Identification Collar for Cable Barcode Readability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cable-based medical devices with cylindrical or uneven surfaces pose challenges for barcode identification and tracking due to the inability to accommodate flat surfaces for barcode placement and reading, requiring substantial design modifications and increased time and cost.
Innovation Solution
A collar with a flat top surface and elastomeric properties that securely surrounds cables without the need for tooling changes, featuring a barcode-readable surface and a tapered design to minimize deformation, allowing for easy barcode scanning and data tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a barcode is placed directly on the cable surface, then product identification is enabled, but the curvature and unevenness of the cable surface cause barcode deformation and make it unreadable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a collar as an intermediary component that wraps around the cable. This collar provides a flat surface for barcode placement, mediating between the curved cable surface and the flat barcode requirement. The collar acts as a mediator that transforms the unreadable curved surface into a readable flat surface without modifying the cable itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the barcode from the one-dimensional curved surface of the cable to a two-dimensional flat surface on the collar. By adding this dimensional transition through the collar structure, the barcode can be placed on a flat plane that is perpendicular to the cable axis, making it readable by standard scanners.
2Ease of operation
If the cable design is modified to create a flat surface for barcode placement, then barcode reading becomes possible, but manufacturing time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the identification function from the cable structure itself. Instead of modifying the cable to include a flat surface, the solution segments the system into the cable and a separate collar component. This segmentation allows the cable to remain unchanged for efficient manufacturing while the collar provides the necessary flat surface for barcodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is a simple, inexpensive accessory that can be easily manufactured and attached. Rather than investing in expensive tooling changes for cable modification, the solution uses a low-cost collar that can be produced economically and disposed of or replaced if needed, significantly reducing manufacturing overhead.
3Reliability
If a collar with elastomeric properties is used to secure the collar to the cable, then the collar remains stable during use, but the elastomeric material may deform the flat top surface affecting barcode readability
Solution Approach 1:
The collar design applies local quality by differentiating the properties of different parts of the collar. The side walls are made elastomeric to provide secure attachment and flexibility around the cable, while the top surface is kept rigid and flat to ensure barcode readability. This localized differentiation of material properties resolves the conflict between stability and surface integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar exhibits asymmetry in its structural design, with the majority of the collar body being elastomeric for secure attachment, while the top surface area is specifically designed to be rigid and flat. This asymmetric distribution of material properties allows the collar to simultaneously achieve stable attachment and maintain a readable barcode surface.
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
Enables efficient product identification and tracking of cable-based medical devices without modifying existing cable designs, reducing costs and time, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards like UDI requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the collar is secured to the object by elastomeric forces applied by the material said collar is comprised of
Data Source
AI summary
A collar comprising a top surface having a legend capable of being read by a reading device, a collar body and an inner wall configured to surround and secure the collar to an object placed within a slot defined by the inner wall.