Systems and methods for controlled substance distribution network

Abstract

In various embodiments, multiple pumps may be used to deliver substances to multiple respective animals. A computer system may send/receive information to/from the pumps (e.g., to control and monitor various aspects of the pumps and/or store information associated with the pump). In some embodiments, the computer system may determine respective controlled delivery rates for the pumps (e.g., based in part on a weight of an animal receiving the substance from the respective pump) and send the determined controlled delivery rates to the respective pumps. The computer system may also receive user identifications from operators controlling a pump (e.g., in response to a pump alarm) and documentation indicators entered by the operator and/or pump to use in documenting pump activity.

1 - 161 . (canceled) 
   
   
       162 . A method of validating a pump, comprising:
 receiving, at a computer system, a beginning syringe weight of a syringe coupled to the pump, wherein the beginning syringe weight comprises a weight of a syringe with a substance for delivery to an animal;   receiving, at the computer system, an ending syringe weight of the syringe coupled to the pump, wherein the ending syringe weight is determined after delivering at least a portion of the substance in the syringe;   automatically determining an actual volume output, wherein the actual volume output is at least partially determined using the beginning syringe weight and the ending syringe weight;   automatically comparing the actual volume output to an expected volume output, wherein the expected volume output is determined from a calculated controlled delivery rate delivered to the pump; and   automatically determining if the comparison of the actual volume output to the expected volume output is approximately within an acceptable validation deviation.   
   
   
       163 . The method of  claim 162 , wherein the acceptable validation deviation is an acceptable difference or an acceptable percentage comparison between the actual volume output and the expected volume output. 
   
   
       164 . The method of  claim 162 , wherein the beginning syringe weight and/or ending syringe weight is received, at the computer system, from a weight scale integrated into the pump. 
   
   
       165 . The method of  claim 162 , further comprising:
 determining an actual controlled delivery rate based at least partially on the actual volume output;   comparing the actual controlled delivery rate to the calculated controlled delivery rate delivered to the pump; and   determining if the comparison of the actual controlled delivery rate to the calculated controlled delivery rate is approximately within an acceptable validation deviation.   
   
   
       166 . The method of  claim 165 , wherein the acceptable validation deviation is an acceptable difference or an acceptable percentage comparison between the actual controlled delivery rate and the calculated controlled delivery rate. 
   
   
       167 . A system, comprising:
 one or more pumps,   a computer system communicatively coupled to one or more pumps, wherein the computer system comprises:
 a processor; 
 a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store program instructions executable by the processor to validate one or more of the pumps:
 receive a beginning syringe weight, wherein the beginning syringe weight comprises a weight of a syringe with a substance for delivery to an animal; 
 receive an ending syringe weight, wherein the ending syringe weight is determined after delivering a portion of the substance in the syringe; 
 determine an actual volume output, wherein the actual volume output is at least partially determined using the beginning syringe weight and the ending syringe weight; 
 compare the actual volume output to an expected volume output, wherein the expected volume output is determined from a calculated controlled delivery rate delivered to the one or more pumps; and 
 determine if the comparison of the actual volume output to the expected volume output is approximately within an acceptable validation deviation. 
 
   
   
   
       168 . The system of  claim 167 , wherein the acceptable validation deviation is an acceptable difference or an acceptable percentage comparison between the actual volume output and the expected volume output. 
   
   
       169 . The system of  claim 167 , wherein the one or more pumps comprise a weight scale integrated into the pump, wherein a beginning syringe weight and/or ending syringe weight is received from the weight scale. 
   
   
       170 . The system of  claim 167 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
 determine an actual controlled delivery rate based at least partially on the actual volume output;   compare the actual controlled delivery rate to the calculated controlled delivery rate delivered to the pump; and   determine if the comparison of the actual controlled delivery rate to the calculated controlled delivery rate is approximately within an acceptable validation deviation.   
   
   
       171 . The system of  claim 170 , wherein the acceptable validation deviation is an acceptable difference or an acceptable percentage comparison between the actual controlled delivery rate and the calculated controlled delivery rate. 
   
   
       172 . A computer-readable storage medium, comprising program instructions for validating a pump, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to:
 receive, at a computer system, a beginning syringe weight of a syringe coupled to the pump, wherein the beginning syringe weight comprises a weight of a syringe with a substance for delivery to an animal;   receive, at the computer system, an ending syringe weight, wherein the ending syringe weight is determined after delivering a portion of the substance in the syringe;   automatically determine an actual volume output, wherein the actual volume output is at least partially determined using the beginning syringe weight and the ending syringe weight;   automatically compare the actual volume output to an expected volume output, wherein the expected volume output is determined from a calculated controlled delivery rate delivered to the pump; and   automatically determine if the comparison of the actual volume output to the expected volume output is approximately within an acceptable validation deviation.   
   
   
       173 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 172 , wherein the acceptable validation deviation is an acceptable difference or an acceptable percentage comparison between the actual volume output and the expected volume output. 
   
   
       174 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 172 , wherein the beginning syringe weight and/or ending syringe weight is received, at the computer system, from a weight scale integrated into the pump. 
   
   
       175 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 172 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
 determine an actual controlled delivery rate based at least partially on the actual volume output;   compare the actual controlled delivery rate to the calculated controlled delivery rate delivered to the pump; and   determine if the comparison of the actual controlled delivery rate to the calculated controlled delivery rate is approximately within an acceptable validation deviation.   
   
   
       176 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 175 , wherein the acceptable validation deviation is an acceptable difference or an acceptable percentage comparison between the actual controlled delivery rate and the calculated controlled delivery rate. 
   
   
       177 - 428 . (canceled) 
   
   
       429 . The method of  claim 162 , further comprising:
 receiving an intermediate syringe weight at predetermined time intervals as the substance is being delivered;   determining an actual intermediate volume output at predetermined time intervals as the substance is being delivered, wherein the actual intermediate volume output is at least partially determined using the beginning syringe weight and the intermediate syringe weight;   comparing the actual intermediate volume output to an expected intermediate volume output at predetermined time intervals as the substance is being delivered, wherein the expected intermediate volume output is determined from the calculated controlled delivery rate delivered to the pump; and   determining if the comparison of the actual intermediate volume output to the expected intermediate volume output is approximately within an acceptable validation deviation at predetermined time intervals as the substance is being delivered.   
   
   
       430 . The method of  claim 429 , further comprising providing an indication if the comparison of the actual intermediate volume output to the expected intermediate volume output is not approximately within an acceptable validation deviation. 
   
   
       431 . The method of  claim 430 , wherein the indicator is an audible alarm. 
   
   
       432 . The method of  claim 430 , wherein the indicator is a graphic display. 
   
   
       433 . The method of  claim 430 , further comprising inhibiting substance delivery if the comparison of the actual intermediate volume output to the expected intermediate volume output is not approximately within an acceptable validation deviation. 
   
   
       434 . The method of  claim 162 , further comprising:
 determining an actual intermediate controlled delivery rate at predetermined time intervals as the substance is being delivered, wherein the actual intermediate controlled delivery rate is based at least partially on the actual intermediate volume output;   comparing the actual intermediate controlled delivery rate to the calculated controlled delivery rate delivered to the pump at predetermined time intervals as the substance is being delivered; and   determining if the comparison of the actual intermediate controlled delivery rate to the calculated controlled delivery rate is approximately within an acceptable validation deviation at predetermined time intervals as the substance is being delivered.   
   
   
       435 . The method of  claim 434 , further comprising providing an indication if the comparison of the actual intermediate controlled delivery rate to the expected controlled delivery rate is not approximately within an acceptable validation deviation. 
   
   
       435 . The method of  claim 434 , further comprising inhibiting substance delivery if the comparison of the actual intermediate controlled delivery rate to the expected controlled delivery rate is not approximately within an acceptable validation deviation.