IP Library Granted Patent US 8,781,920
Granted Patent B2
US 8,781,920 · App. 13/205,380 · Granted Jul 15, 2014

Methods, systems, and products for tracking surgical items

Inventors: Barrett Kreiner (Woodstock, GA); Jonathan Reeves (Roswell, GA)
Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,781,920
App. No.
13/205,380
Granted
Jul 15, 2014
Kind
B2
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 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 (49)

1. A method comprising:

identifying, via a computing device, an allowable zone in a patient's body associated with a surgical procedure in which a surgical item is to be used;

determining, via the computing device, a location of the surgical item;

determining, via the computing device, when the location of the surgical item is outside the allowable zone; and

triggering, via the computing device, an alarm to indicate that the surgical item is outside the allowable zone, when the location of the surgical item is outside the allowable zone.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating the surgical procedure to a patient.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

interrogating a tag to determine the location of the surgical item.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a zone in which the surgical item is not to be used.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

matching the surgical item to the surgical procedure.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

producing an alarm when the surgical item does not match the surgical procedure.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

billing for the surgical item used during the surgical procedure.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an inventory of the surgical item.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

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

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

10. A system, comprising:

a processor executing a program that causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

identifying an allowable zone in a patient's body associated with a surgical procedure in which a surgical item is to be used;

determining a location of the surgical item;

determining the location is outside the allowable zone; and

triggering an alarm to indicate the surgical item is outside the allowable zone.

11. The system of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:

associating the surgical procedure to a patient.

12. The system of claim 11 , the operations further comprising:

producing an alarm when the surgical procedure does not match the patient.

13. The system of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:

interrogating a tag to determine the location of the surgical item.

14. The system of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:

identifying a zone in which the surgical item is not to be used.

15. The system of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:

matching the surgical item to the surgical procedure.

16. The system of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:

producing an alarm when the surgical item does not match the surgical procedure.

17. The system of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:

billing for the surgical item used during the surgical procedure.

18. The system of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:

determining an inventory of the surgical item.

19. The system of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:

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

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

20. The system of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:

tracking a time the surgical item was used during the surgical procedure.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2011
From: KREINER, BARRETT; REEVES, JONATHAN
To: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026720/0050 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 12823183 · Jun 25, 2010
Continuation 12566709 · Sep 25, 2009
Continuation 11641135 · Dec 19, 2006
Related Publication 20120136674A1 · May 31, 2012