Blank RFID Tag Bulk Encoding for Medical Item Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current RFID systems for tracking medical items in healthcare facilities face errors due to inconsistent human-readable labels and incorrect association of RFID serial numbers with medical item data, leading to potential medical errors and inefficiencies in bulk encoding processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where blank RFID tags with unique serial numbers are attached to medical items without human-readable information, allowing for accurate association with item data stored in a database, ensuring that all items with identical characteristics are verified before encoding, and using a processor to read and store serial numbers in a non-volatile memory, thereby reducing errors and streamlining the tracking process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If human-readable labels are attached to medical items with adhesive to satisfy FDA regulations, then the medical items can be clearly identified by reading their labels, but the labels become difficult to remove and are considered integral with the medical item and container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tracking function from the human-readable label by implementing a separate RFID tag system. The RFID tag contains the serial number and can be read wirelessly without affecting the FDA-required human-readable label, which remains for visual identification purposes only.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary RFID tag that mediates between the medical item and the tracking system. The RFID tag serves as an intermediate component that provides wireless identification without requiring physical attachment or removal of the human-readable label, thus resolving the contradiction between label integrity and removability.
2Productivity
If RFID tags are attached to medical items for wireless tracking, then medical items can be tracked automatically, but errors occur in associating RFID serial numbers with medical item data during bulk encoding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-associating RFID serial numbers with medical item characteristics before bulk encoding. The system reads characteristics from human-readable labels, stores them in a database, and links them to RFID serial numbers in advance. This preliminary association prevents errors during bulk encoding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms to verify data association accuracy. The system reads characteristics from human-readable labels, compares them with database records, and uses this feedback to confirm correct association between RFID serial numbers and medical item data, thereby improving reliability during bulk encoding.
3Ease of manufacture
If read-only RFID tags with unique serial numbers are used for tracking, then the tags are inexpensive and can be manufactured in enormous quantities, but a database is needed to correlate the serial number with the medical item data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of read-only RFID tags with a database correlation system into an integrated tracking solution. The human-readable label serves dual purposes: it provides visual identification and simultaneously provides the data needed for database correlation with RFID serial numbers, eliminating the need for separate complex correlation systems.
4Loss of information
If writable RFID tags with memory are used to store medical item data, then data about the medical item can be written to the tag memory, but the tags are more expensive than read-only tags
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data storage function from the RFID tag itself and places it in an external database system. The RFID tag retains only its unique serial number function, while all medical item characteristics are stored in the database, eliminating the need for expensive writable tags with onboard memory.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the accuracy and speed of RFID tagging, reduces the risk of medical errors by ensuring consistent data association, and allows for bulk encoding of multiple items simultaneously, improving the overall efficiency of medical item tracking within healthcare facilities.
Implementation Method 1
RFID systems have been developed to assist in tracking medical items from their receipt at a healthcare facility through the administration of the medical item to a patient
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for bulk encoding medical items in a tracking system in a healthcare facility comprises attaching to each of a plurality of identical medical items a blank RFID tag. When activated simultaneously, the serial numbers of all RFID tags on all the identical medical items are read and their serial numbers are associated with the pre-stored characteristics of the medical item in a data base. The RFID tags are blank in that they include no human-readable data concerning the medical article to which the RFID tag is attached. A data mining system and method are provided for mining the database.