System and method for automated laboratory inventory management using RFID technology
Inventors
Jones, John Curtis • Fritchie, Patrick P. • Kotlinski, Steve • Sailer, Jay Brian • Soni, Pathik H. • Iwen, Erich • Hohs, Ronald R. • Williams, William B.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12141734-B2
Publication Date
2024-11-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
In one aspect, a computer readable memory medium comprising program instructions for graphically developing a connectivity driver is provided. The computer readable memory medium is a non-transitory medium. The program instructions are executable by a processor to generate a purchase order for a laboratory item, transmit the purchase order to a remote computer in order to communicate the purchase order to a vendor, receive an advance shipping notice generated in response to the purchase order, receive item information stored in an RFID tag of a tagged item received at the delivery location, and check the item information against the advance shipping notice in order to verify that the tagged item is the same as the ordered laboratory item. The purchase order specifies a delivery location.
Core Innovation
The described invention manages an inventory of laboratory items in a laboratory using radio frequency identification (RFID). The laboratory items have RFID tags storing item information, and the system uses an RFID antenna located in the laboratory and/or an RFID reader to scan the RFID tags to obtain the item information. Based on these scans, the system tracks locations of the laboratory items in the laboratory and determines an amount of the laboratory items remaining in the laboratory.
The system stores the amount of the laboratory items remaining in an inventory database. When the amount of the laboratory items remaining is below a threshold amount, the system generates a purchase order for additional ones of the laboratory items. The inventory workflow further identifies a first one of the laboratory items to be used in a laboratory instrument and determines a second one of the laboratory items that has a relevant matching lot number condition for generating a recommendation to use the second item in place of the first item.
In related aspects, the inventory management includes RFID scanning in contexts such as receipt and disposal, where an RFID reader scans RFID tags on laboratory items received at the laboratory and an RFID antenna installed adjacent a disposal unit scans tags of items transferred to the disposal unit. The system identifies a transfer of a first laboratory item from a storage room to a laboratory instrument and generates a recommendation to select a second item while addressing differing lot number conditions or expiration-date comparison.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claim sets (system, non-transitory computer readable medium, and system). Across these, the inventive features cover RFID-based tracking and remaining-amount determination, threshold-based purchase order generation, and instrument-related selection using lot-number matching or expiration-date comparison. Additional dependent coverage specifies RFID scanning placement relative to disposal or refrigerated storage, as well as receipt verification using an advanced shipping notice.
RFID-based inventory tracking and remaining-amount determination
Track locations of the laboratory items in the laboratory based on scans of the RFID tags by at least one of the RFID antenna or the RFID reader; determine an amount of the laboratory items remaining in the laboratory based on scans of the RFID tags by at least one of the RFID antenna or the RFID reader; store the amount of the laboratory items remaining in an inventory database.
Threshold-based purchase order generation
In response to determining the amount of the laboratory items remaining in the laboratory is below a threshold amount, generate a purchase order for additional ones of the laboratory items.
Instrument item selection and lot-number matching recommendation
Identify, based on a scan by at least one of the RFID antenna or the RFID reader, a selection of a first one of the laboratory items to be used in a laboratory instrument; determine a second one of the laboratory items having a same lot number as a laboratory item already in use by the laboratory instrument; generate a recommendation to select the second one of the laboratory items to be used in the laboratory instrument in place of the first one of the laboratory items.
Expiration-date based substitution recommendation for instrument use
Identify a first one of the laboratory items selected by a laboratory operator to be used by a laboratory instrument based on a scan by at least one of the RFID antenna or the RFID reader; determine an expiration date of the first one of the laboratory items is later than a second one of the laboratory items; generate an order to select the second one of the laboratory items to be used in the laboratory instrument in place of the first one of the laboratory items.
Transfer identification from storage room to instrument and lot-number comparison recommendation
Identify a transfer of a first one of the laboratory items from a storage room to a laboratory instrument based on a scan by at least one of the RFID reader or the RFID antenna; determine a first lot number of the first one of the laboratory items is different than an item already in use by the laboratory instrument while a second lot number of a second one of the laboratory items in the storage room is the same as the item already in use by the laboratory instrument; generate a recommendation for the laboratory person to select the second one of the laboratory items to be used in the laboratory instrument in place of the first one of the laboratory items.
Across the independent claim sets, the core inventive coverage is an RFID-tagged inventory management system in a laboratory that scans RFID tags to track locations and remaining amounts in an inventory database, generates purchase orders when remaining amounts fall below a threshold, and supports instrument readiness by generating recommendations or orders to substitute laboratory items based on lot-number matching or expiration-date comparison.
Stated Advantages
Improved inventory tracking of locations of laboratory items based on RFID tag scans.
Determination and database storage of an amount of laboratory items remaining in the laboratory.
Automatic generation of a purchase order for additional laboratory items when remaining amount is below a threshold amount.
Recommendations or orders to select appropriate laboratory items for use in a laboratory instrument based on lot-number or expiration-date conditions.
Documented Applications
Managing inventory of laboratory items in a laboratory, including tracking item locations, remaining quantities, receipt verification, and disposal-related inventory updates.
Selecting and recommending laboratory items for use in a laboratory instrument, including substitution based on lot number conditions and expiration-date comparison.
Ordering additional laboratory items using purchase requisition or purchase order generation workflows when inventory drops below a threshold.
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