Embedded RFID Plastic Flange for Traceable Medical Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tracking and tracing medical containers, such as injection devices, face issues with damage, removal, and impact on visual inspection due to external marking techniques like laser marking or RFID tags, which are not reliable for continuous identification from manufacturing to disposal.
Innovation Solution
A plastic flange with a remotely readable electronic component, such as a RFID tag, embedded within the flange to provide secure and continuous identification of medical containers without affecting visual inspection, using connecting means like bumps and glue channels for secure attachment to the tubular barrel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external marking methods (laser marking, printed codes, external RFID tags) are used for tracking and tracing medical containers, then identification capability is provided, but the marks may be removed or damaged during handling and use, and may impact visual inspection processes
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID tag is embedded within the flange structure, nesting the electronic component inside the plastic material. This embedding protects the identification system from external damage and removal while maintaining its functionality for tracking and tracing the medical container throughout its lifecycle
Solution Approach 2:
The identification function is merged with the flange structure itself. The flange serves dual purposes: providing mechanical support for finger placement during injection and housing the RFID tag for identification. This integration eliminates the need for separate external marking systems that are vulnerable to damage
2Loss of information
If laser marking or printed codes are used on the external surface, then unique identifier capability is achieved, but the marking process is expensive and requires visual access for reading
Solution Approach 1:
The passive optical marking systems (laser marking, printed codes) are replaced with an active electronic identification system using RFID technology. This substitution eliminates the need for visual access during reading operations and enables remote identification without direct line of sight, while also removing the costly laser marking process
3Ease of operation
If external RFID tags or laser marks are used, then remote identification is enabled, but the reading operation cannot occur at any time due to visual access requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The limitation of visual access requirement is extracted and removed by embedding the RFID tag within the flange. The electromagnetic field of the RFID tag penetrates the plastic material, enabling reading operations from any position without requiring direct visual contact with the identification element, thus allowing reading at any time during the container lifecycle
Data Source
AI summary
A plastic flange for a medical container, the plastic flange defining an opening, the opening being surrounded by a peripheral collar, the collar providing a support to a user's fingers, wherein the flange comprises connecting means for connecting the flange to an external surface of a tubular barrel of the medical container, and wherein the flange further comprises a remotely readable electronic component for remote identification of the medical container, the remotely readable electronic component being embedded into the plastic flange.