through a back end server which information is later contained in software.

13. An independent mobile tracking device for an object comprising;

a first communicator located proximate at least one object to be tracked;

a second communicator receiving signals from said first communicator;

said first communicator and said second communicator are located proximate each other and being encased in a material which provides thermal protection during an autoclaving process, said first communicator and said second communicator being located in said at least one object to be tracked;

a third communicator communicating with said first communicator to provide said first communicator with information regarding the location of said at least one object to be tracked;

said second communicator transmitting to a network server said information regarding the location of said at least one object to be tracked, said information regarding the location of said at least one object includes identification of said at least one object and a device to activate said second communicator.

14. The tracking device of claim 13 wherein said information regarding the location of said at least one object is transmitted to a mobile phone using CDMA.

15. The tracking device of claim 13 wherein said object is a medical tray and said first communicator is located in said medical tray.

34. The tracking device of claim 13 wherein said at least one object to be tracked is a medical tray and said communicator is located on said medical tray.

35. The tracking device of claim 13 wherein said at least one object to be tracked is a medical tray and said first and said second communicators are attached to said medical tray.

46. The tracking device of claim 13 wherein said first and said second communicators are located in a lowermost portion of a medical tray.

47. The tracking device of claim 13 wherein said first communicator is a Bluetooth device and said first and said second communicators are located in a lowermost portion of a medical tray.

48. The tracking device of claim 13 wherein said second communicator is a SMS enabled device and said first and said second communicators are located in a lowermost potion of said medical tray.

57. The tracking device of claim 13 wherein said information regarding the location of said at least one object to be tracked is transmitted to a mobile phone using GSM.

58. The tracking device of claim 13 wherein said information regarding the location of said at least one object to be tracked is transmitted to a mobile phone using SMS.