METHOD OF MANAGING THE INVENTORY OF EQUIPMENT USED DURING A SURGICAL PROCEDURE BY INDUCTIVELY READING DATA FROM THE EQUIPMENT USED IN THE PROCEDURE
A method for managing inventory of components used during a surgical procedure involving a surgical device and a control unit coupled to the surgical device Each component includes a circuit for storing identification data by the surgical device or control unit when the component is coupled to the surgical device. During a surgical procedure, the identification data are inductively read from the components Then, the inventor is managed based on the received identification data.
1 . A method for managing inventory of components used during a surgical procedure involving a surgical device and a control unit coupled to the surgical device, and with each component comprising a circuit integrated therein for storing and enabling inductive reading of identification data by the surgical device or control unit when the component is coupled to the surgical device, and with at least one of the surgical device and the control unit being coupled over a network to a database having a processor coupled thereto, the method comprising the database and processor performing the steps of:
receiving, from the surgical device or control unit, identification data inductively read from one or more components used during the surgical procedure; and
managing inventory of the one or more used components based on the received identification data.
2 . A method for managing inventory of components used during a surgical procedure involving a surgical device and a control unit coupled to the surgical device and with a storage unit being configured to store each component, and with each component comprising a circuit integrated therein for storing and enabling inductive reading of identification data by the surgical device or control unit when the component is coupled to the surgical device and by the storage unit when the component is stored therein, and with at least one of the surgical device and the control unit, and the storage unit, being coupled to an inventory database having a processor coupled thereto, the method comprising the inventory database and processor performing the steps of:
receiving, from the surgical device or control unit, identification data inductively read from one or more components used during the surgical procedure;
receiving, from the storage unit, identification data inductively read from any one or more components used during the surgical procedure that are stored in the storage unit;
analyzing the received identification data to determine whether one or more components used during the surgical procedure are missing from the storage unit; and
transmitting an alert to the control unit that the identified one or more components are missing from the storage unit.
3 . A method for managing billing for use of one or more components used during a surgical procedure, with each component comprising a circuit integrated therein for storing and enabling inductive reading of identification data by a surgical device or control unit involved in the surgical procedure when the component is coupled to the surgical device, and with at least one of the surgical device and the control unit being coupled, over a network, to a billing processor and with the method comprising the billing processor performing the steps of:
receiving, from the surgical device or control unit, identification data inductively read from one or more components used during the surgical procedure;
determining, based on the received identification data, whether any of the used components qualify as being chargeable for billing purposes; and
generating a bill associated with the used components that qualify as being as being chargeable for billing purposes.
4 . A method for managing inventory of one or more components used during a surgical procedure, with each component comprising a circuit integrated therein for storing and enabling inductive reading of identification data by a surgical device or control unit involved in the surgical procedure when the component is coupled to the surgical device, and with at least one of the surgical device and the control unit being coupled, over a network, to an inventory control database and processor in communication with a supplier ship node, with the method comprising the inventory control database and processor performing the steps of:
receiving, from the surgical device or control unit, identification data inductively read from one or more components used during the surgical procedure;
monitoring an inventory level of the one or more components based on the received identification data; and
transmitting, to the supplier ship node, a request for shipment of additional components based on monitoring the inventory level.
5 . A method for electronically documenting use of one or more components utilized during a surgical procedure, with each component comprising a circuit integrated therein for storing and enabling inductive reading of identification data by a surgical device or control unit involved in the surgical procedure when the component is coupled to the surgical device, and with at least one of the surgical device and the control unit being coupled, over a network, to a patient records database and processor and with the method comprising the patient records database and processor performing the steps of:
receiving, from the surgical device or control unit, identification data inductively read from one or more components used during the surgical procedure; and
associating the identification data with a patient record corresponding to a patient subject to the surgical procedure during which the one or more components were used.