Wearable Cardiac Device Tracking for Faster Patient 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 the right personnel for patient care.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual inventory management methods are used for medical devices, then system complexity is reduced, but productivity and response time deteriorate due to delays in tracking and deploying devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice deployment speedVSAvoidinventory management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inventory tracking with an automated electronic system using RFID tags, NFC circuits, and wireless communication protocols. The system automatically detects device locations, tracks inventory status, and manages deployment without manual intervention, thereby increasing productivity while the complexity is managed through standardized communication protocols and modular system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The inventory management system performs self-service by automatically tracking device locations, monitoring inventory status, and identifying available devices for deployment without requiring manual counting or tracking. The system autonomously manages the entire inventory lifecycle from acquisition to deployment and return

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If automated tracking systems with multiple communication protocols are implemented, then measurement precision and tracking reliability improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice location tracking accuracyVSAvoidcommunication interface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal communication framework that supports multiple protocols (RFID, NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) within a single system architecture. Each device can utilize multiple communication interfaces simultaneously or alternatively, allowing the system to achieve high tracking precision through protocol selection based on distance and environment while managing complexity through a unified management layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If comprehensive inventory tracking of device components is implemented, then information completeness improves, but loss of time increases due to more extensive tracking requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory information completenessVSAvoidtime to process inventory data

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring RFID tags and communication circuits in devices before they enter the inventory system. Device components are pre-identified and registered in the database with their unique identifiers, so when devices are placed in the system, tracking begins immediately without requiring time-consuming data entry or setup, thus achieving comprehensive information tracking with minimal time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12451242B2Systems and methods for device inventory management and tracking

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 ZOLL MEDICAL CORPORATION

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a medical service personnel management system. The system includes an electronic device associated with a medical service person having access to a first location, a network interface disposed in the electronic device and configured to facilitate transmission of medical service personnel information through a network. The system further includes at least one server device disposed at a central location and communicatively coupled to the network. The server device comprises a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor causes the processor to receive the medical service personnel information from the network interface via the network, receive a prescription for a patient, retrieve one or more prescription parameters from the prescription for the patient, automatically analyze the one or more prescription parameters and the medical service personnel information.