Wireless identification needle

Abstract

To provide a wireless identification needle for acupuncture.SOLUTION: The wireless identification needle includes an acupuncture needle and an electronic tag. The acupuncture needle includes a needle body, a needle tip provided at a front end of the needle body, and a needle shaft provided at a rear end of the needle body. The electronic tag includes a substrate, an antenna and an RFID chip. The substrate is directly or indirectly connected to a needle shaft. The antenna is disposed on the substrate. The RFID chip is electrically connected to both ends of the antenna. With the above structural features, the wireless identification needle not only has a robust structure, but also reduces metal interference, and can be read and identified at a long distance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to needles, particularly wireless identification needles.

Background Art

[0002] Modern hospitals are constantly aiming to improve medical care and prevent medical errors. However, since medical errors cannot be completely prevented, patient safety is an important issue for the World Health Organization (WHO) and medical service systems in countries around the world.

[0003] The scope of acupuncture treatment is very wide, covering digestive system diseases, endocrine and metabolic diseases, gynecological diseases, mental and nervous system diseases, and musculoskeletal diseases, etc.

[0004] When performing acupuncture treatment on specific parts of the human body, various diseases are treated or pain is relieved by inserting needles into the subcutaneous tissue or muscles. Since the needle directly contacts the internal tissues of the human body, hygiene and safety are of the utmost importance. If the needle is not clean, the human body may be infected with pathogens, causing secondary damage and increasing the risk of nosocomial infection. In addition, medical accidents such as needles remaining in the body may also occur. Therefore, it is extremely important to strictly prohibit the reuse of needles and manage the collection and waste treatment of needles.

[0005] Conventional disposable needles are made of stainless steel and are very thin, with a needle handle diameter of about 1.2 millimeters (mm). Therefore, it is technically difficult to attach an RFID tag to the needle. Especially when trying to increase the effect of reading and identifying multiple needles at a long distance, there are problems not only with the shape of the needle or spatial limitations, but also with the difficulty of installing a UHF antenna and the interference of the electromagnetic wave signal of the antenna by the metal. Therefore, it is difficult to adopt the technology of wireless communication and identification in the extremely high frequency band (UHF RFID).

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The main object of the present invention is to provide a wireless identification needle that not only has a solid structure but also reduces metal interference and can be read and identified over a long distance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the wireless identification needle includes a needle and an electronic tag. The needle has a needle body, a needle tip located at the front end of the needle body, and a needle handle located at the rear end of the needle body. The electronic tag has a base material, an antenna, and an RFID chip. The base material is directly or indirectly connected to the needle handle. The antenna is disposed on the base material. The RFID chip is electrically connected to both ends of the antenna. Due to the above-mentioned structural features, the wireless identification needle not only has a solid structure but also reduces metal interference and can be read and identified over a long distance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, the wireless identification needle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (First Embodiment) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the wireless identification needle 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a needle 10, a diameter-increasing sleeve 30, an electronic tag 40, and a protective sleeve 50.

[0011] The needle 10 has a needle body 11, a needle tip 12 located at the front end of the needle body 11, and a needle handle 13 located at the rear end of the needle body 11. The needle handle 13 is formed by winding a wire in a cylindrical shape and has an outer diameter larger than that of the needle body 11. The needle 10 is integrally formed of a metal such as stainless steel. In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the front in the direction terms refers to the lower side of FIG. 1, and the rear in the direction terms refers to the upper side of FIG. 1. In another embodiment, the needle handle 13 may be formed by injecting a plastic material onto the needle body 11 so as to cover the needle body 11. The needle handle 13 may have the same thickness as the needle body 11.

[0012] The diameter-increasing sleeve 30 has a hole 32. The needle handle 13 is inserted into the hole 31 of the diameter-increasing sleeve 30. The thickness T between the edge of the hole 32 and the cylindrical surface 310 of the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 is 0.5 mm. The diameter-increasing sleeve 30 is made of any one of insulating materials, rubber, and heat-shrinkable tubes. The diameter-increasing sleeve 30 adheres to the needle handle 13 by the contraction of the hole 32. The space between the hole 32 of the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 and the needle handle 13 is fixed with an adhesive. Alternatively, the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 is formed by injecting a plastic material onto the needle handle 13 so as to cover the needle handle 13.

[0013] The electronic tag 40 has a base material 41, an antenna 42, and an RFID chip 43 (RFID IC). The base material 41 is connected to the needle handle 13. The antenna 42 is disposed on the surface 410 of the base material 41. The RFID chip 43 is electrically connected to both ends 422 of the antenna 42. The material of the base material 41 is preferably a flexible insulating seal, particularly polyimide (PI). Since the base material 41 is rectangular in shape and has an adhesive applied to the back surface 411, the base material 41 can be wound and attached to the surface 310 of the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 to cover the surface 310 of the diameter-increasing sleeve 30. That is, the base material 41 is connected to the needle handle 13 by an indirect method. In this embodiment, the indirect method is not limited to the above, and the base material 41 and the needle handle 13 may be connected via another component, or the base material 41 and the needle handle 13 may be connected by a component related to the base material 41. The direct method is to connect the base material 41 and the needle handle 13 without using another component. The antenna 42 is a conductive material disposed on the surface 410 of the base material 41. Specifically, it is formed by performing edging processing on the surface of a commercially available copper foil or aluminum foil flexible printed circuit board. The antenna 42 is an annular body with a rectangular plane and has a slit 421. Both ends 422 of the antenna 42 are located on both sides of the slit 421. The RFID chip 43 employs UHF RFID and is electrically connected to both ends 422 of the antenna 42. That is, the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 is positioned between the needle handle 13 and the base material 41. In another embodiment, the antenna 42 may be disposed on the back surface 411 of the base material 41 or inside the base material 41 (i.e., between the back surface 411 and the surface 410 of the base material 41). The shape of the antenna 42 is not limited to being rectangular, and the structure may change according to the actual situation. The RFID chip 43 uses a frequency band according to actual needs.

[0014] Since the protective sleeve 50 completely covers the electronic tag 40 and the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 and is fixed to the needle handle 13, the antenna 42 and the RFID chip 43 can be protected without being externally contacted. The protective sleeve 50 is made of a heat-shrinkable tube, and the structural stability of the structure in which the electronic tag 40 and the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 are arranged on the needle handle 13 can be improved. If the electronic tag 40 and the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 can be joined and stabilized, the protective sleeve 50 may be omitted.

[0015] The diameter-increasing sleeve 30 forms a gap between the antenna 42 of the electronic tag 40 and the needle 10 according to the thickness T, and completely unfolds the antenna 42 of the base material 41 according to the outer diameter. Due to the above-described structural features, the antenna 42 resonates due to the electromagnetic wave signal reflected by the needle 10. Therefore, a reader / writer (not shown in the figure) repels metal interference, and can read the identification code of the RFID chip 43 at a long distance and identify the wireless identification needle 1. That is, the management and collection of the wireless identification needle 1 can be facilitated.

[0016] Specifically, according to the test results, it was found that if the thickness T of the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 is 0.4 mm or more, a gap that can repel interference is generated between the antenna 42 and the needle 10. Taking the UHF RFID system introduced in the hospital and using the 922-928 MHz frequency band as an example, if the reading distance of the wireless identification needle 1 is tested, the theoretical reading distance is 1.1 to 1.2 m. Therefore, the metal material needle 10 does not interfere with or affect the antenna 42. In addition, since the operating ability increases depending on the equipment, the average value of the actual reading distance is 1.5 times the theoretical reading distance. That is, since the reading distance of the wireless identification needle 1 under the 922-928 MHz frequency band is 1.65 to 1.8 m, the management requirements such as the use and collection of needles in the hospital can be satisfied.

[0017] (Second Embodiment) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the wireless identification needle 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention further has an insulating protection film 44 made of PET or PI material. The insulating protection film 44 is attached to the surface 410 of the base material 41, covers the antenna 42 and the RFID chip 43, and protects the antenna 42 and the RFID chip 43 without contacting the outside. After the base material 41 is wound into an annular shape, when the adhesive properties of the edge portions 415 on both sides are reduced and the edge portions 415 on both sides are likely to peel off, an adhesive sheet 52 may be attached to the edge portions 415 on both sides of the base material 41. Different from the protection sleeve 50 that completely covers and protects the electronic tag 40, since the adhesive sheet 52 fixes the electronic tag 40, if the electronic tag 40 and the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 can be joined and stabilized, the adhesive sheet 52 may be omitted.

[0018] (Third Embodiment) As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the wireless identification needle 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a needle 10, an electronic tag 40, and a protection sleeve 50. In the third embodiment, the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 is omitted. The base material 41 of the electronic tag 40 has a thickness-increasing portion 412 and a sensing portion 413. The sensing portion 413 is connected to the needle handle 13. The sensing portion 413 is formed by extending from the thickness-increasing portion 412. The antenna 42 is disposed on the sensing portion 413. If the base material 41 is wound around the surface of the needle handle 13 of the needle 10 so that the thickness-increasing portion 412 is positioned between the needle handle 13 and the sensing portion 413, the distance between the sensing portion 413 exposed to the outside and the surface of the needle handle 13 becomes the thickness T. The protection sleeve 50 is disposed to cover the electronic tag 40.

[0019] After the base material 41 is wound around the surface of the needle handle 13 of the needle 10, the thickness T (0.4 mm or more) causes a gap between the antenna 42 and the needle 10. The thickness-increasing portion 412 has the same effect as the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 in the first embodiment, and can completely expand the antenna 42 on the sensing portion 413, so that the object of the present invention can be achieved.

[0020] If we test the reading distance of the wireless identification needle 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the theoretical reading distance is from 0.65 to 0.68 m, and the actual reading distance is from 0.97 to 1.05 m. Therefore, this embodiment can meet the management requirements such as the use and collection of needles in hospitals.

[0021] (Fourth Embodiment) As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in the wireless identification needle 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the base material 41 has a coating portion 414 in addition to the thickness increasing portion 412 and the sensing portion 413. The coating portion 414 is formed by extending from the sensing portion 413. After the base material 41 is wound in a ring shape, the coating portion 414 covers the antenna 42 and the RFID chip 43 of the sensing portion 413, that is, the antenna 42 and the RFID chip 43 are protected without being in contact with the outside instead of the protective sleeve 50 of the third embodiment.

[0022] (Fifth Embodiment) As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the wireless identification needle 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention includes a needle 10, an inner layer member 20, an electronic tag 40, and a protective sleeve 50. The inner layer member 20 is positioned at a portion extending rearward from the needle handle 13. The inner layer member 20 is a tubular body made of plastic, and the inside of the tubular body is defined as a signal reaction space 22. The base material 41 of the electronic tag 40 is wound and adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the inner layer member 20. The protective sleeve 50 covers the electronic tag 40 and the inner layer member 20 at the rear half portion and covers the needle handle 13 at the front half portion, thereby fixing the inner layer member 20 and the electronic tag 40 together to the needle handle 13. That is, the base material 41 of the electronic tag 40 and the needle handle 13 are indirectly connected. In another embodiment, the inner layer member 20 may be rod-shaped.

[0023] The inner layer member 20 can support the base material 41 and fully deploy the antenna 42, that is, it can play the role of the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 of the first embodiment. The peripheral length of the cross-section of the inner layer member 20 is larger than the peripheral length of the cross-section of the needle handle 13. That is, the peripheral length of the cross-section of the electronic tag 40 is larger than the peripheral length of the cross-section of the needle handle 13. The inner layer member 20 causes resonance in the signal reaction space 22 and simultaneously achieves a metal interference prevention effect. If the reading distance of the wireless identification needle 1 according to the fifth embodiment is tested, the theoretical reading distance is 1.26 to 1.38 m, and the actual reading distance is 1.89 to 2.07 m, so it can meet the management requirements such as the use and collection of needles in hospitals. If the strength of the base material 41 of the electronic tag 40 is sufficient, it is not necessary to arrange the inner layer member 20 to fully deploy the antenna 42. Also, in this embodiment, like the third embodiment, a sensing part 413 and a thickness-increasing part 412 formed by extending from the sensing part 413 can be arranged on the base material 41, and the antenna 42 can also be arranged at the sensing part 413. After the base material 41 is wound in a ring shape, the thickness-increasing part 412 is wound around the sensing part 413, so it can replace the inner layer member 20.

[0024] The structure of the wireless identification needle 1 is not limited to the above, and it can be changed. For example, if the diameter of the needle handle 13 is large, it is not necessary to arrange the diameter-increasing sleeve 30 or the thickness-increasing part 412. In the third embodiment or the fourth embodiment, a protective sleeve 50 or an adhesive sheet 52 may be arranged outside the electronic tag 40. The adhesive sheet 52 is attached to one edge part 415 of the base material 41 wound in a ring shape.

[0025] As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0026] 1: Wireless identification needle 10: Needle 11: Needle body 12: Needle tip 13: Needle handle 20: Inner layer member 22: Signal reaction space 30: Diameter-increasing sleeve 32: Hole 310: Cylindrical surface 40: Electronic tag 41: Substrate 410: Surface 411: Back surface 412: Thickness-increasing part 413: Sensing part 414: Coated part 415: Side edge 42: Antenna 421: Slit 422: Both ends 43: RFID chip 44: Insulating protection film 50: Protection sleeve 52: Adhesive sheet T: Thickness

Claims

1. Equipped with needles and electronic tags, The needle has a needle body, a needle tip located at a front end of the needle body, and a needle handle located at a rear end of the needle body, The electronic tag has a substrate, an antenna and an RFID chip, the substrate is directly or indirectly connected to the needle handle, the antenna is disposed on the substrate, and the RFID chip is electrically connected to both ends of the antenna; the substrate is wrapped around the outside of the needle handle in a circular shape, and has an increased thickness portion and a sensing portion, the increased thickness portion is connected to the needle handle, the sensing portion is formed extending from the increased thickness portion, and the antenna is disposed at the sensing portion; A radio frequency identification needle, characterized in that after the base material is wound into a ring shape, the thickened portion is located between the needle handle and the sensing portion.

2. The radio frequency identification needle according to claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the needle handle is larger than the outer diameter of the needle body.

3. Further, it is provided with a diameter increasing sleeve, the increasing diameter sleeve is disposed between the needle shaft and the base, the increasing diameter sleeve having an aperture; The needle shaft is inserted into the hole of the enlarged diameter sleeve, The radio frequency identification needle according to claim 1, characterized in that the base material covers the outside of the diameter increasing sleeve.

4. the substrate further comprises a coating portion, the coating portion extending from the sensing portion; The wireless identification needle according to claim 1, wherein after the substrate is wound into a ring shape, the sensing portion is located between the thickened portion and the coated portion.

5. It also comes with a protective sleeve. The radio frequency identification needle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the protective sleeve is placed over the electronic tag.

6. It also comes with an adhesive sheet, The wireless identification needle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the adhesive sheet is attached to one or more peripheral edges of the annularly rolled substrate.

7. A needle, an electronic tag, and a protective sleeve, The needle has a needle body, a needle tip located at a front end of the needle body, and a needle handle located at a rear end of the needle body, The electronic tag has a substrate, an antenna and an RFID chip, the substrate is directly or indirectly connected to the needle handle, the antenna is disposed on the substrate, and the RFID chip is electrically connected to both ends of the antenna; the protective sleeve is disposed over the electronic tag and a portion of the needle handle; The substrate of the electronic tag wound in a ring shape is tubular and is located at a portion extending rearward from the needle handle; The radio frequency identification needle is characterized in that the base material has a sensing portion and a thickened portion, the thickened portion is formed extending from the sensing portion, the antenna is positioned at the sensing portion, and after the base material is rolled into a ring, the thickened portion is surrounded by the sensing portion.

8. Further, an inner layer member is provided, The wireless identification needle according to claim 7, characterized in that the inner layer member is surrounded by the base material in an annular shape.

9. The radio frequency identification needle according to claim 7, characterized in that the cross-sectional perimeter of the electronic tag is greater than the cross-sectional perimeter of the needle handle.

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