# US 2022/0045869 A1 · Blockchain-based consumables management with support for offline instruments

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- Number: US 2022/0045869 A1
- Document ID: US20220045869A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/281,519
- Filed: 2019-11-26
- Published: 2022-02-10
- Earliest claimed: 2018-11-29
- Assignees: Leica Biosystems Melbourne Pty Ltd
- Applicants: Leica Biosystems Melbourne Pty Ltd
- Inventors: Orlando SKEETE; Zbigniew MIODUSZEWSKI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220045869A1

## CPC

- G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
- H04L 9/3265: {using certificate chains, trees or paths; Hierarchical trust model}
- G06K 7/1417: {2D bar codes}
- G06K 19/06009: {with optically detectable marking (G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence)}
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 10/08772: {Inventory counting methods}
- G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
- H04L 9/3247: {involving digital signatures}
- H04L 9/50: {using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees}
- H04L 2209/56: Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

Blockchain-based consumables management with support for offline instruments. In an embodiment, a user device scans a first machine-readable code on a consumable, scans a second machine-readable code displayed on a display of an instrument that is not communicatively connected to a blockchain network, decodes a consumable code from the first machine-readable code, decodes an instrument code from the second machine-readable code, broadcasts a transaction message, comprising the consumable code and the instrument code, to the blockchain network, receives a use code from the blockchain network, encodes the use code into a third machine-readable code, and displays the third machine-readable code, on a display of the user device, for scanning by the instrument.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-22. (canceled)

### Claim 23

An apparatus for processing or staining a tissue, the apparatus comprising:
a processing system for processing or staining the tissue; and
at least one hardware processor configured to
obtain a use code from a blockchain network, the use code generated based on a consumable code associated with a consumable and an instrument code that identifies the processing system, and
send usage information to the blockchain network, the usage information indicating usage of the consumable with the processing system.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the consumable code uniquely identifies the consumable and corresponds to a number of runs, tests, or uses of the consumable.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the use code indicates one or more restrictions, and wherein the at least one hardware processor is configured to limit the usage of the consumable according to the one or more restrictions.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the use code indicates a number of runs, and wherein the at least one hardware processor is configured to limit the usage of the consumable so as not to exceed the number of runs.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the use code indicates a recall for one or more types of runs, and wherein the at least one hardware processor is configured to prohibit the one or more types of runs during the usage of the consumable.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the processing system comprises a communication interface communicatively connected to the at least one hardware processor to obtain the use code from and send usage information to at least one node of the blockchain network using wired and/or wireless communication.

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein obtaining the use code from the blockchain network comprises:
scanning a machine-readable code displayed by a user device that is configured to receive the use code from the blockchain network, wherein the machine-readable code is based on the use code, and
decoding the use code from the machine-readable code.

### Claim 30 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein sending usage information to the blockchain network comprises:
storing usage information during usage of the consumable,
generating a machine-readable code based on the usage information, and
displaying the machine-readable code on a display for communication of the usage information to the blockchain network via a user device.

### Claim 31 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one hardware processor is further configured to validate the use code, prior to the usage of the consumable, by:
decrypting data from the use code using a private key, and
checking a consistency in the decrypted data.

### Claim 32 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the consumable comprises a reagent.

### Claim 33

A method of processing or staining a tissue, the method comprising:
obtaining a use code from a blockchain network, the use code generated based on a consumable code associated with a consumable and an instrument code that identifies a processing system that is configured to process or stain the tissue; and
sending usage information to the blockchain network, the usage information indicating usage of the consumable with the processing system.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, wherein obtaining the use code from the blockchain network comprises:
scanning a machine-readable code displayed by a user device that is configured to receive the use code from the blockchain network, wherein the machine-readable code is based on the use code, and
decoding the use code from the machine-readable code.

### Claim 35 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, wherein sending usage information to the blockchain network comprises:
storing usage information during usage of the consumable,
generating a machine-readable code based on the usage information, and
displaying the machine-readable code on a display for communication of the usage information to the blockchain network via a user device.

### Claim 36 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, further comprising:
decrypting data from the use code using a private key;
checking a consistency in the decrypted data; and
validating the use code based on the consistency in the decrypted data.

### Claim 37 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, further comprising limiting the usage of the consumable according to a number of runs indicated by the use code, wherein the consumable code is associated with a number of runs for which the consumable is rated.

### Claim 38

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one hardware processor, cause the at least one hardware processor to perform a method comprising:
obtaining a use code from a blockchain network, the use code generated based on a consumable code associated with a consumable and an instrument code that identifies a processing system that is configured to process or stain the tissue; and
sending usage information to the blockchain network, the usage information indicating usage of the consumable with the processing system.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein obtaining the use code from the blockchain network comprises:
scanning a machine-readable code displayed by a user device that is configured to receive the use code from the blockchain network, wherein the machine-readable code is based on the use code, and
decoding the use code from the machine-readable code.

### Claim 40 (depends on 38)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein sending usage information to the blockchain network comprises:
storing usage information during usage of the consumable,
generating a machine-readable code based on the usage information, and
displaying the machine-readable code on a display for communication of the usage information to the blockchain network via a user device.

### Claim 41 (depends on 38)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the method further comprises:
decrypting data from the use code using a private key;
checking a consistency in the decrypted data; and
validating the use code based on the consistency in the decrypted data.

### Claim 42 (depends on 38)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the method further comprises limiting the usage of the consumable according to a number of runs indicated by the use code, wherein the consumable code is associated with a number of runs for which the consumable is rated.