Tag for tracking and navigation of a medical device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a tag (9) for determining the location and / or tracking the location and / or determining the orientation of a medical device (1) with at least one radio-based tracking unit (23), which is provided and designed to actively and / or passively communicate wirelessly with a first external device, preferably by means of NFC, Bluetooth Low Energy, DECT or WLAN. The tag (9) has at least one optical marker element (13), which is provided and designed to provide information, optically detectable by at least a second external device, regarding its position and orientation in a virtual coordinate system. The present invention further relates to a medical device (1) having the tag and a system for location and / or orientation determination.

Description

[0001] Tag for tracking and navigation of a medical device

[0002] Description

[0003] Technical area

[0004] The present disclosure relates to a tag for determining the location and / or tracking the location and / or determining the orientation of a medical device, a medical device formed with the tag, and a system for determining the location and / or tracking the location and / or determining the orientation of a medical device.

[0005] Background of the Revelation

[0006] In medical care, increasingly stringent demands are placed on efficiency while simultaneously maintaining high quality and hygiene standards. This particularly applies to processes involved in handling medical devices. These processes include, for example, cleaning and sterilization, as well as storage and transport processes. Preventing errors is particularly important in these cleaning and sterilization, storage, and transport processes, considering patient safety.

[0007] To prevent errors in cleaning and sterilization, as well as storage and transport processes, while simultaneously increasing efficiency, these processes can be automated. However, to automate these processes reliably and safely, it is necessary to be able to clearly locate the medical device in question.

[0008] State of the art

[0009] The state of the art uses RFID tags to locate medical devices. For example, in WO / 2016 059 382, ​​RFID tags are used to check whether an instrument set is complete and to track it. However, localization using RFID tags is relatively imprecise and does not provide information about the exact location or spatial orientation of the medical device. Therefore, automating handling processes (picking up instruments, moving instruments, depositing instruments, etc.) based on the localization of an instrument using RFID tags poses risks such as collisions or incorrect handling.

[0010] Brief description of the revelation

[0011] An object of the present disclosure is therefore to increase process reliability in automated handling of medical devices, in particular process reliability in automated cleaning and sterilization processes of medical devices, and thus to improve efficiency and patient safety.

[0012] This object is achieved by a tag according to claim 1 of the present disclosure. Advantageous further developments are part of the associated subclaims.

[0013] Specifically, the problem is solved by a tag for determining the location and / or tracking the location and / or orientation of a medical device, comprising at least one radio-based positioning unit, which is provided and configured to wirelessly communicate actively and / or passively with at least one first external device, preferably using NFC, Low Energy Bluetooth / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), DECT, or WLAN. Furthermore, the tag has at least one optical marker element, which is provided and configured to indicate information regarding its position and orientation in a virtual coordinate system that can be optically detected by at least one second external device.

[0014] In other words, the tag is designed in the form of a recognition element with the radio-based positioning unit, which is designed actively, for example as a beacon / radio beacon using Bluetooth Low Energy, and / or passively, for example as an RFID tag. The tag is intended and designed to be attached to the medical device. In the active embodiment, the radio-based positioning unit emits a wireless positioning signal that is detectable by the at least one first external device. In the passive embodiment, a wireless positioning signal is emitted by the first external device, which the passive radio-based positioning unit detects. In addition, the tag is designed with the at least one optical marker element. The optical marker element is an optically detectable marking that is formed on a surface of the tag.The optical marker element is based on a unique virtual coordinate system. The optical marker element can be optically detected / recognized by the at least one second external device. The optical marker element is ideally designed to provide high optical contrast. Furthermore, the optical marker element is designed asymmetrically and is not designed as a data matrix code to prevent malfunctions.

[0015] By equipping the tag with both a radio-based positioning unit and an optical marker element, the tag's location determination can be significantly improved. The radio-based positioning unit, in particular, enables coarse positioning, allowing location determination to within several centimeters and, for example, ensuring completeness checks of instrument sets. The additional optical marker element enables location determination in the millimeter range, thus making the coarse positioning determined by the radio-based positioning unit more precise and validating it by comparing the determined positions. In addition, the optical marker element enables spatial orientation determination of the tag.

[0016] Furthermore, the combination of the radio-based locating unit and the optical marker element can significantly accelerate the precise location determination of the tag, particularly in comparison to a variant in which only an optical marker element is formed, since the radio-based locating unit determines an approximate position of the tag and the precise location determination can be carried out more specifically using the optical marker element.

[0017] The integration of both the radio-based tracking unit and the optical marker element also significantly increases the tag's reliability. In other words, location determination is still possible even if the optical marker element on the tag's surface is damaged, for example, due to mechanical impact or corrosion, or if the radio-based tracking unit is damaged or destroyed, for example, due to a technical defect.

[0018] In addition, by forming the radio-based locating unit and the optical marker element in a single component, this component can be flexibly attached to different objects, so that existing medical devices can be easily retrofitted with the tag of the present disclosure.

[0019] The core of the disclosure is therefore to design the tag with both a radio-based positioning unit and an optical marker element for determining location and / or orientation.

[0020] In a first aspect, the tag may be formed with at least one machine-readable data element and / or at least one alphanumeric data element.

[0021] In other words, the tag can additionally contain a machine-readable data element, for example in the form of a barcode or QR code, and / or a human-readable alphanumeric data element. The machine-readable data element and the alphanumeric data element can, for example, contain information about the properties and / or contents and / or intended use of the medical device to which the tag can be attached. In particular, the information can be article and serial numbers. In a further aspect, the tag can contain at least one optical signal output device and / or an acoustic signal output device.

[0022] In other words, the tag can include a screen and / or an e-paper display and / or indicator lights / LEDs and / or a loudspeaker and / or piezo buzzer. The tag can output information about the tag, information about the medical device to which the tag is attached, and / or about the tag-medical device relationship via the optical and / or acoustic signal output device.

[0023] In a further aspect, the tag may be formed with an opening in a direction normal to a planar extension of the tag.

[0024] In other words, the tag can be designed with an opening in the form of a window, which allows the display of elements located behind the tag.

[0025] In a further aspect, the tag can be formed with at least one energy harvesting element, preferably in the form of a photovoltaic element or a piezo element.

[0026] In other words, the tag can contain a self-sufficient power supply with the energy harvesting element and optionally an energy storage / energy buffer storage, which supplies electrical components with energy. The energy harvesting element can be a photovoltaic element that converts light energy into electrical energy using solar cells. Alternatively, the energy harvesting element can be a piezoelectric element that generates an electrical voltage from an applied mechanical force.

[0027] By equipping the tag with the energy harvesting element, the tag can be operated with low maintenance over long periods of time, without the need for a user to recharge the energy storage device. In particular, if the tag is equipped with an active radio-based tracking unit, it can be ensured that this unit is supplied with electrical energy.

[0028] In a further aspect, the tag may be configured with at least one manual status shift element.

[0029] In other words, the tag with the manual status shift element can be designed in the form of a mechanical shift element, with which a specific status can be manually indicated. This can be done, for example, by revealing a color and / or text. This allows the user to manually change the status of the tag. For example, a user can use this method to mark a medical device as contaminated or to indicate the fill level of a container, particularly a sterile goods container.

[0030] In a further aspect, the tag may be configured with at least one switch, for example a push-button or slide switch, which enables electronic functions of the tag to be switched on and off.

[0031] In a further aspect, the tag may have a plate-shaped, substantially rectangular, in particular a square geometry.

[0032] In a further aspect, the tag may include fastening elements, preferably snap hooks, extending perpendicularly away from the plate-shaped geometry.

[0033] In another aspect, the tag may have an asymmetric geometry.

[0034] In another aspect, the optical marker element can be designed as a relief, which can be detected, for example, by a time-of-flight sensor. In another aspect, the tag can emit a radio signal, which, for example, outputs an identifier of the tag and can be received by an external display device, for example, on the outside of a cabinet, so that it can be indicated when the tag is inside the cabinet.

[0035] The object of the present disclosure is further achieved by a medical device according to claim 7. Advantageous further developments are part of the associated subclaims.

[0036] The medical device is preferably a sterile goods container designed and constructed to store, transport, and aseptically deliver sterile instruments and the like to a location where the sterile instruments are used. Furthermore, the sterile goods container can be designed and constructed to safely store and transport used and thus contaminated instruments and the like and to protect a user from contamination.

[0037] The medical device includes a tag according to one of the above embodiments and is formed with a tag holder which holds the tag in a predetermined position and orientation with respect to the medical device or parts thereof.

[0038] In other words, the medical device is formed with the tag, wherein the tag is fixed in the tag holder. The tag holder is provided and designed to hold the tag in exactly one, predefined position and orientation, relative to an external geometry of the medical device or relative to individual parts of the medical device, such as a handling section, a grip section, an opening of the medical device or the like, in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting and / or material-fitting manner. In still other words, the tag and the tag holder are coordinated with one another according to the Poka Yoke principle. In this way, it can be ensured that the tag is connected to the medical device exclusively in a predetermined position and orientation.This means that the marker element arranged on the tag and the radio-based positioning unit are also arranged and oriented in a predetermined position and orientation relative to the external geometry of the medical device or relative to individual parts of the medical device, such as the handling section, the grip section, the opening, or the like. This ensures, for example, that an external handling device can reliably determine the position of the handling section via the radio-based positioning unit and the marker element in order to handle the medical device with positional certainty.

[0039] Preferably, the tag is formed on a side facing the tag holder with locking geometries, for example in the form of locking hooks, which engage in corresponding recesses in the tag holder. The Poka-Yoke principle can be implemented by arranging the locking geometries and a corresponding arrangement of the recesses in the tag holder.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment, the receiving geometry can be formed in a cover that is connected to the medical device in a material-locking and / or force-locking manner. The cover can preferably be a substantially plate-shaped element.

[0041] In a further aspect, a disconnect switch may be formed between the tag and the tag receptacle of the medical device, which disconnect switch is provided and configured to detect a separation of the tag from the medical device.

[0042] In other words, the tag and / or the tag holder can be designed with the isolating switch. The isolating switch detects when the tag moves further than a predetermined distance from the tag holder. The predetermined distance can preferably be a few millimeters. The isolating switch can be designed, for example, as a pressure switch, a proximity sensor, a magnetic switch, or the like. In a further aspect, the medical device or the tag can emit an optical and / or acoustic alarm signal when the isolating switch detects the separation, i.e., an exceeding of the predetermined distance between the tag and the tag holder. The output can be made, for example, via the optical and / or acoustic signal output device of the tag.

[0043] The disconnect switch, which detects the separation between the tag and the tag holder, can, particularly in combination with the alarm output, prevent a collision of the handling device with the medical device due to an incorrect arrangement and orientation relationship between the at least one marker element arranged on the tag and the radio-based positioning unit and the handling section of the medical device. Furthermore, the separation of the tag from the medical device can be easily and quickly detected by an operator / user, thus facilitating the assignment of the tag to the medical device after an unintentional separation.

[0044] In a further aspect, the medical device may include, preferably in the tag, a separation signal transmitting unit that transmits a wireless separation signal when the separation switch detects the separation of the tag from the medical device.

[0045] In other words, the separation signal transmitting unit may transmit the wireless separation signal when the predetermined distance between the tag and the tag recording is exceeded.

[0046] Preferably, the wireless separation signal is received by an external control unit, which then, for example, notifies the operator and / or stops the handling device. This ensures that a potential collision between the handling device and the medical device, and thus potential damage to the handling device and / or the medical device and its contents, is prevented. The object of the present disclosure is further achieved by a system according to claim 10. Advantageous developments are part of the associated subclaims.

[0047] The system for determining the location and / or tracking the location and / or orientation of a medical device consists, among other things, of:

[0048] - the day following one of the above embodiments,

[0049] - the at least one first external device which actively and / or passively communicates wirelessly with the tag of the medical device and determines a position of the tag based on a range and / or a signal strength of at least one wireless signal and / or based on lateration of the wireless signal, in particular based on trilateration or multilateration, and

[0050] - the at least one second external device which optically detects a position and an orientation of the tag based on the at least one optical marker.

[0051] In other words, the system includes the tag, which is formed on a medical device, wherein the tag includes the radio-based locating unit and the optical marker element. Furthermore, the system includes the first external device, which is provided and designed to actively or passively detect the radio-based locating unit of the tag and, for example, to determine the position of the tag based on a range and / or a signal strength of the signal between the first external device and the radio-based locating unit. Preferably, methods established in locating technology are used for this purpose, such as Bluetooth Low Energy, RFID, DECT, Wi-Fi, or the like. Trilateration or multilateration can also be used to improve position determination. Furthermore, the system includes the second external device, which detects the at least one optical marker on the tag.Detection occurs optically, for example, using at least one camera or at least one laser or the like. In other words, the second external device can be a camera or a laser. If the optical marker is a relief, the second external device can be a time-of-flight sensor (TOF camera) or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0052] In one aspect, the system may include at least one handling device which is provided and configured to grip and handle the medical device at a handling portion.

[0053] In other words, the system can include at least one handling device, for example in the form of a robot arm, a conveyor belt, or another actuator, which is intended and configured to move the medical device (in a predetermined / defined manner). All spatial directions are conceivable as directions of movement for this purpose. The medical device is preferably connected to the handling device in a force-locking and / or positive-locking manner during the movement process.

[0054] In a further aspect, the system may include a processing unit that is provided and configured to determine a position of the handling section from the detected position of the tag based on geometric dependencies stored in the processing unit.

[0055] In other words, the system can include a processing unit that determines the position of the handling section, in particular from the position of the tag determined by the first external device and the second external device. For this purpose, the predetermined geometric dependencies, which, for example, determine the exact position of the tag image or of the tag with the at least one optical marker and the radio-based locating unit relative to the handling section in a virtual coordinate system, can be stored in the processing unit. These can be taught in once by a user or provided by the manufacturer of the medical device. In a further aspect, the system can include a comparison device that compares a first position signal determined by the first external device with a second position signal determined by the second external device.

[0056] In other words, the system may include the matching device provided and configured to validate the position of the tag determined by the first external device using the position of the tag determined by the second external device.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment, if the adjustment device detects a deviation of the determined positions that exceeds a limit value, an optical and / or acoustic signal can be output and / or a stop command can be output that is suitable for stopping the handling device.

[0058] Such a calibration device can prevent false detections of the first external device and / or the second external device from causing a collision between the handling device and the medical device.

[0059] Short description of the characters

[0060] Fig. 1 is an illustration of a sterile goods container with a front panel and a tag;

[0061] Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the tag on the front panel of the sterile container;

[0062] Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the tag in a plan view;

[0063] Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB; Fig. 5 is another schematic representation of the tag in a side view;

[0064] Fig. 6 is another schematic representation of a back side of the tag.

[0065] Description of the embodiments

[0066] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described based on the accompanying figures.

[0067] Fig. 1 shows a medical device in the form of a sterile goods container 1. The sterile goods container 1 contains a container body 3 and a lid 5, which is provided and designed to close an opening of the container body 3. A front plate 7 is attached in a materially and / or form-fitting manner to a section of the container body 3 facing the lid 5. The front plate 7 contains a tag holder (not shown). The tag holder is provided and designed to receive a tag 9 in a form-fitting manner and / or force-fitting manner. In other words, the tag 9 is fixed to the front plate 7 in a positionally and orientation-fixed manner. A handling section 11 is formed on the lid 5. Alternatively, the handling section 11 can also be formed directly on the container body 3. The handling section 11 is a geometry that is provided and designed to be gripped by an external handling device (not shown).The sterile goods container 1 can be handled / moved / positionally manipulated by means of the external handling device via the handling section 11. The tag holder or the tag 9 in the tag holder are configured in a geometrically defined arrangement relative to the handling section 11. In other words, the handling section 11 is configured at a defined distance and geometric arrangement relative to the tag 9 in a virtual coordinate system, which can be mathematically represented in a defined relationship to one another through rotational and translational operations, so that optical systems that interact with the handling device, particularly via software, can detect and control the precise position of the handling section 11.

[0068] Fig. 2 shows an enlarged section A from Fig. 1 . In particular, Fig. 2 shows the tag receptacle in the front plate 7 with the tag 9 fixed therein with a force-fitting and / or form-fitting connection. The tag 9 contains various elements on a surface facing away from the front plate 7, such as an optically readable marker 13, an optically machine-readable QR code 15, an opening 17 for displaying elements located behind the tag 9 on the front plate 7, alphanumeric information 19 and further information about the manufacturer 21 . This surface can be referred to as the front side of the tag 9. The arrangement of the various elements shown in this exemplary embodiment is to be understood as an example. Other arrangements of the elements on the tag 9 are of course possible.The optically readable marker 13 enables automated handling of the sterile goods container 1 and also serves to inform the user about this functionality. In other words, a user can recognize from the optically readable marker 13 that the sterile goods container 1 in question is suitable for automated handling by means of an external handling device. The optically readable marker 13 can vary in color and ideally is high-contrast and unmistakable for a recognition device, preferably designed with a K1. In other words, the optically readable marker 13 is asymmetrical and not designed as a barcode, data matrix code, or the like. The optically readable marker 13 is arranged on the tag 9 in such a way that it is not covered by any components of the sterile goods container 1 and is clearly recognizable.

[0069] Fig. 3 shows the tag 9 schematically, whereby for better illustration, the optically readable marker 13, the optically machine-readable QR code 15, the alphanumeric information 19 and further information about the manufacturer 21 have been omitted. Furthermore, for better illustration, center marking lines M have been shown in Fig. 3. The center marking lines M intersect at a center point MPT of the tag 9. Furthermore, a center point MPD of the opening 17 is shown. The center point MPT of the tag 9 and the center point MPD of the opening 17 do not coincide. In other words, the opening 17 is formed off-center with respect to the tag 9. The tag 9 has a rectangular, in particular a square, base area.

[0070] Fig. 4 shows a section along the line BB in Fig. 3. An electronic control unit 23 is formed in the tag 9. The electronic control unit 23 contains a radio-based positioning unit, which communicates with an external device actively and / or passively, preferably by means of NFC, Bluetooth Low Energy, DECT or WLAN. Furthermore, the electronic control unit 23 contains a data transmission unit, which is provided and designed to transmit data wirelessly. The electronic control unit 23 transmits the data, for example, to a control device of the external handling device. In addition, a disconnect switch 25 is formed in the tag 9, which is provided and designed to detect a connection and / or disconnection of the tag 9 to / from the tag receptacle of the front panel 7. The trend switch 25 is connected to the electronic control unit 23.The electronic control unit 23 can, for example, wirelessly transmit the separation of the tag 9 from the tag holder of the front panel 7, detected by the isolating switch 25, as a separation signal. The isolating switch 25 can, for example, be designed as a magnetic switch. An energy storage device 27 is also formed in the tag 9. The energy storage device 27 is provided and designed to supply the electronic control unit 23 and the isolating switch 25 with energy.

[0071] The tag 9 is further formed with locking hooks 29, which fix the tag 9 in a form-fitting manner in the tag receptacle of the front plate 7. The locking hooks 29 extend essentially perpendicularly away from a rear side of the tag 9. The rear side of the tag 9 is a side which, in a state in which the tag 9 is mounted in the tag receptacle of the front plate 7 of the sterile goods container 1, rests against the tag receptacle of the front plate 7. The rear side is opposite the front side. Furthermore, on the rear side of the tag 9, an opening extension 31 extends essentially perpendicularly away from the tag 9. The opening extension 31 essentially continues an inner surface of the opening 17. Like the opening 17, the opening extension 31 is arranged off-center from the tag 9 in a plan view.

[0072] Fig. 5 shows the tag 9 in a side view. The tag 9 has a substantially disc- or tile-like shape. In other words, the height of the tag 9 is small compared to its flat extent. The height refers to the distance between the front and back of the tag 9. The locking hooks 29 and the opening extension 31 protrude from the tag 9 in the vertical direction of the tag 9. On the back of the tag 9, locking aids 33 are formed, distributed over the circumference of the tag 9.

[0073] Fig. 6 shows the back of the tag 9 with the through-hole extension 31 and the locking hooks 29. The locking hooks 29 are each formed in the corner sections of the tag 9 to ensure the most flat fixation of the tag 9 in the tag holder. Due to the off-center positioning of the through-hole extension 31 in conjunction with the positions of the locking hooks 29 in the corner sections of the tag 9, the tag 9 can only be recorded in exactly one position and orientation in the tag holder of the front plate 7. This ensures that the optically readable marker 13 is positioned in the intended position relative to the geometry of the sterile goods container 1. In other words, the locking hooks 29 and the through-hole extension 31 are arranged asymmetrically.

[0074] An exemplary mode of operation, in particular of the system of the disclosure, is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. In particular, an automated handling process of the sterile goods container 1 is described.

[0075] A first external device, preferably using Bluetooth Low Energy beacon technology, detects the position of the radio-based positioning unit, which is embodied in the electronic control unit 23 of the tag 9. A second external device detects the position and orientation of the optically readable marker 13 on the surface of the tag 9. In an optional step, a comparison device can compare the position of the tag 9 determined by the first external device with the position of the tag 9 determined by the second external device. The comparison device can operate on a Cl-based basis. From the determined position of the tag 9, a position of the handling section 11 is mathematically determined in a processing unit using predetermined rotational and translational operations (e.g., stored by a user).The handling device grips the sterile goods container 1 at the handling section 11 and then handles it.

[0076] If the disconnect switch 25 detects that the tag 9 is separated from the tag holder, the electronic control unit 23 can send a stop command to the handling device or an associated external control device so that a collision can be prevented.

[0077] In an alternative embodiment, the tag 9 can be equipped with photovoltaic elements on the front side and / or on a top side facing the deck, which supply the electronic control unit 23 and the circuit breaker 25 with electrical energy either directly or using the energy storage device 27 as a buffer storage device. The implementation of piezoelectric elements for energy generation on the tag 9 is also conceivable.

[0078] In a further alternative embodiment, the tag 9 can include a loudspeaker and / or a piezo buzzer and / or a display and / or LEDs, which can output a status of the tag 9. For example, the tag 9 can flash and / or emit an alarm tone if the isolating switch 25 detects a separation of the tag 9 from the tag holder or from the sterile goods container 1. Alternatively or additionally, locating a specific sterile goods container 1 in a warehouse or the like can be made easier in this way. A user can thus wirelessly control the respective tag 9, and the electronic control unit 23 can trigger a discovery alarm via the loudspeaker and / or the display and / or the LEDs. In a further alternative embodiment, the tag 9 can be provided and designed to be inserted into an insertion device on the sterile goods container 1.In a further embodiment, the tag 9 can have at least one switch with which specific electronic functions of the tag 9 can be turned on and off. For example, the switch can be used to deactivate the detection alarm. In a further embodiment, the tag 9 can include a mechanical sliding element with which a specific status can be manually indicated. This can be done, for example, by revealing a specific color and / or text.

[0079] List of reference symbols

[0080] I Sterile goods container

[0081] 3 container body

[0082] 5 lids

[0083] 7 Front panel

[0084] 9th day

[0085] II Handling section

[0086] 13 optically readable markers / marker elements

[0087] 15 optical machine-readable QR code

[0088] 17 Breakthrough

[0089] 19 alphanumeric information

[0090] 21 Information about the manufacturer

[0091] 23 electronic control unit

[0092] 25 circuit breakers

[0093] 27 energy storage

[0094] 29 locking hooks

[0095] 31 Breakthrough process

[0096] 33 Rest aid

[0097] M Center line

[0098] MPT Center of the day

[0099] MPD Center of the Breakthrough

Claims

Claims 1. Tag (9) for determining the location and / or tracking the location and / or determining the orientation of a medical device (1) with at least one radio-based tracking unit (23), which is provided and configured to communicate wirelessly with at least one first external device actively and / or passively, preferably by means of NFC, Low Energy Bluetooth, DECT or WLAN, characterized in that the tag (9) has at least one optical marker element (13) which is provided and configured to give information about its position and orientation in a virtual coordinate system that can be optically detected by at least one second external device.

2. Tag (9) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the tag (9) is configured with at least one machine-readable data element (15) and / or at least one alphanumeric data element (19, 21).

3. Tag (9) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tag (9) includes at least one optical signal output device, preferably in the form of LEDs and / or ePaper displays or other types of displays, and / or an acoustic signal output device.

4. Tag (9) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tag (9) is formed with a breakthrough (17) in a direction normal to a planar extension of the tag (9).

5. Tag (9) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tag is configured with at least one energy harvesting element, preferably in the form of a photovoltaic element or a piezoelectric element.

6. Tag (9) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the tag (9) is designed with at least one manual status slider element.

7. Medical device (1 ) with a tag (9) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the medical device (1 ) is designed with a tag receptacle which receives the tag (9) in a predetermined position and orientation with respect to the medical device (1 ) or parts thereof.

8. Medical device (1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that a disconnect switch (25) is provided between the tag (9) and the tag recording of the medical device (1), which is provided and configured to detect a separation of the tag (9) from the medical device (1).

9. Medical device (1 ) according to claim 8, characterized in that the medical device (1), preferably in the tag (9), includes a disconnect signal transmitter unit which emits a wireless disconnect signal when the disconnect switch (25) detects the disconnection of the tag (9) from the medical device (1 ).

10. System for determining the location and / or tracking and / or orientation of a medical device (1) consisting, among other things, of - the day (9) after one of claims 1 to 6, - which at least one first external device which communicates wirelessly with the tag (9) of the medical device (1) actively and / or passively and determines a position of the tag (9) based on a range and / or a signal strength of at least one wireless signal and / or based on lateration of the wireless signal, in particular based on trilateration or multilateration - the at least one second external device which optically detects a position and orientation of the tag (9) using the at least one optical marker (13).

11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the system includes at least one handling device which is designed and configured to grasp and handle the medical device (1) at a handling section (11).

12. System according to claim 11, characterized in that the system includes a processing unit which is designed and configured to determine a position of the handling section (11) from the detected position of the tag (9) based on geometric dependencies stored in the processing unit.

13. System according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the system includes a balancing device which compares a first position signal determined by the first external device with a second position signal determined by the second external device.

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