GB2562860A

GB2562860A - Secure storage and tracking system

Info

Publication number: GB2562860A
Application number: GB1804746.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew Morris Peter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-03-23
Filing date: 2018-03-23
Publication date: 2018-11-28
Also published as: GB201704614D0; GB201804746D0

Abstract

A storage and tracking system, possibly for medicines and the like, includes a plurality of boxes (10, Fig 2), each having an electronic data collection, data storage and wireless data communication system such as wifi or GPS. A plurality of receiving units (20) are provided for storage and transportation of the boxes. A releasable locking / latch system holds the boxes (10) in each of the receiving units (20). Sensors detect when each storage compartment has been accessed and if unauthorized this may trigger an alarm. Temperature may also be monitored by sensors and each box may have an internal power source and an external power input connector.

Description

SECURE STORAGE AND TRACKING SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD OFTHE INVENTION

This invention relates to a secure storage and tracking system.

BACKGROUND

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive secure storage and tracking system which can be used for the administration of medicines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When viewed from one aspect the present invention proposes a secure storage and tracking system:

- a plurality of boxes (10), each having electronic data collection (120), data storage (107), and data communication (102, 109);

- a plurality of receiving units (20, 30, 40, 50) for storage and transportation ofthe boxes; and system (101, 130) to hold the boxes in each ofthe receiving units.

The invention also provides a secure storage and tracking system which includes individual receiving units to hold a single box and multiple receiving units to hold a plurality of boxes.

The invention also provides a secure storage and tracking system which includes boxes having a plurality of storage compartments.

The invention also provides a secure storage and tracking system which includes boxes having sensors to detect when a storage compartment has been accessed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general view of a storage box for use in a secure storage and tracking system;

Figure 2 is a general view of a rack for holding the storage boxes;

- 3 a general view of a trolley for transporting the storage boxes;

Figure 4 is a general view of a vehicle for transporting the storage boxes;

Figure 5 is a general view of an individual receiving unit for the storage boxes;

Figure 6 is another general view of a storage box;

Figure 7 is a further view of the storage box;

Figure 8 is yet another view of the storage box;

Figure 9 is another general view of the rack in use with the storage boxes;

Figure 10 is a general view ofthe trolley in use with the storage boxes;

Figure 11 a general view ofthe individual receiving unit in use with a storage box;

Figure 12 is a general view of a user who is accessing the secure storage and tracking system;

- 4 a schematic drawing of a storage box showing various components; and

Figure 14 is a schematic drawing showing various components of a receiving unit for the storage boxes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS

The secure storage and tracking system is intended for use in the medical field. It can be used for the secure storage and movement of medicines or other products and automatically provides data to assist with administration and management of such products.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, the secure storage and tracking system includes boxes 10 which each provide the following features:

* Digital display with touch screen interface, camera and microphone * Data memory * Wifi and mobile data connected * Flex/impact sensors * Temperature sensor * Power/charging socket * Clip-in/Clip-out lock system * Insulated * Impact resistant * Lightweight * Water-resistant * Easy to clean/sanitise

As shown in Fig. 2, for general storage the boxes 10 are held in a rack system 20 which provides the following features:

* Secure static installation * Hard wired to mains electricity * Data connected * Clip-in/Clip-out lock system « Modular interconnecting design

When the boxes 10 are to be moved for short distances, e.g. within a building or hospital complex, they can be transferred to a trolley 30, shown in Fig. 3, which provides the following features:

* Clip-in/Clip-out lock system

When the boxes 10 are to be moved for longer distances they can be transferred to a van or other motor vehicle 40, shown in Fig. 4, which again provides the following features:

* Clip-in/Clip-out lock system

When used at a patient's bedside for example, as in Fig. 5, the boxes 10 can be transferred to an individual receiving unit 50 having the following features:

* Fixed via mechanical (screw/bolt), adhesive or built-in (integrated) structure ock system * Hard wired to mains electricity * Data connected

Referring to Fig. 6, each of the boxes 10 contains storage shelves or drawers 60 having the following features:

* LED lights 61 * Open/shut sensors * Powered * Removable

Each drawer 60 may contain a number of separate compartments 70, Fig. 7, which are suitable for holding medicines. Each compartment 70 has:

* LED lights 71 * Open/shut sensors

Some ofthe drawers 60 may have single storage compartments 80, Fig.

8, with the following features:

* Open topped * Use for documents or miscellaneous items such as icepacks/heatpacks

The wireless data connectivity of the boxes 10 provides access to the cloud (a remote internet server) with:

* Real-time data to the cloud * Inter-box data transfer e rack system, Fig. 9, during movement, Fig. 10, and at the bedside, Fig. 11.

The data provided to the cloud by the boxes 10 can be accessed remotely as demonstrated in Fig. 12. This facilitates:

* Inventory management * Alerts * Live chat * Messaging * GPS location tracking « Accounting * Administration

Concept Overview

The secure storage and tracking system provides end-to-end safety and security for drug storage, transport and administration.

The secure storage and tracking system provides an advance in medicine administration technology. With clear patient, management and cost saving benefits, the system improves the safety of care delivery.

Key features:

The Box

Movement

The receiving unit

Medicine Administration

Management Software

Key benefits:

1. Multiple stages of movement with reduced points of potential error

2. Accurate and efficient data management

3. Real-time updates

4. Safe and simple medication administration

Movement

The secure storage and tracking system is a safe way to store, transport and administer medicines. It does this by enabling medicines to be apportioned in their correct dose and programmed to intended administering times at source - where the process is closely monitored and crosschecked.

1. Each box is loaded with a single patents medication and clipped-in to the secure, powered racking system until it is transported to the patient.

2. The box is unclipped from the racking and clipped-in to a transportation device. For example a wheeled trolley, van or other mode of transport.

3. The box is unclipped from the transportation devise and clipped into a powered receiving unit mounted securely to a substrate. For example a bedside table, inside a cupboard or on a wall.

Data management

- 9 d tracking system is an accurate, efficient and accountable way to store, transport and administer medicines. It does this by ensuring the apportioning of medicines is only done once; it is closely checked and is digitally recorded at source.

Through the integration of wireless data transfer and cloud based digital software, the secure storage and tracking system makes the recording of data, transfer of data and inventory management more accurate, efficient and accountable.

Real-time updates

The secure storage and tracking system provides a responsive, interactive and adaptable way to store, transport and administer medicines. It does this by ensuring that the monitoring and management of medicines is constant. If anything unplanned or potentially harmful occurs it is flagged on the unit and remotely through the management software, allowing it to be identified immediately and dealt with more rapidly.

Integrated sensors combined with constant mobile data updates to a cloud based management software system, make remote monitoring more adaptable and responsive. The secure storage and tracking system will flag up warnings of missed or mistaken medication, temperature changes, dropped or damaged boxes, forced entry, theft or an in the event of an emergency.

Safe and simple medicine administration

- 10 d tracking system is a safe, simple and easily manageable way to store, transport and administer medicines. It does this by ensuring only the correct medications are taken, by the correct person, at the correct times.

1. Two-stage reprogrammable contactless key card access can be provided to ensure that only the correct person can access the box, as both the patient and the administrator need correctly paired key cards to certify the box for use - once certified only the one card is needed to access the box.

2. Integrated sensors combined with LEDs on each internal compartment clearly indicate which compartment to open and when. Should there be a compartment wrongly opened the LEDs flash red an audio speaker sounds an alarm.

3. Each box also has a touch screen digital display unit that includes a camera and a microphone to enable video communication with a remote operator, healthcare practitioner or the emergency services. The digital display can also be used for viewing instructional videos.

4. The digital display is also a touch screen interface for accessing and inputting data to the box memory and for accessing and updating data on the cloud.

5. The camera also enables photo uploads and barcode scanning to the cloud based software.

Fig. 13 shows the mechanical and electronic components in one embodiment of a box 10. A secure housing 100 has an electrically

- 11 out latch 101 and a data in/out connector 102. The box contains an electronic control unit 103 powered by an internal battery 104 which can be charged from an external power supply via a power connector 105 and power management unit 106. The control unit has data memory 107 and is wirelessly connectable to a remote cloud 108 by a wifi communication unit 109. A key card reader 110 allows an authorised user to access the stored data and control various functions using a touch screen VDU 111. An in-built camera and microphone 112 enable operators to communicate remotely via the data connector 102 and/or the wireless link 109. The control unit is also able to activate an alarm 113 in response to various alarm conditions, for example tampering as detected by an impact sensor 114 or a dangerous rise in temperature detected by a temperature sensor 115. The alarm may generate a local sound warning to attract attention as well as signaling a remote warning via the wired and/or wireless data links.

Each ofthe drawers 60 within the box 10 has a sensor 120 to record each time the drawer is opened and closed and an LED indicator light 61 which can be activated by the control unit 103, e.g. to show when the drawer has been accessed. Similar sensors and lights may be provided for each compartment within the drawer, thereby enabling a data record to be maintained whenever medicines stored within the drawers are accessed.

The racks 20, trolleys 30, transport vehicles 40, and the individual receiving units 50 for use by patients may each incorporate one or more of the features shown in Fig. 14. A typical receiving unit for a box 10 has a clip-in/clip-out latch 130 for engagement with the latch 101 and a

- 12 by which external power may be supplied to the box, via its connector 105, from an external power source 132. The receiving unit has its own power supply unit 133 to power a data controller 134 which may receive data from the box via its connector 102 and a data connector 135, and forward the data via a hard-wired data network 136. Data and other inputs may also be sent to the box in the opposite direction when required.

The operation and functions of the boxes 10 and their various receiving units as set forth above provide secure tracking and control for drug storage, transport and administration, ensuring end-to-end safety and security.

Whilst the above description places emphasis on the areas which are believed to be new and addresses specific problems which have been identified, it is intended that the features disclosed herein may be used in any combination which is capable of providing a new and useful advance in the art.

Claims

1. A secure storage and tracking system:

- a plurality of receiving units (20, 30, 40, 50) for storage and transportation ofthe boxes; and

- a releasable latching system (101, 130) to hold the boxes in each ofthe receiving units.

2. A secure storage and tracking system according to Claim 1 in which the boxes each have wireless data communication (109).

3. A secure storage and tracking system according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the boxes each have a plurality of storage compartments (60, 70, 80).

4. A secure storage and tracking system according to Claim 3 in which the boxes each have sensors (120) to detect and record when each storage compartment (60, 70, 80) has been accessed.

5. A secure storage and tracking system according to any preceding claim in which the boxes each have data in/out connector (102)

6.

A secure storage and tracking system according to any

- 14 preceding claim in which the boxes each have secure data access (110).

7. A secure storage and tracking system according to any preceding claim in which the boxes each have a visual display unit.

8. A secure storage and tracking system according to any preceding claim in which the boxes each have input control (111).

9. A secure storage and tracking system according to any preceding claim in which the boxes each have a camera (112) for capturing images.

10. A secure storage and tracking system according to any preceding claim in which the boxes each have an alarm (113).

11. A secure storage and tracking system according to Claim 9 in which the boxes have sensors (114, 115) to detect adverse events.

12. A secure storage and tracking system according to Claim 11 in which the boxes each have an impact sensor (114).

13. A secure storage and tracking system according to Claim 11 or 12 in which the boxes each have a temperature sensor (115).

14. A secure storage and tracking system according to any preceding claim in which the boxes each have an internal power source (104) and an external power input connector (105).

15. A secure storage and tracking system according to any preceding claim in which the receiving units include individual receiving units to hold a single box and multiple receiving units to hold a plurality of boxes.

16. A secure storage and tracking system according to any preceding claim in which the receiving units each have a latch (130) to engage a latch (101) associated with the box.

17. A secure storage and tracking system according to any preceding claim in which the receiving units each have a data connector (135) to engage a data connector (102) associated with the box.

18. A secure storage and tracking system according to any preceding claim in which the receiving units each have a data network input (136).

19. A secure storage and tracking system according to any preceding claim in which the receiving units each have an external power input (132) and a power connector (131) to engage a power input connector (105) associated with the box.

20. A secure storage and tracking system for medicines:

- a plurality of boxes (10), each having an internal power source (104), a plurality of separately-accessible compartments (60, 70) for holding medicines, a sensor (120) associated with each compartment to signal

- 16 when the compartment has been accessed, data storage (107), wireless data communication (109), and sensors (114, 115) to detect adverse events;

- a plurality of receiving units (20, 30, 40, 50) for storage and transportation ofthe boxes, the receiving units including external power and data inputs (132, 136) and connectors (131, 135) to provide power and data connections to the boxes; and

21. A secure storage and tracking system according to Claim 20 in which the boxes each have a secure data access device (110), means (111) for displaying data from the data storage (107), and means for manually inputting data (111).