BRPI0901204A2 - operative process and sequence of devices used to monitor medicines through electronic data capture, storage and transmission technology - Google Patents

Abstract

OPERATIONAL PROCESS AND SEQUENCE OF DEVICES USED FOR MONITORING MEDICINAL PRODUCTS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY, TECHNICAL DATA Capture, STORAGE AND TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGY YOUR DISCHARGE. The combination of peripherals involves the RFID tag, a tag reader, a modem, a server, satellite and media (computer with internet or cellular access (3G system), e-maiI, electronic directory, GPS and others). Using the RFID tag, the system tracks its range, identifying the status of the drug and requesting, through automatic contact with the supplier, the refilling of missing drugs in pharmacies, as well as monitoring consumer demand and the level required by the respective medicine. In addition, 15 with satellite communication systems, it is possible to identify where the packaging of these medicines is located after disposal, by classifying their materials for further recycling or recovery of hazardous medicines.

Description

"OPERATIONAL PROCESS AND SEQUENCE OF DEVICES USED TO MONITOR DRUGS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY OF CATCHING, STORAGE AND ELECTRONIC DATA TRANSMISSION".

The present invention relates to a combination of peripherals and an operative process linked to a monitoring system, the union of which enables the entry, storage and constant updating of data contained in RFID (RadioFrequency Identification) tags in medical, dental and veterinary medicines. . These data are constantly transmitted to all involved with the drug via direct communication with the data processing center.

This combination of peripherals and this operating process are applicable to drug inventory management, linking the entire logistics chain. The system also monitors the information, helping to map the demand of intermediate consumers (pharmacies) and final consumers (drug users). In this process, the final consumer and the intermediary can also participate in and benefit from the data transmission system through an automated inventory and purchasing controller. In addition, with a satellite locator integrated in the system, it is possible to identify where the packages of these medicines are located after their disposal, properly classifying their materials for further recycling and recovery of medicines that may pose risks to the population.

Current drug inventory management systems are unsatisfactory because they do not keep up with the complete product path and therefore only contribute to inventory control between pharmacies and their respective suppliers.

In the past, inventory management systems were even more precarious. The retail operation in Brazil, until the 90's, did not rely on current technology. A pharmacy box, for example, needed to manually read and enter the prices on the drug labels, subject to typos, which could cause harm to the customer or the establishment, as well as the lengthy time to perform this task. the pharmacy checked for missing items and triggered its suppliers frequently, as there was no continuous inventory control.

With the entry of microcomputers in Brazil, there was a revolution in retail administration. Cashiers, using a reading of JP61169972, began to capture drug price data contained in a bar code attached to each product and to transmit that data to a computerized system as described in US4521677.

According to patent report JP61169972, the invention of the decoding method by scanning the bar code by a reader occurs as follows: the reader scans the digitized bar code by an optical signal, collecting and converting the data to the transmission to a machine. To control the reading system, the data reading module is triggered. This module captures the data from the reading system and stores the data neatly before decoding, effectively and economically, with high reliability for use at the point of sale.

According to US4521677, a sales outlet that is equipped with a computer and barcode reader, coupled with a general charge counter, need not be constantly inserting and / or replacing its price tags. Each product, through a barcode label, when exposed to the reader, provides the computer with information on its updated price, which is automatically summed.

US2007136165 proposes that this computerized system also allows inventory visualizations, up-to-date reporting, sales commission and other information, creating a new focus on business productivity. According to this patent, electronic communications and business transaction processing are possible through multiple simultaneous users. Users can communicate with the remote system from tailored terminals with access to information. This system includes a database containing user information.

Despite the evolution of this type of technology, this system still requires an employee to operate the optical reader to capture the data. After all, barcode readers need to read by reflecting the light emitted by the reader when it is placed next to the label containing the bar code. When the reader reads, a binary code is generated and sent to an interface (computer, for example), which is decoded by a program and transformed into a decimal code, thus generating a product code or any number. That is, each barcode fillet represents a number. US4408120 describes the principle of the barcode reader as an optical member for reading parallel bars or symbols engraved in different colors. The reader has a light source and a image sensor comprising a plurality of lights which are aligned and activated one by one.

In order for the data to be captured automatically, the RFID tag appears, which is widely used in various areas. It is a system with greater readability and data storage and greater functionality.

According to US6094173, which explains the operation of the RFID tag, it is found to be a technology based on data transmission via radio waves, meaning that the reader can read any tag within its range without ever having to read it. physical or visual contact with the label.

RFID tag data is read by a radio frequency receiver and communicates with a database server (US2007229280).

US2007229280 describes that an RFID system has a large number of antennas for reading data from an RFID tag, an antenna configuration storage unit for recording the position of each of the many antennas, a position detection unit and a control unit. to select one or more antennas that will accelerate the RFID tag.

One of the differences between RFID and bar code is its ability to store a variety of product information because it uses memory deployed in your system, unlike the bar code, which only works with numbers or binaries.

The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system manages all data stored on a chip such as manufacturer data, product data (date of manufacture, validity, level of control, etc.) and places where the product has circulated. , among other information that could be stored, as shown by patent W09905659.

The following table provides a comparison of the key features of an RFID tag (US2007252704) and a barcode tag (CAI 145048). <table> table see original document page 5 </column> </row> <table>

According to US2006277055, the inventory management system, which controls the inputs and outputs of manufactured products, utilizes a web-based RFID tagging system for reading, tracking, tracking and logistics of these products.

US2006277055 describes a method for logistics of industrial products using RFID technology. It suggests the use of packaging with tagRFID to increase the work efficiency of manufacturers and other companies (logistics centers, storage centers and others), as this way it is possible to interchange packaging and control the logistics of products in an integrated and effective way. The use of this label also contributes to the reduction of errors in the production and logistic process.

Therefore, it appears that the product sales outlets have adopted RFID tags because it has a larger number of registered data, which are transmitted from the product exit on the manufacturing / packaging line, keeping the complete history of the product. and your logistics until you leave this establishment.

In addition, according to US2007182557, RFID tags are also used to prevent product theft in stores by alerting them through an audible signal when the product goes out without passing through the pay boxes. This patent describes the techniques used to detect theft using RFID technology.

In order to increase this scope, patent WOO108072 describes a Web / Internet system that allows some interaction with the buying user. Through information on how much the user is willing to pay for a product and how much is required, "merchant" suppliers set a reasonable price for both parties and purchase a stock on demand. This interactive technology enhances the supplier-user relationship, serving the interest of both parties.

There is a system proposed in JP2002366794 which uses a web system to display the customer base and their preferred products. It also proposes a solution to reduce the work of a customer trying to buy a product, ensuring transaction reliability via the internet. A web server is installed on the internet as a retail outlet. The web server manager invites merchants to provide their products by authenticating and registering them. This way, the user has access to the products in a reliable way. However, this system does not capture information from the intermediate or end user's personal inventory, nor automatically send messages to these users, alerting them about the products (medicines), in particular, the drugs missing from their home or establishment.

The patent to which this document refers proposes a different approach. The use of the RFID tag on medicines and their packaging serves to store and transmit the read data from a reader connected to a data processing center to all product related users, including their end consumers. A system manages the data of the end and intermediate clients, having control over their stock, suggesting the replacement of medicine via the media (computer with internet or cellular access (3G system), email, electronic calendar, GPS, web and others). ). If the product is expired or has been consumed, the system captures that the product has reached the end of its useful life and communicates to users that the product needs to be replaced. After the system sends the announcement, the user simply accepts the replacement of the product that the system makes the purchase through some type of bank debit authorized by the customer and sends it to the home or establishment of the consumer. That is, this system brings the supplier consumer quickly and practically, avoiding the consumer's concern about the need to replace the missing medicines, and avoiding the displacement of the consumer to the supplier to search for price, buy and transport the goods.

With all the integrated logistics and detailed analysis of consumption by geographic area, you have a lot of information and statistical data that can be used by marketing areas, creating new business opportunities. In addition, with satellite orienteering, it is also possible to find discarded packaging after its use, identifying which material it is composed of, with the aim of recovering it for later reuse, meeting the new international trends of sustainable development, eco- development, eco-design and others. Considering that the product in question is a medicine and many of them are controlled products, which may pose a risk to the health of those who use it unnecessarily, this system allows the location of the respective disposed medicines in the environment so that they can be properly collected. In addition, it is important to note that these systems help to ensure that all properly manufactured and controlled medicines can be traced from production to consumption and disposal. This should impact on better control over the pharmaceutical industry by ensuring that the health sector has access to properly manufactured products according to the production rules imposed by the country that controls the system. In addition, it helps to deter cargo theft or illegal movement of goods.

In order to explain in detail the combination of peripherals and the operative process proposed in this patent, we will begin by describing the functionalities of the components integrated into the RFID system.

The RFID system consists of an antenna and a micro chip, which can be read or write, which transmits the data for identification. An RFID tag is a small object that can be placed on a person, animal or product. It contains silicon chips and antennas that allow them to respond to radio signals sent from a transmitting base. When the tag passes the RFID reader antenna coverage area, the magnetic field is detected and the encoded data on the tag is decoded into a tag. computer perform processing. Data transmission to a computer is possible through middleware present in the reader itself. Dare, readers capture data from the chip and send it to a web server through a mediator responsible for transmitting that data.

The mediator is used in a reader to transmit information to the web system. It translates and consolidates the data received from the reader before sending it to the server. In the area of distributed computing, it is a computer program that mediates among other software. It is used to move information between programs, hiding from the programmer differences in communication protocols, platforms, and operating system dependencies. The physical set of a reader is presented as shown in Figure 1.

The web server, made available over the Internet, has the ability to determine the main actions and decisions of the entire system described previously. This service determines the main purchase, exchange, delivery and other actions related to drug trade. It also manages readers, hosts the system, manages and transmits customer and vendor data. This type of system can use four classes of RFID tags. Are they:

Class 1 - read only;

Class 2 - with memory and encryption;

Class 3 - semi - passive, supporting broadband communication;

Class 4 - Assets that use battery, enabling the sending of information.

The application of the technology proposed in this document aims to connect manufacturers, industries, exporters, suppliers, hospitals, pharmacies and end consumers. For commerce, which occurs through one or more computers hosted in a company (pharmacies / hospitals), with the support of data transmission means, there is a direct communication between customers and suppliers. The system can support a database of drug purchase and delivery records to customers, as well as supplier stock data, user demands, and other information that may interest this type of trade. For intermediate and end users, for example, there may be a complete list of medicines offered for purchase from registered suppliers and pharmacies, as well as suggestions for future purchases, considering the identification of missing medications for the intermediate (pharmacy / hospital) or end user (consumers). RFID tag reader. In parallel with this information, the government agency responsible for drug control could monitor the entire flow of goods (medical, dental and veterinary medicines) from production to consumption and disposal.

The use of the system allows a reader to capture the data from medicines registered in a server database and scan the environment where the medicines for consumption are located, ie, at the consumer's home.

After scanning the customer's inventory, checking the absence of medicines in the list defined by him, the system sends information to the data processing center, which, after verifying the need to buy or not, sends a notification to the consumer. After receiving the response from the customer, the server sends the list of medicines obtained by the reader to the pharmacy supplier so that he can generate the purchase order and make the delivery. The same can be applied to pharmacies and hospitals by linking them to their respective drug suppliers.

Manufacturers and distributors, through this technology, can obtain information about the movement of their stocks, destinations of their medicines and consumer demand, contributing to health planning.

The operating process, focus of this patent, considers some existing elements, inserting some innovations described below:

The process begins with the product packaged at the factory, considering the inclusion of a label Rf ID, which can be applied to the product and packaging. At this moment a constant monitoring system is activated, accompanying all the logistics of the product;

The customer makes his registration with his personal data and creates a list of frequent and temporary medicines available in the stock offered by the supplier. It then sets a payment method and shipping address, and has the option to choose the delivery date if it authorizes the purchase. The customer has the option of selecting new drugs or selecting prescription drugs detected by the system: ■ The goods leave the store with a label (RFID) on each product. This label contains a number of product identification information, including the level of control required for drug use. The reader (RFID), installed at the intermediate (pharmacy / hospital) and final (individual consumer) customers, identifies the product entry;

■ The reader (RFID) has a direct connection to the data center and thus captures the data and sends it to the central and local, state, or federal control agencies. The use of middleware (mediator) in the logical components of the reader allows this information transfer;

"The system, when receiving data from the reader, compares it with the list of needs, generating reports for future decision making. Among this information, the system can provide suggestions of generic options, spending statistics, product consumption time, product most consumed, among others;

■ A system in the data center receives this data and manages the stock, logistics, sales and controls the material that will be disposed of later, making an analysis of consumer behavior;

■ The absence of each product in the reader's area of activity is reported to the customer, who receives notification of the need to replace the product. If the answer is yes, the system sends the request for stock supply, including new generic offers, considering the gradual increase of the entry of generic marketed, either due to expired patents or completed searches;

■ Once the system has been cleared, unused packaging is tracked via satellite for population health and environmental control. In this case, with the satellite location, it is possible to ascertain where the packages are (discarded raw material with potential for reuse), identifying the composition of the material for later collection and recycling. Considering that the product is a medicine, which may pose a health risk to those who needlessly consume it, this system allows them to be located after disposal so that they can be properly collected.

Figure 2 presents the structure of the data processing center, indicating those involved in the process, information used and relationships with each other. The description of the information involved in each of Figure 2 is as follows:

(A) Data Processing Center

1 (B) Manufacturer / Suppliers

Product Information

Company Information

Logistics

2 (C) Consumer / Distributor

Information (Data) Individual or Corporate

List of medicines

System Configuration for Purchases

3 (D) Waste - Recyclable or Collection Material

Tracking

Real-time satellite location / mapping of these materials

Type / Quantity of material at location / Level of drug control

4 Indicator system and statistical data

Reports of all processes A, B, C and D

Claims (2)

"OPERATIONAL PROCESS AND SEQUENCE OF DEVICES USED TO MONITOR DRUGS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY OF CATCHING, STORAGE AND ELECTRONIC DATA TRANSMISSION". 1. Combination of peripherals and operating process using RFID technology to power a data processing center, characterized by the fact that: a. present a reader installed in the intermediate (pharmacy / hospital) and end user (individual consumer) that reads the RFID tags installed on the drugs and their packaging; present a communication system between the RFID tag reader with direct communication with a data processing center c. present an intelligent system that manages and controls existing medicines in users, detecting when they are missing and how long they have been discarded, sold or consumed d. present a system that interconnects manufacturers, hospitals and pharmacies and these with their end consumers, which monitors inventory, logistics, sales and consumer demand; enable the identification of where the raw materials of packaging are after disposal, showing the type of material, aiming to facilitate the recovery and recycling of these materials.f. enable the identification of where these medicines are located after their disposal, for later recovery of medicines that may pose risks to the population.