Passive RFID Foot Pedal With Metal Shielding Against False Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foot pedals for medical devices face issues with wired connections causing disconnection or damage, and wireless configurations suffer from inadvertent activation and battery maintenance concerns, leading to increased service costs and operational risks.
Innovation Solution
A passive RFID foot pedal that uses a metal shield to prevent electromagnetic activation until manually actuated, eliminating the need for electronics, batteries, and wireless modules, ensuring reliable and secure operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wired connection is used to connect the foot pedal to the medical device, then reliable signal transmission is achieved, but the cable can be inadvertently disconnected or damaged rendering the system inoperative
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless electromagnetic communication system. The foot pedal uses an RFID transponder that communicates with the medical device via electromagnetic fields, eliminating the physical cable that was susceptible to disconnection and damage. This substitution maintains reliable signal transmission while removing the harmful factor of cable-related failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an RFID transponder as an intermediary component between the foot pedal and the medical device. This transponder serves as a mediator that enables wireless communication through electromagnetic fields, replacing the direct wired connection and eliminating the need for physical cable contact while maintaining reliable signal transmission.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a wireless module with battery is used in the foot pedal, then cable disconnection issues are eliminated, but inadvertent activation occurs and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using a metal shield positioned adjacent to the RFID transponder that actively prevents electromagnetic field penetration before inadvertent activation can occur. The shield creates a blocking effect that counteracts premature signal transmission, allowing the system to remain in a safe state until proper manual activation occurs through the foot pedal mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the battery and wireless module electronics from the foot pedal, replacing them with a passive RFID transponder system. This extraction eliminates the power source that enabled inadvertent activation in previous wireless designs, while still achieving wireless communication through the passive transponder that only activates when properly triggered by the foot pedal mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If electronics and batteries are included in the foot pedal, then wireless functionality is achieved, but service costs and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a passive RFID transponder that is inherently simple, durable, and maintenance-free compared to complex wireless modules with batteries. The transponder is a robust, solid-state component with no moving parts or consumable elements, dramatically reducing service costs and maintenance requirements while maintaining wireless functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive RFID transponder is powered by the electromagnetic field from the reader, eliminating the need for internal batteries or power management circuits. This self-powered approach removes all maintenance-related components, making the system inherently maintenance-free while preserving wireless operation capability.
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
The passive RFID foot pedal provides secure, reliable, and maintenance-free operation by using a metal shield to control medical devices without wired connections or batteries, reducing service costs and inadvertent activation risks.
Implementation Method 1
a metal shield disposed adjacent the RFID transponder and positioned to block the electromagnetic field from reaching the RFID transponder when the foot pedal is in the inactivated position
Implementation Method 2
The RFID tag is passive in operation in that it is operated in response to an electromagnetic field received by the tag from a reader antenna disposed on the medical device or system
Data Source
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AI summary
A control device 22 for use in connection with a medical device or system in order to operate various functions of the medical device or system is provided that does not require a wired connection or internal power source for the operation of the control device. The control device 22 in certain embodiments can take the form of a footpedal that is formed with a passive RFID tag disposed on the pedal and shielded by a metal sheet. The physician can depress the pedal to move the tag away from the metal sheet, exposing or unshielding the tag to operate the medical device. In this configuration the control device 22 is formed to be entirely passive in operation, thus eliminating the issues with regard to control devices connected to medical devices and systems using wired connections and wireless transmission modules.