System and method of utilizing a machine readable medical marking for managing surgical procedures

Abstract

The method and system include marking a surgery site (e.g., location of surgical incision) or a site of other medical action with a machine-readable medical marking (e.g., bar code or a dot pattern), which may be used in conjunction with (1) a scanner for reading the machine-readable medical marking and (2) a controller for controlling medical actions in response to the read machine-readable medical marking. The system and method ensure the validation of the surgical procedure, the patient awaiting the surgical procedure, and the site or location on the patient where the surgery is to be performed. Utilizing a scanning device for reading machine-readable medical markings, and a controller, there are additional means to check and double check the medical action before the actual medical action (e.g., surgery) is performed.

1 . A medical system, comprising:
 a machine-readable medical marking applied to the skin of a patient;   a scanner for scanning the machine-readable medical marking applied to the skin of the patient;   a source of information about a medical action to be performed on the patient; and   a controller for comparing that the machine readable medical marking applied to the patient is consistent with the medical action to be performed on the patient prior to performing the medical action.   
   
   
       2 . The medical system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the machine readable medical marking is applied to the skin of the patient in proximity to where a medical action is to be performed. 
   
   
       3 . The medical system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the machine readable medical marking comprises a barcode. 
   
   
       4 . The medical system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the source of information comprises a local database entry indexed by the information encoded by the machine-readable medical marking. 
   
   
       5 . The medical system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the source of information comprises a remote database entry indexed by the information encoded by the machine-readable medical marking. 
   
   
       6 . The medical system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the source of information comprises a second machine readable medical marking. 
   
   
       7 . The medical system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the second machine readable medical marking is affixed to a medical chart of the patient. 
   
   
       8 . The medical system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a computer. 
   
   
       9 . The medical system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the scanner and the controller are integrated into a handheld scanner. 
   
   
       10 . The medical system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the controller disables a medical device if the machine readable medical marking applied to the patient is incompatible with the medical action to be performed on the patient. 
   
   
       11 . The medical system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the medical action comprises a surgical operation. 
   
   
       12 . The medical system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the information contained within the source of information comprises at least one of: a list of instruments needed for the surgical operation, a list of surgical kits needed for the surgical operation, a list of medical personnel needed for the surgical operation; and a list of medical reports needed before commencing the surgical operation. 
   
   
       13 . A medical action controlling method comprising:
 applying a machine-readable medical marking to the skin of a patient;   scanning the machine-readable medical marking applied to the skin of the patient using a scanner;   accessing a source of information about a medical action to be performed on the patient;   comparing that the machine readable medical marking applied to the patient is consistent with the medical action to be performed on the patient prior to performing the medical action; and   indicating an incompatibility when the machine readable medical marking applied to the patient is inconsistent with the medical action to be performed on the patient.   
   
   
       14 . The medical action controlling method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the machine readable medical marking is applied to the skin of the patient in proximity to where a medical action is to be performed. 
   
   
       15 . The medical action controlling method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the machine readable medical marking comprises a barcode. 
   
   
       16 . The medical action controlling method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein accessing comprises accessing a local database entry indexed by the information encoded by the machine-readable medical marking. 
   
   
       17 . The medical action controlling method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein accessing comprises accessing a remote database entry indexed by the information encoded by the machine-readable medical marking. 
   
   
       18 . The medical action controlling method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein accessing comprises reading a second machine readable medical marking. 
   
   
       19 . The medical action controlling method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the second machine readable medical marking is affixed to a medical chart of the patient. 
   
   
       20 . The medical action controlling method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the controller comprises a computer. 
   
   
       21 . The medical action controlling method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the scanner and the controller are integrated into a handheld scanner. 
   
   
       22 . The medical action controlling method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the controller disables a medical device if the machine readable medical marking applied to the patient is incompatible with the medical action to be performed on the patient. 
   
   
       23 . The medical action controlling method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the medical action comprises a surgical operation. 
   
   
       24 . The medical action controlling method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the information contained within the source of information comprises at least one of: a list of instruments needed for the surgical operation, a list of surgical kits needed for the surgical operation, a list of medical personnel needed for the surgical operation; and a list of medical reports needed before commencing the surgical operation. 
   
   
       25 . A medical system, comprising:
 a machine-readable medical tag affixed to a patient;   a scanner for scanning the machine-readable medical tag affixed to the patient;   a source of information about a medical action to be performed on the patient; and   a controller for comparing that information read from the machine readable medical tag affixed to the patient is consistent with the medical action to be performed on the patient prior to performing the medical action.