Tracking surgical implements with integrated circuits

Abstract

A system and method of tracking medical products provides for associating a group of medical products with a group location based on a group radio frequency identification (RF ID) device signal, where the group includes a first unit and a second unit. The first unit is associated with a first remote location based on a first unit RF ID device signal. The method further provides for associating the second unit with a second remote location based on a second unit RF ID device signal. The signals uniquely identify the units and the group.

1 . to  20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . An assembly comprising: 
 a first unit of one or more products including a first unit radio frequency identification (RF ID) device;    a second unit of one or more products including a second unit RF ID device; and    a packaging combining the first and second units together into a group, the group including a group RF ID device including information usable to identify at least one of the first unit and the second unit.    
   
   
       22 . The assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a first supplemental RF ID device removably attached to the first unit; and    a second supplemental RF ID device removably attached to the second unit.    
   
   
       23 . The assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second supplemental RF ID devices are configured to be reattached to another item.  
   
   
       24 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the another item is at least one of a medical container, a patient chart, an IV apparatus, an injection apparatus, and a patient bracelet.  
   
   
       25 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first unit RF ID device is integral with the first unit and the second unit RF ID device is integral with the second unit.  
   
   
       26 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit are medical products.  
   
   
       27 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first unit and second unit include at least one of: (a) a pharmaceutical product, (b) a blood product, and (c) a tissue product.  
   
   
       28 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second RF ID devices include at least one of source data and unit number data.  
   
   
       29 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the information itself directly identifies both the first unit and second unit.  
   
   
       30 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first RF ID device, second RF ID device, and the group RF ID device include information usable to determine at least one of: (a) an origination point of at least one of the first unit, the second unit, and the assembly, (b) verification information regarding at least one of the first and second units, (c) the identity of an intended recipient of at least one of the first unit, second unit, and the assembly, (d) drug indications, (e) drug contra-indications, and (f) drug interactions.  
   
   
       31 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first RF ID device, second RF ID device, and the group RF ID device include information usable to determine verification information, regarding at least one of the first and second units, including data indicating the authenticity of at least one of the first unit and second unit.  
   
   
       32 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the group RF ID device includes information usable to determine the number of units contained in the packaging.  
   
   
       33 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the group RF ID device further includes all information on the first RF ID device and the second RF ID device.  
   
   
       34 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first and second units are pharmaceutical products and at least one of the first RF ID device and the second RF ID device include information usable to determine at least one of: (a) drug-type data, (b) drug-name drug, (c) drug formulation data, (d) interaction data, (e) dosage data, (f) expiration data, (g) batch number data, (h) indication data, and (i) contra-indication data.  
   
   
       35 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first RF ID device, the second RF ID device, and the group RF ID device are configured to emit a signal when a predetermined date is reached.  
   
   
       36 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first RF ID device, second RF ID device, and the group RF ID device include information usable to determine at least one of: (a) blood donor data, (b) blood type data, (c) antigen data, and (d) antibody data.