OR Equipment Tracking App for Unified Medical Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Healthcare facilities face challenges in equipment tracking and communication, with current methods lacking integration and real-time collaboration, leading to operational inefficiencies and misunderstandings.

Innovation Solution

A mobile application that integrates real-time collaboration and communication, allowing users to create personalized OR layouts, track equipment by serial numbers, and provide urgent troubleshooting alerts, while consolidating various communication forms into a unified platform.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple separate systems are used for equipment tracking and communication, then each system can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall system complexity increases and real-time collaboration becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment tracking accuracyVSAvoidsystem integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate systems (equipment tracking, communication, collaboration tools) into a single unified mobile application platform. This integration allows all functions to operate within one system, reducing the complexity of managing multiple separate systems while maintaining reliable equipment tracking through centralized data management and real-time updates across all modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile application is designed as a multi-functional platform that performs equipment tracking, communication, collaboration, and troubleshooting simultaneously. This universal system eliminates the need for separate specialized systems, allowing users to access all functions through a single interface while maintaining the reliability of each specific function through dedicated modules within the unified platform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If traditional communication methods are used without integration, then implementation is simple, but real-time collaboration and operational efficiency are hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication platform complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple communication methods (messaging, video calls, file sharing, announcements) into a single unified communication platform within the mobile application. This consolidation enables real-time collaboration across all users while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized communication protocols and a unified interface design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication platform provides continuous real-time updates and notifications to all users, ensuring that information flows continuously without interruptions. This enables ongoing collaboration and immediate response to equipment issues, significantly improving operational efficiency compared to traditional batch or asynchronous communication methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If detailed equipment tracking is implemented, then equipment location and status are accurately monitored, but data management and retrieval complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment tracking precisionVSAvoiddata management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The equipment tracking system implements real-time feedback mechanisms where equipment status, location, and usage data are continuously monitored and automatically updated in the centralized database. This feedback loop provides precise tracking information to users while simplifying data management through automated data collection, validation, and synchronization across all devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates and maintains digital copies of equipment data (serial numbers, locations, status) in a centralized database that can be instantly accessed and replicated across all user devices. This digital copying approach enables precise equipment tracking without the complexity of manual data management, as the system automatically synchronizes data copies across the network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Speed

If urgent troubleshooting alerts are sent to the entire team, then immediate support is achieved, but communication bandwidth and notification management increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetroubleshooting response speedVSAvoidnotification volume
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system implements local quality by allowing different notification priorities and delivery methods for different users and situations. Urgent troubleshooting alerts can be selectively routed to specific roles or individuals based on the equipment issue type, rather than universally notifying all team members. This reduces notification volume while maintaining fast response times through targeted alert distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250391552A1Unified communication and equipment tracking mobile application for medical environments
Publication Date: 2025.12.25 STRYKER CORP
  • US20250391552A1 patent drawing
  • US20250391552A1 patent drawing
  • US20250391552A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A mobile application providing a unified system for tracking visual equipment and enhancing communication in medical environments. The mobile application features tools for designing OR layouts, tracking equipment by serial numbers, and real-time troubleshooting. The mobile application integrates various forms of communication into a single platform and offers customizable administrative access and secure data management, streamlining operations, improving communication, and increasing efficiency in healthcare settings.