X-Ray Therapy Component Arrangement with Dual RFID Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

The handling of sterile components during treatment planning and preparation in non-sterile areas is unsatisfactorily solved in X-ray therapy, particularly due to the risk of losing guaranteed properties when exposed to ionizing radiation and the need for precise component tracking.

Innovation Solution

A component arrangement with two RFID transponders, one on a sterile primary packaging and one on non-sterile secondary packaging, allows for component tracking and handling in both sterile and non-sterile environments, ensuring sterility and enabling safe operation of X-ray therapy systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a single RFID transponder is placed on the sterile component, then the component can be tracked, but the component cannot be handled in non-sterile areas during treatment planning without risking contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling of sterile componentsVSAvoidsterility maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The RFID tracking system is segmented into two separate transponders: a first RFID transponder on the sterile component itself and a second RFID transponder on the sterile packaging. This allows the packaging (with second transponder) to be handled in non-sterile areas during treatment planning while the sterile component (with first transponder) remains protected until the sterile field is established.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sterile packaging acts as an intermediary carrier that holds the sterile component during non-sterile handling. The second RFID transponder on the packaging enables tracking and treatment planning activities without requiring direct contact with or exposure of the sterile component to non-sterile environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the sterile component is removed from packaging for treatment planning, then data can be accessed, but the component risks contamination and loss of sterility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent data accessibilityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Treatment planning activities are performed in advance while the sterile component is still protected within its sterile packaging. The second RFID transponder on the packaging allows all necessary data access, verification, and planning operations to be completed before the component is transferred to the sterile field, eliminating the need to remove the component from packaging during non-sterile handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If RFID readers are placed in both sterile and non-sterile areas, then component tracking is enabled throughout the process, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent tracking accuracyVSAvoidRFID reader system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The RFID readers are designed with multi-functionality to operate in both sterile and non-sterile environments. The same reader hardware can read from both the first RFID transponder on the sterile component and the second RFID transponder on the sterile packaging, eliminating the need for completely separate reading systems and reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution enables improved handling and tracking of X-ray therapy components, ensuring sterility and preventing misuse by allowing data exchange and operation authorization based on RFID transponder readings, thus simplifying treatment planning and preparation.

Implementation Method 1

The at least one component is provided with a radio frequency identification transponder (RFID tag). The RFID tag is interrogated by a reader to generate a signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4432962B1Component arrangement for an x-ray therapy component, x-ray therapy system, and method for operating an x-ray therapy system

Publication Date: 2025.09.17 CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG

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Figure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a component arrangement (1) for an x-ray therapy component (2), comprising: an x-ray therapy component (2) having a first RFID transponder (3); primary packaging (4), in which the component (2) is sterilely packed; and secondary packaging (5) which has a second RFID transponder (6) arranged therein and/or thereon and in which the component (2) packed in the primary packaging (4) is arranged. The invention also relates to an x-ray therapy system and to a method for operating an x-ray therapy system (10), in which, to set up the x-ray therapy system (10) for each of at least one component (2), data of a second RFID transponder (6) arranged in and/or on secondary packaging (5) of the component (2) are read by means of a second RFID reader (16) of a control device (13) of the x-ray therapy system (10), and/or data are written to the second RFID transponder (6), the component (2) sterilely packed in primary packaging (4) is removed from the primary packaging (4), and data of a first RFID transponder (3) of the component (2) are read by means of a first RFID reader (14) of an x-ray therapy device (11) of the x-ray therapy system (10), and/or data are written to the first RFID transponder (3).