Method and apparatus for pharmaceutical management and tracking

Abstract

A product inventory management cabinet including a cabinet chassis configured to contain an inventory of product units having RFID tags, a reader configured to wirelessly detect the RFID tags, and a data processing system connected to communicate with the reader and to maintain a product inventory list and a consumed product list according to the detected RFID tags. There is also a method for product inventory management, including detecting a plurality of RFID tags in a cabinet, each RFID tag associated with a product unit and creating a current inventory list comprising identifiers corresponding to the detected plurality of RFID tags.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/741,631, filed Dec. 2, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application also includes some common text and/or figures as, but is otherwise unrelated to, concurrently filed U.S. patent application ______ (Docket number AMER01-00019), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure is directed, in general, to inventory management and tracking systems, and in particular to pharmaceutical management and tracking.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Product tracking is of importance to any manufacturing, distribution, or sales enterprise. It can be particularly important in the pharmaceutical area, where many products must be carefully identified and tracked from manufacture until administered to a patient. Typical known means of tracking pharmaceuticals involve manual record keeping and identifying products according to written labels. Inventory management and distribution also typically rely on a manual process of taking a physical inventory of product and manually ordering refills or restocking, while also eliminating product that is nearing or passed its expiry.

[0004] Another significant issue with pharmaceuticals is the very high cost of maintaining an inventory of expensive drugs. Some drugs can cost several thousand dollars per dose, and be relatively rarely needed, but these same drugs, when needed, are needed immediately. Pre-purchasing and stocking such drugs is a great expense for pharmacies and hospitals. Further, because of the high cost of these drugs, managing and tracking each product becomes essential.

[0005] There is, therefore, a need in the art for improved systems, methods, and apparatuses for inventory management and tracking systems, and in particular for pharmaceutical management and tracking.

SUMMARY

[0006] One disclosed embodiment includes a product inventory management cabinet including a cabinet chassis configured to contain an inventory of product units having RFID tags, a reader configured to wirelessly detect the RFID tags, and a data processing system connected to communicate with the reader and to maintain a product inventory list and a consumed product list according to the detected RFID tags.

[0007] Another disclosed embodiment includes a method for product inventory management, including detecting a plurality of RFID tags in a cabinet, each RFID tag associated with a product unit and creating a current inventory list comprising identifiers corresponding to the detected plurality of RFID tags.

[0008] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

[0009] Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words or phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms "include" and "comprise," as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term "or" is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term "controller" means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, whether such a device is implemented in hardware, firmware, software or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, and those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that such definitions apply in many, if not most, instances to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers designate like objects, and in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 depicts a simplified block diagram of a cabinet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a product unit as can be used in various embodiments of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 3 depicts a simplified diagram of an inventory management system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0014] FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of a process in accordance with a disclosed embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] FIGS. 1 through 4, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present invention may be implemented in any suitably arranged device. The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with particular reference to the presently preferred embodiment.

[0016] Various embodiments include a system and method for managing pharmaceutical inventories, and in particular to managing consigned pharmaceuticals in third-party facilities, such as hospital pharmacies. Various embodiments can use a product-management cabinet capable of tracking product inventory, and corresponding products. Before describing overall processes, it will be helpful to discuss various aspects of cabinets and products that can be used in implementing the processes.

[0017] One aspect of the disclosed embodiments concerns an innovative pharmaceutical cabinet used to store pharmaceutical inventory. FIG. 1 depicts a simplified block diagram of a cabinet that can be used to implement the processes described herein.

[0018] The cabinet 100, in a some embodiments, includes a refrigerated chassis 110, but chassis 110 can be held at any required temperature, including cooled, frozen, ambient temperature, or even heated, using conventional means. For refrigerated or ambient-temperature use, a conventional refrigerator unit can be modified as described herein to function as the cabinet. For ambient-temperature use, a non-refrigerated cabinet can be used, or the refrigeration unit can be turned off or disconnected. In some embodiments, the cabinet includes a door that is substantially (or at least partially) transparent, or including a window, so that the product unit inventory can be easily viewed without opening the cabinet. The chassis 110 is configured to contain an inventory of product units having RFID tags.

[0019] The cabinet 100 also includes a reader 120 to wirelessly and automatically detect and identify the contents of the cabinet. Preferably, this is a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, known to those of skill in the art. The cabinet 100 includes one or more RFID antennas 130 connected to RFID reader 120 to scan the contents of the cabinet.

[0020] Preferably, the cabinet 100 also includes one or more optional sensor devices 140, such as a thermometer, a door-open sensor; a power-failure sensor and optional backup power supply; a GPS locating device; and other devices, and one or more sensor devices 140 may communicate sensor data to the data processing system described below. In some embodiments, cabinet 100 also has an attached RFID tag.

[0021] The cabinet also includes a data processing system 150 capable of communicating with and controlling the RFID reader 120. The cabinet data processing system 150 also includes communications software for communicating as described more fully below. The cabinet data processing system 150 is also preferably connected to communicate with and control the optional sensor devices 140 described above.

[0022] Cabinet data processing system 150 can be implemented using any appropriate technology and components, capable of operating as described herein, as known to those of skill in the art. The cabinet data processing system 150 generally includes at least a processor or controller and an accessible memory for storing data as described herein. The data processing system 150 connected to communicate with the reader 120 and to maintain a product inventory list and a consumed product list according to the detected RFID tags as described herein.

[0023] Cabinet data processing system 150 is also connected to communicate with other devices using network interface 160, which can be implemented using wired communications such as Ethernet or a telephone modem, or wireless communications such as GSM or IEEE 802.11, or a cable modem system, or otherwise, or a combination of these. Preferably, network interface 160 communicates using Internet Protocol. Network interface 160 allows the cabinet data processing system 150 to communicate with a server system such as the inventory management system, described below, and optionally with other cabinets 100 using mesh networking, direct cabling, or other technologies known to those of skill in the art. Communications between cabinet data processing system 150 and the inventory management system can be implemented using any suitable data communications technology, or a combination of them. In embodiments where multiple cabinets 100 communicate with each other, these can be configured to communicate with the inventory management system as a single unit with a combined inventory.

[0024] In use, the cabinet data processing system 150 will make periodic inventory scans, using the RFID reader 120, to uniquely identify each product unit 200 (as shown in FIG. 2) stored in the cabinet. If a new identifier is found during any scan, the cabinet data processing system 150 notes the identifier and stores it to a current inventory list for that cabinet. Similarly, if a specific identifier is no longer detected during a periodic scan, because the product has been removed or the RFID tag has been destroyed, the cabinet data processing system 150 notes the missing identifier and removes it from the current inventory list for the cabinet. The identifiers of such removed products are also stored in a "consumed product" list in the cabinet data processing system.

[0025] The product inventory list comprises identifiers corresponding to detected RFID tags. The consumed product list comprises identifiers corresponding to RFID tags previously on the product inventory list that are not detected by the reader either immediately or after a predetermined amount of time.

[0026] In this way, the cabinet is configured to monitor the inventory by wirelessly detecting the RFID tags. The cabinet performs a periodic wireless scan to determine the current product units in the inventory, and can determine that a product unit has been removed from the inventory when the RFID tag corresponding to the product unit is not detected for a predetermined amount of time.

[0027] Of course, the references herein to the inventory list and consumed product list are not intended to specify a data structure for this information, as this information can be stored in any number of forms within the scope of the disclosed embodiments. "Lists" is simply used for convenient reference.

[0028] In alternate embodiments, cabinet 100 can also include a locking mechanism, or one or more individual locking compartments, to control access to the product. These locks can be any known technology, including keylocks, digital keypad locks, biometric locks, etc. Preferably, any locking device can also be opened remotely if the cabinet data processing system 150 receives such a command from the inventory management system.

[0029] Cabinet 100 can also include marketing or informational displays, either as a fixed display, or as a customizable electronic display. Similarly, cabinet 100 can include a display connected to cabinet data processing system 150 that is capable of displaying status or informational messages related to the status of the cabinet or the product inventory.

[0030] Preferably, cabinet 100 includes a power-failure detection device and a backup power supply. When a power failure is detected, cabinet 100 can sound an audible alarm, and can communicate with the inventory management system to notify it of a problem.

[0031] Product: In a preferred embodiment, the product consists of packaged pharmaceuticals, but of course the systems and methods described herein can be applied to other products. FIG. 2 shows a simple illustration of a product unit 200 as can be used in various embodiments of the present invention. An important feature of the products, in a preferred embodiment, is that each product unit 200 includes an RFID tag 230 affixed to the product or its packaging, where the RFID tag 230 includes identifying information capable of being read by the RFID reader.

[0032] In a typical implementation, an individual product unit 200 includes the product 210 itself in an appropriate packaging 220, such as a box. The packaging includes the RFID tag 230, which seals the package. The RFID tag has at least a unique identifier, such as a serial number, that can be read by the RFID reader. Preferably, to open the package 220 to use the product 210, the RFID tag 230 is destroyed, at which point it can no longer be read by the RFID reader.

[0033] For ease of reference, the term "serial number" will be used herein to refer to the unique identifier, although those of skill in the art will recognize that any other style of unique identifier can be used.

[0034] As will be understood by those of skill in the art, the product unit 200 represents a generic product. There can be one or more actual products 210 identified as a product unit 200, and preferably packaged together. For example, in the pharmaceutical context, a single dose, pill, or pre-filled syringe can be a single product 210, but multiple ones of these can be packaged together as a single product unit 200, depending on the requirements for using, dispensing, or billing for the product 210.

[0035] Inventory management system: An inventory management system 300 is used to control the inventory in multiple cabinets 100. FIG. 3 depicts a simplified diagram of an inventory management system 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, including server system 310, warehouse system 320, management system 330, and multiple cabinets 100, all communicating via network 340. Network 340 can be implemented using any known networking technology, as a public or private network or as direct communications, and is preferably implemented using the Internet to communicate between each system. Network 340 can be implemented using multiple technologies, and can be implemented using multiple separate networks.

[0036] Server system 310, warehouse system 320, management system 330, while depicted as single, individual systems in this simplified figure, can each be implemented using one or more data processing systems, which can be commonly located but are not necessarily so. For example, as known to those of skill in the art, different functions of server system 310 may be more efficiently performed using separate data processing systems, each performing specific tasks but connected to communicate with each other in such a way as to together perform the functions described herein for the server system 310 as a whole. Similarly, one or more of server system 310, warehouse system 320, and management system 330 could be implemented as an integrated system as opposed to distinct and separate systems.

[0037] Server system 310 performs overall inventory management functions for multiple cabinets 100, as described in more detail below with regard to the overall process. In general, server system 310 communicates with cabinets 100 to monitor the inventory of each cabinet 100 on a regular basis. Server system 310 can also monitor other status information of each cabinet 100 according to sensor devices 140. Server system 310 includes a database of the current inventory of each cabinet 100, the product inventory assigned to each cabinet 100, and other information regarding the cabinets 100.

[0038] Server system 310 also tracks all product units 200 from time of purchase and receiving into a warehouse, to shipment placement in a cabinet 100, to storage in cabinet 100, to removal from cabinet 100. Server system 310 will periodically receive communications from each cabinet 100 including the current inventory list, the consumed product list, and other information. These communications can be initiated by server system 310, by polling each of the cabinets 100, or can be initiated by the cabinets 100.

[0039] Server system 310 preferably includes a web server interface to allow management using a standard web browser interface. Preferably, at least some data sent and received by server system 310 is in XML format. Server system 310 maintains at least one database for product inventory data; in a preferred embodiment, this database is an SQL database.

[0040] Server system 310 can also generate billing and invoice data according to the reports from cabinets 100 of product units 200 that are delivered (added to the current inventory list) or consumed (added to the consumed inventory list).

[0041] In various embodiments, the server system 310 is capable of creating an order to have additional product units added to the cabinet according to the cabinet inventory. In some cases, the product units in the cabinet inventory are consignment product units, and the server system 310 creates an invoice when the product units are removed from the inventory. The server system 310 is further capable, in some embodiments, of receiving cabinet status data from the cabinet, and sending cabinet control instructions to the cabinet. The server system 310 is further capable, in some embodiments, of analyzing product consumption data according to inventory data received from the cabinet, as described below.

[0042] Warehouse system 320 is connected to communicate with server system 310. Warehouse system 320 is configured to receive inventory management orders from server system 310, to have inventory shipped or delivered for placement in a cabinet 100. Warehouse system 320 is also preferably capable of reading the RFID tags of the product units 200 to identify exactly which product units are being shipped to a given destination. In alternate embodiments, warehouse system 320 is also configured to produce RFID tags for labeling product units 200.

[0043] Management system 330 is preferably a data processing system configured to connect with server system 310 to allow a user to manage the functions of server system 310 and the processes it controls. Management system 330 can preferably be implemented using a common data processing system including a standard internet browser, connected to allow the user to connect to a web server interface on server system 310.

[0044] FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of a process in accordance with a disclosed embodiment. Various embodiments include an inventory management process that provides monitoring, tracking, and billing functions for product units 200 in cabinets 100. In this way, each cabinet 100 can function as a "virtual warehouse" of product units 200 located at each product location, such as hospital pharmacies. This process is particularly useful when the product is not sold when shipped for placement in a cabinet, but rather is held on consignment in the cabinet, and considered sold when removed from the cabinet or the product packaging.

[0045] In particular, the embodiments described herein can be used for high-dollar injectable pharmaceuticals, which a pharmacy may desire to have readily available but may not be willing or able to pre-purchase. In this case, the consignment product in the "virtual warehouse" cabinet functions to answer a significant and immediate need in the industry.

[0046] In a disclosed process, at some point product units 200 are delivered to and placed within cabinet 100 at a customer site (step 405). Cabinet 100 wirelessly scans its contents to detect the serial numbers of the RFID tags of each of the product units (step 410), and add those to the current inventory list (step 415). Cabinet 100 will communicate the current inventory list to server system 310 (step 420). Cabinet 100 will also communicate the consumed inventory list to server system 310 (step 425). Server system 310 will update a status record for each corresponding serial number (step 430).

[0047] In implementations where there is a direct sale of the product, server system 310 can generate a billing invoice for the customer either when the product units 200 are shipped or when they are detected within cabinet 100, depending on the terms of the customer contract, or at another appropriate time.

[0048] Cabinet 100 continues to periodically wirelessly scan its contents as in step 405 above. When the cabinet 100 no longer detects a given RFID serial number of a product unit 200, that serial number is added to the consumed product list (step 435), and can be removed from the current inventory list. The consumed list and updated current inventory list are eventually reported to server system 310, as described above (step 440). Typically, this will be when the product unit 100 is opened and the product is consumed, but it can also happen when the RFID tag is destroyed when the packaging is opened, or if the product is otherwise removed, stolen, destroyed, etc.

[0049] In some embodiments, a particular product unit is not moved to the consumed product list immediately when it is not detected, but only when it has not been detected for a significant period, such as 24, 48, or 72 hours. This is to accommodate the event that the product unit 200 is removed from cabinet 100 in anticipation of use, but is not actually consumed, and so is returned to the cabinet 100 and is thereafter detected by cabinet 100.

[0050] In some embodiments, the temperature and other parameters of the cabinet 100 can be directly modified by cabinet data processing system 150. Further, server system 310 can send appropriate commands to cabinet data processing system 150 to change the cabinet parameters. In this way, for example, server system 310 can determine the optimal cabinet parameters according to the current cabinet inventory, and thereafter modify the parameters accordingly. Cabinet 100 sends cabinet status data to server system 310 (step 445) indicating the current status of the cabinet and inventory, such as that determined by any sensor devices 140. Cabinet 100 receives cabinet control instructions from server 310 (step 450), and adjusts the cabinet parameters accordingly (step 455).

[0051] In various embodiments, a cabinet's current inventory list is reconstructed each time the cabinet scans its contents. The consumed inventory list is not routinely cleared by the cabinet until its contents have been sent to the server system. In some embodiments, the cabinet will receive an instruction from the server to clear the consumed inventory list, and will do so (step 460).

[0052] The systems and techniques described herein, while particularly described in a pharmaceutical context, are of course not limited to pharmaceuticals. Those of skill in the art will recognize that these techniques can be applied to any number of other products, with particular utility in managing inventory of consumable products such as drugs, foods, drinks, liquors, etc.

[0053] Those skilled in the art will recognize that, for simplicity and clarity, the full structure and operation of all systems suitable for use with the present invention is not being depicted or described herein. Instead, only so much of a data processing system as is unique to the present invention or necessary for an understanding of the present invention is depicted and described. The remainder of the construction and operation of these systems may conform to any of the various current implementations and practices known in the art.

[0054] It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functional system, those skilled in the art will appreciate that at least portions of the mechanism of the present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of a instructions contained within a machine usable medium in any of a variety of forms, and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of instruction or signal bearing medium utilized to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of machine usable mediums include: nonvolatile, hard-coded type mediums such as read only memories (ROMs) or erasable, electrically programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), user-recordable type mediums such as floppy disks, hard disk drives and compact disk read only memories (CD-ROMs) or digital versatile disks (DVDs), and transmission type mediums such as digital and analog communication links.

[0055] Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, substitutions, variations, and improvements of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

[0056] None of the description in the present application should be read as implying that any particular element, step, or function is an essential element which must be included in the claim scope: THE SCOPE OF PATENTED SUBJECT MATTER IS DEFINED ONLY BY THE ALLOWED CLAIMS. Moreover, none of these claims are intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 USC .sctn.112 unless the exact words "means for" are followed by a participle.

Claims

1. A product inventory management cabinet, comprising: a cabinet chassis configured to contain an inventory of product units having RFID tags; a reader configured to wirelessly detect the RFID tags; and a data processing system connected to communicate with the reader and to maintain a product inventory list and a consumed product list according to the detected RFID tags.

2. The product inventory management cabinet of claim 1, wherein the product inventory list comprises identifiers corresponding to detected RFID tags.

3. The product inventory management cabinet of claim 1, wherein the consumed product list comprises identifiers corresponding to RFID tags previously on the product inventory list that are not detected by the reader.

4. The product inventory management cabinet of claim 1, wherein the cabinet includes a door that is at least partially transparent.

5. The product inventory management cabinet of claim 1, further comprising a network interface connected to the data processing system to enable the data processing system to communicate with a server system over a network.

6. The product inventory management cabinet of claim 1, further comprising a sensor device connected to communicate with the data processing system.

7. The product inventory management cabinet of claim 1, wherein the data processing system is configured to transmit the product inventory list to a server system.

8. The product inventory management cabinet of claim 1, wherein the data processing system is configured to receive cabinet control instructions from a server system.

9. The product inventory management cabinet of claim 1, wherein the consumed product list comprises identifiers corresponding to RFID tags previously on the product inventory list that are not detected by the reader for at least 24 hours.

10. The product inventory management cabinet of claim 1, wherein the product units are pharmaceuticals.

11. A method for product inventory management, comprising: detecting a plurality of RFID tags in a cabinet, each RFID tag associated with a product unit; creating a current inventory list comprising identifiers corresponding to the detected plurality of RFID tags.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising creating a consumed product list comprising identifiers corresponding to RFID tags previously on the product inventory list that are not detected as one of the plurality of RFID tags.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a notification, from the cabinet, that product units have been added or removed from the cabinet inventory.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising communicating with a server system over a network.

15. The method of claim 11, creating a consumed product list comprising identifiers corresponding to RFID tags previously on the product inventory list that are not detected as one of the plurality of RFID tags for a predetermined amount of time.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending cabinet status data to a server system.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving cabinet control instructions from a server system.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving sensor data from at least one sensor device.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending the product inventory list to a server system.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending the consumed product list to a server system.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the product units are pharmaceuticals.