Method and system for patient and biological sample identification and tracking

Abstract

The present invention provides a device and system for monitoring the accuracy of procedures in the course of the performance of a task, the task comprising at least one procedure to be performed, the device comprising: an input interface for receiving input data relating to the procedures; a data store for storing data relating to the procedures; a processor for: comparing the input data with the stored data; and generating a comparison result indicating the result of that comparison; and an output interface for outputting the comparison result.

We claim: 
     
         1 .- 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . A device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures in the course of the performance of a task, the task comprising at least one said medical procedure to be performed, the device comprising:
 an input interface for receiving input data relating to the procedures where the input interface is adapted to receive at least some of the input data before the performance of the task;   a data store for storing data relating to the procedures;   a processor for:
 comparing the input data with the stored data; and 
 generating a comparison result indicating the result of that comparison; and 
   an output interface for outputting the comparison result.   
     
     
         71 . The device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 70 , in which the input interface receives at least some of the input data contemporaneously with the performance of the task, and the input interface comprises at least one or a combination of:
 a reader adapted to read an optical code;   a camera;   an RFID reader;   a card reader;   a biometric scanner, and;   a MEMS reader.   
     
     
         72 . The device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 70 , wherein the device is one or a combination of:
 hand-held, and;   connectable to a computer network.   
     
     
         73 . A device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 70 , in which the input interface further comprises a radio-frequency transceiver. 
     
     
         74 . A device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 73 , in which the radio-frequency transceiver comprises a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi transceiver. 
     
     
         75 . The device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 73 , in which the input interface is adapted to communicate wirelessly with a position location device, where the position location device comprises at least one of:
 a Bluetooth LE beacon; and   a global positioning device.   
     
     
         76 . The device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 73 , in which the input interface is adapted to communicate wirelessly with at least one environmental monitoring sensor, where the at least one environmental monitoring sensor comprises at least one of:
 a temperature sensor;   a humidity sensor;   a carbon-dioxide sensor; and   a volatile organic compounds sensor.   
     
     
         77 . The device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 76 , in which the environmental monitoring sensor is a MEMS sensor. 
     
     
         78 . The device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 76 , in which the environmental monitoring sensor is incorporated into a piece of equipment which is:
 to be used during the performance of the task, or;   related to the performance of the task, or;   a disposable item.   
     
     
         79 . The device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 70  in which the data relating to the procedures comprises one of:
 a process map, and; 
 a staff matrix. 
 
     
     
         80 . The device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 70  in which the comparison results generated by the device comprise one or a combination of:
 a confirmation; 
 a warning; and 
 an alarm. 
 
     
     
         81 . The device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 80 , in which a warning is generated when the comparison result indicates that data within the input data matches only a sub-set of the stored data. 
     
     
         82 . The device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 70 , the device being adapted to log-off an operator after outputting the comparison result. 
     
     
         83 . The device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 72 , wherein the device is adapted to communicate over the computer network with a database server. 
     
     
         84 . The device for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 78 , wherein the data relating to the procedures comprises one or a combination of:
 patient data;   operator data;   environmental data; and   data about the piece of equipment.   
     
     
         85 . A system for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures in the course of the performance of a task, the system comprising a device as claimed in  claim 70 . 
     
     
         86 . The system for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 85 , in which:
 the procedures comprising the task are each to be performed within a specific period on a time-line; and   the output interface is adapted to display, for each task:
 the procedures which are to be performed in each specific period of time on the time-line; and 
 the comparison result. 
   
     
     
         87 . The system for monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 86 , in which each specific time period is a day corresponding to a biological sample's development timeline and where the medical procedures are followed in the course of assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatment. 
     
     
         88 . A method of monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures in the course of the performance of a task, the task comprising at least one said medical procedure to be performed, the method comprising:
 inputting, via an input interface, data relating to the procedures into a data store;   storing data relating to the procedures;   generating a comparison result indicating the result of comparing the input data with the stored data; and   outputting the comparison result with an output device.   
     
     
         89 . The method of monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 88  in which the procedures comprising the task are each to be performed within a specific period on a timeline. 
     
     
         90 . The method of monitoring the accuracy of medical procedures as claimed in  claim 89 , in which each specific time period is a day corresponding to a biological sample's development timeline and where the medical procedures are followed in the course of assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatment.