System, appartus and method for auto-replenishment and monitoring of a medical instrument

Abstract

A replenishment center connected to a plurality of analyzer systems each comprising at least one analyzer module which performs analysis using a replenishable item is disclosed. The replenishment center includes a receiver configured to receive operation information from at least one of the plurality of analyzer systems that relates to utilization of the replenishable item, a database configured to record the operation information in relation to the at least one of the plurality of analyzer systems, an inventory calculator configured to calculate and store in the database a remaining quantity of inventory of the replenishable item kept for the at least one of the plurality of analyzer systems, based on the operation information recorded in the database, and a suggested order generator configured to generate, when the calculated remaining quantity becomes less than a predetermined threshold, a suggested order programmed to give a user of the at least one of the plurality of analyzer systems an option of accepting or rejecting the suggested order.

1 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 managing, with a computer processor, an inventory of consumables for a sample analyzer, by:   displaying a list of remaining quantities and expiration information of one or more consumables maintained in an inventory for the sample analyzer;   identifying from among the list of remaining quantities and expiration information of the one or more consumables, one or more low inventory consumables having a remaining quantity less than a predetermined threshold;   presenting a suggested quantity to order for the one or more low inventory consumables having the remaining quantity less than the predetermined threshold; and   receiving a purchase order of the suggested quantity through a user interface.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising storing in a database a remaining quantity of the one or more of the consumables maintained in the inventory. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the list further includes a lot number of the consumables maintained in the inventory. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein displaying the list of remaining quantities and expiration information comprises enabling editing of the remaining quantities through the user interface. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising presenting a delivery status for the received purchase order. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising sending a notice in response to receiving the purchase order. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising presenting an alert when the remaining quantity becomes less than the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the alert directs a user to a screen showing the one or more of the consumables with the remaining quantity less than the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising presenting a history of purchase orders received from a user. 
     
     
         33 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 managing, with a computer processor, an inventory of consumables for a sample analyzer by:   presenting, on a user interface, a list of remaining quantities and expiration information for one or more consumables maintained in an inventory for the sample analyzer;   presenting, through the user interface, a user-modifiable suggested quantity to order for the one or more consumables having a remaining quantity less than a predetermined threshold; and   receiving, through the user interface, a purchase order, the purchase order comprising a modified quantity of the user-modifiable suggested quantity.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising storing in a database the list of remaining quantities and expiration information for the one or more consumables maintained in the inventory for the sample analyzer. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the list further includes a lot number of the one or more consumables maintained in the inventory for the sample analyzer. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the list of remaining quantities are editable through the user interface. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising presenting a delivery status for the received purchase order. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising sending a notice in response to receiving the purchase order. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising presenting an alert when the remaining quantity becomes less than the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the alert directs a user to a screen showing the one or more of the consumables having the remaining quantity less than the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising presenting a history of purchase orders received from a user. 
     
     
         42 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 managing an inventory of consumables for a sample analyzer with a computer processor by:   displaying in a user interface a list of remaining quantities and expiration information for one or more consumables kept in an inventory of a user;   displaying in the user interface a suggested quantity to order for the one or more consumables having a remaining quantity less than a predetermined threshold; and   submitting a purchase order, the purchase order comprising the suggested quantity for the one or more consumables.   
     
     
         43 . A computer system comprising:
 a server computer configured to store in a database a remaining quantity of one or more consumables in an inventory of consumables for a sample analyzer; and   a user computer residing in a user facility in communication with the server computer via a network,   wherein   the server computer is configured to generate a list of remaining quantities and expiration information for the one or more consumables and   the user computer, in response to receipt of the list over the network from the server computer, is configured to display the list on a user interface;   the server computer is further configured to generate a suggested quantity to order for the one or more consumables having a remaining quantity less than a predetermined threshold; and   the server computer is further configured to receive a purchase order, the purchase order comprising at least the suggested quantity for the one or more consumables.   
     
     
         44 . A sample analysis system comprising:
 a controller configured to analyze a patient sample using one or more consumables;   a scanner configured to read information associated with a consumable included with the one or more consumables;   a communication interface in communication with a server computer; and   a graphical user interface, the controller configured to drive the graphical user interface to:
 display a list of remaining quantities and expiration information for the one or more consumables, the one or more consumables kept in an inventory of a user; and 
 display a suggested quantity to order of the one or more consumables having a remaining quantity less than a predetermined threshold; and 
   the controller configured to submit a purchase order, the purchase order comprising at least the suggested quantity of the one or more consumables.