Wearable Cardiac Device Inventory Tracking for Faster Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems lack an efficient and automated method for managing and tracking the inventory of medical devices, particularly wearable cardiac devices, and assigning the appropriate medical service personnel for patient deployment, leading to potential delays and inefficiencies in providing timely care.

Innovation Solution

An automated inventory management system that utilizes wireless communication protocols (RFID, NFC, Bluetooth) to track wearable cardiac devices and their components, coupled with a central server to identify devices for deployment based on prescriptions, and a medical service personnel management system to assign personnel based on criteria such as location, expertise, and availability, ensuring timely and appropriate device deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual inventory management methods are used for wearable cardiac devices, then device tracking is possible, but the process is inefficient and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory management efficiencyVSAvoidtime for device tracking and assignment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inventory management with an automated electronic system using RFID tags, NFC circuits, and wireless communication protocols to track wearable cardiac devices and their components, eliminating the need for manual tracking processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service functionality where the inventory management system automatically tracks devices, checks availability, and assigns them to patients without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving efficiency and reducing time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automated tracking systems are implemented, then inventory management efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice deployment speedVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a multi-functional system where a single integrated platform performs inventory tracking, device availability checking, personnel assignment, and deployment coordination, reducing the need for multiple separate systems and managing complexity through consolidation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses communication interface circuits and wireless protocols as intermediaries between physical devices and the central management system, simplifying the interaction complexity by standardizing communication interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If comprehensive inventory tracking is implemented, then device availability is improved, but information processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice availability for deploymentVSAvoiddata processing load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for deployment decisions from the comprehensive device data, such as availability status, compatibility with patient needs, and personnel assignment, reducing information processing requirements while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20260081008A1Systems and methods for device inventory management and tracking

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 ZOLL MEDICAL CORPORATION

AI summary

An inventory management system includes a wearable cardiac device comprising an associated plurality of separate wearable cardiac device components stored as inventory at a first inventory location; a plurality of communication interface circuits associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of separate wearable cardiac device components and configured to facilitate transmission of inventory information through a network; at least one server device disposed at a central location and comprising a processor; and a memory comprising instructions that cause the processor to receive the inventory information from the plurality of communication interface circuits; receive a prescription for a patient; retrieve one or more prescription parameters based on the prescription; locate, in the inventory information, the wearable cardiac device based on the prescription parameters; determine a deployment status of the wearable cardiac device; and select the wearable cardiac device for the patient.