Systems and Methods for Maintaining a Supply of a Health-Related Item

Abstract

System and methods for maintaining a supply of health-related items are provided herein. The system includes, but is not limited to, a carrier configured to contain the health-related item. The system further includes, but is not limited to, a container having a compartment configured to store the carrier. The system includes, but is not limited to, an item presence sensor coupled to the container. The system includes, but is not limited to, a sensor tag coupled to carrier and configured to be communicatively coupled with the item presence sensor. The system includes, but is not limited to, one or more data processors configured to be communicatively coupled with the item presence sensor and configured to determine whether the health-related item is present within the container based upon proximity of the sensor tag to the item presence sensor.

1 . A system for maintaining a supply of a health-related item, the system comprising:
 a carrier configured to contain the health-related item;   a container having a compartment configured to store the carrier;   an item presence sensor coupled to the container;   a sensor tag coupled to carrier and configured to be communicatively coupled with the item presence sensor; and   one or more data processors configured to be communicatively coupled with the item presence sensor and configured to determine whether the health-related item is present within the container based upon proximity of the sensor tag to the item presence sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of health-related items, the system comprises a plurality of carriers configured to contain the plurality of health-related items, and the container comprises a plurality of compartments configured to store the plurality of carriers. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of sensor tags, each of the carriers comprises one of the plurality of sensor tags, and each of the plurality of sensor tags has a unique identification. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the item presence sensor is configured to generate an inquiry signal, and the sensor tag is configured to generate a feedback signal in response to the inquiry signal when the carrier is stored in the container. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to determine, by the one or more data processors, whether one or more of the health-related items have been displaced from the container based upon the proximity of the sensor tag to the item presence sensor utilizing a displacement model. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the displacement model is configured to generate presence data for each of the health-related items based upon whether the item presence sensor detects the sensor tag of the carrier corresponding to each of the health-related items. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the system is configured to determine, by the one or more data processors, whether the supply of one or more of the health-related items has been exhausted utilizing a reorder model, the reorder model comprises a pre-specified reorder threshold, and the reorder model generates a reorder signal in response to the presence data upon satisfying the pre-specified reorder threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a housing and a cover pivotably coupled to the housing, and the housing comprises the compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the container comprises a first cover and a second cover, the first cover and the second cover are opposite each other relative to the housing, the housing comprises a first compartment facing the first cover and a second compartment facing the second cover, and the item presence sensor is disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises a door sensor, the cover comprises a magnet configured to cooperate with the door sensor, the door sensor is configured to generate an initiation signal in response to separation of the magnet and the door sensor, and the item presence sensor is configured to generate an inquiry signal in response to the initiation signal. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to generate an initiation signal at pre-specified intervals of time, and the item presence sensor is configured to generate an inquiry signal in response to the initiation signal. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is formed from a polymeric material and defines a pocket, and the health-related item is disposed within the pocket. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein item presence sensor comprises an RFID/NFC sensor and the sensor tag comprises an RFID tag. 
     
     
         14 . A processor-implemented system for maintaining a supply of a health-related item, the system comprising:
 a storage device for storing instructions for maintaining the supply of the health-related item; and   one or more data processors configured to execute the instructions to:   receive, by one or more data processors, presence data of the health-related item from a storage space, the storage space comprises an item presence sensor configured to determine whether the health-related item is present within the storage space;   receive, by one or more data processors, status data of the health-related item from a database;   access, by one or more data processors, a reorder model that generates a reorder signal in response to the presence data and the status data, the reorder model comprises a pre-specified reorder threshold; and   generate the reorder signal upon satisfying the pre-specified reorder threshold.   
     
     
         15 . The processor-implemented system of  claim 14 , wherein the storage space comprises a container, the container comprises a housing and a cover pivotably coupled to the housing, the housing comprises a compartment, and the compartment is configured to store the health-related item. 
     
     
         16 . The processor-implemented system of  claim 15 , wherein the container comprises a first cover and a second cover, the first cover and the second cover are opposite each other relative to the housing, the housing comprises a first compartment facing the first cover and a second compartment facing the second cover, and the item presence sensor is disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The processor-implemented system of  claim 14 , wherein the status data comprises recall data, expiration data, or a combination thereof, for the health-related item. 
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for maintaining a supply of a health-related item, the system comprising:
 a carrier configured to contain the health-related item;   a container having a compartment configured to store the carrier, the carrier removable from the compartment;   an item presence sensor coupled to the container;   a sensor tag coupled to carrier and configured to be communicatively coupled with the item presence sensor; and   one or more data processors configured to be communicatively coupled with the item presence sensor and configured to determine whether the health-related item is present within the container based upon proximity of the sensor tag to the item presence sensor.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein carrier is configured to dimensionally cooperate with the compartment. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the carrier is configured to be removed from the compartment by a user.