Power Outlet Adapter Location Tracking for Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Locating medical devices, such as hospital beds, within large healthcare facilities is challenging due to their distribution across multiple floors and rooms, making it difficult to identify a specific device's location and associate it with a patient.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes an adapter for power outlets, which connects to medical devices and transmits device and outlet IDs wirelessly to a central computing system, using near-field communication antennas to determine the location of the device within the facility, eliminating the need for manual updates and real-time location systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual tracking methods are used to locate medical devices, then implementation cost is reduced, but tracking accuracy and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The power outlet adapter serves multiple functions: it provides electrical power to medical devices while simultaneously acting as a location identification node. The adapter includes both power delivery functionality and wireless communication capability, eliminating the need for separate tracking devices on each medical device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines device locations through wireless communication between the adapter and mobile devices without requiring manual updates or intervention. The location information is obtained and transmitted automatically, reducing operational complexity.
2Productivity
If real-time location systems are deployed to track medical devices, then location accuracy is improved, but implementation and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power outlet adapter acts as an intermediary between the existing power infrastructure and the location tracking function. By integrating wireless communication capability into the adapter, the system leverages the existing power outlet distribution network as a tracking infrastructure, avoiding the need for dedicated real-time location system hardware throughout the facility.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter combines power delivery and location identification functions in a single device, eliminating the need for separate real-time location tracking infrastructure and reducing overall system complexity.
3Loss of time
If manual location updates are performed for medical devices, then system complexity is reduced, but time consumption and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically obtains device location information through wireless communication when a mobile device approaches the adapter, and automatically transmits this information to the server. This eliminates manual location updating entirely, saving time and labor while maintaining simple operational procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides automatic feedback by transmitting location information to the server whenever a device is connected to or moved near a power outlet, ensuring location data is continuously updated without manual intervention.
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
Automatically determines the location of medical devices within a healthcare facility, reducing errors and costs associated with manual tracking and real-time location systems, while enabling the association of device locations with patient records.
Implementation Method 1
using near-field communication antennas to determine the location of the device within the facility
Implementation Method 2
a communication transceiver that transmits the device ID and the outlet ID from the electronic board to a central computing system
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for identifying a location of a device includes a first antenna mounted to a plug. The first antenna surrounds one or more prongs of the plug, and the plug has a memory that stores a device ID. A second antenna receives the device ID from the first antenna when the plug is coupled to a power outlet. A controller uses a communication module to wirelessly transfer the device ID and a power outlet ID to a computer server. The computer server uses the device ID and the power outlet ID to determine the location of the device within a building.