Disposable Patient Tracking Tag with Infrared Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient tracking systems in hospitals face challenges such as high costs, tag loss, and infection control issues due to the use of active RFID tags, and inefficiencies in passive RFID tracking methods, which require additional infrastructure and may expose patients to electromagnetic fields.
Innovation Solution
A disposable, low-cost apparatus integrated with a patient's identification band, featuring a planar housing with a processor, RF transceiver, secondary technology sensor, and a non-field-replaceable battery, designed for single or limited use, incorporating infrared and ultrasound technologies for location tracking and including a timer to prevent reuse and infection risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active RFID tags are used for patient tracking, then location tracking capability is improved, but cost and tag loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements disposable passive RFID tags that are inexpensive and single-use, eliminating the tag loss problem associated with reusable active tags. These tags are discarded after one use, preventing the 10% monthly attrition rate of active tags while maintaining tracking reliability through the hospital's infrastructure of RFID readers.
2Loss of substance
If passive RFID tracking is used, then cost is reduced, but tracking efficiency and location accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The passive RFID tags automatically transmit their identification signals to RFID readers throughout the hospital without requiring manual scanning or activation. This self-service mechanism enables continuous tracking as patients move through the facility, improving tracking efficiency while maintaining low cost compared to active RFID systems.
3Measurement precision
If additional RFID readers are deployed throughout the hospital to improve tracking accuracy, then location precision is improved, but cost and electromagnetic exposure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses passive RFID tags that copy or reflect the identification signal from readers rather than generating their own electromagnetic fields. This approach maintains location tracking accuracy through signal reflection and time-of-flight measurements while significantly reducing electromagnetic exposure to patients compared to active RFID systems that continuously transmit signals.
4Loss of substance
If active RFID tags are reused for different patients, then cost is reduced, but infection control risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable passive RFID tags that are discarded after single use, completely eliminating the infection control risks associated with reusing active RFID tags. The low cost of these disposable tags makes the single-use approach economically viable, ensuring 100% reliability in infection prevention without requiring costly sterilization protocols.
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
The solution provides efficient, affordable, and reliable patient tracking by minimizing tag loss, reducing infection risks, and lowering overall ownership costs through a unified, disposable system that integrates with existing patient ID bands, while ensuring accurate location tracking and easy refurbishment.
Implementation Method 1
The known RTLS may further utilize a secondary technology such as infrared (IR) and/or ultrasound (US) in order to improve spatial resolution relative to RF triangulation based methods
Implementation Method 2
The known RTLS may further utilize a secondary technology such as infrared (IR) and/or ultrasound (US) in order to improve spatial resolution relative to RF triangulation based methods
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system and method to track location, the apparatus including: a substantially planar disposable housing comprising an electronics compartment; a secondary technology sensor disposed along a periphery of the disposable housing; an electronics module disposed within the electronics compartment, the electronics module comprising: a processor coupled to a memory; an RF transceiver coupled to an RF antenna and to the processor; a secondary technology transceiver coupled to the processor; and a battery coupled to the apparatus, wherein the battery is not field-replaceable. The apparatus may further include a marking to indicate a predetermined period of time that the apparatus is operable. Embodiments further include an unattended smart container to autonomously collect a plurality of the apparatus and to report status to a central monitor system.