Electrosurgical Electrode Assembly With Shielded RFID Transponder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical instruments with RFID transponders face challenges such as limited transmission range, unreliable signal reception due to surrounding components, complex assembly, and potential contamination risks, which hinder safe handling and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a non-conductive insulation body housing the transponder between electrodes, with geometric recesses or openings in the electrodes to enhance signal transmission and reception, allowing 360° reading and writing capabilities, and using a biocompatible plastic material for the insulation body to ensure cleanability and sterilizability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the transponder is placed on the outer surface of the instrument to minimize distance to the reading device, then the transmission range is improved, but the instrument handling is compromised and the transponder is exposed to contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
The transponder is nested within a recess in the instrument housing, specifically within an insulating body that is integrated into the electrode assembly. This allows the transponder to be protected from contamination while still being accessible to the reading device through the insulating body's transparent or semi-transparent material, resolving the contradiction between protection and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
An insulating body made of transparent or semi-transparent material serves as an intermediary between the transponder and the external environment. This intermediary allows electromagnetic waves to pass through while protecting the transponder from direct exposure to contaminants, enabling both close proximity for transmission and protection from contamination.
2Reliability
If the transponder is placed close to current-carrying components to enable communication, then the transmission quality is improved, but the reliability is reduced due to electromagnetic interference
Solution Approach 1:
The transponder is extracted from the immediate vicinity of current-carrying components and placed in a dedicated recess within an insulating body. This separation removes the harmful electromagnetic interference from the transponder's operating environment while maintaining signal transmission capability through the insulating body's transparent material.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating body acts as an intermediary that electrically isolates the transponder from current-carrying components while allowing electromagnetic waves to pass through. This mediator prevents electromagnetic interference from degrading signal reliability while maintaining communication capability.
3Device complexity
If the transponder is integrated into the instrument structure, then the assembly complexity is reduced, but the maintenance and replacement difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is segmented into modular components, with the transponder integrated into a specific recess within the electrode assembly. This segmentation allows the transponder to be easily accessed and replaced by disassembling only the electrode assembly, maintaining integration benefits while enabling simple maintenance without complicating the overall instrument structure.
4Strength
If a metal housing is used to protect the transponder, then the mechanical protection is improved, but the signal transmission quality deteriorates due to shielding
Solution Approach 1:
The housing material parameter is changed from metal to transparent or semi-transparent insulating material. This parameter change maintains mechanical protection and structural integrity while eliminating the electromagnetic shielding effect that would degrade signal transmission quality, allowing both protection and signal transmission to coexist.
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
Improves signal reliability and transmission distance, facilitates easy assembly and maintenance, reduces contamination risks, and ensures safe handling of electrosurgical instruments.
Implementation Method 1
a transponder (8) adapted to receive and/or transmit electromagnetic waves, in particular data signals
Data Source
AI summary
An electrosurgical instrument, in particular an RF instrument, includes an electrode device with a first electrode and a second electrode that are opposite one another. An insulation body accommodates a transponder, preferably an RFID transponder, particularly preferably a glass transponder. The insulation body connects the first electrode and the second electrode to one other. The transponder is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, in particular symmetrically and/or centrally between the first and the second electrodes. A screen is formed in the first electrode and/or in the second electrode in the region of the transponder such that the first electrode and/or second electrode forms a stop that does not allow the passage of electromagnetic wave signals. A screen opening allows passage of the signals. The electrosurgical instrument can be part of a medical transponder communications system and manufactured by a production method.