Radiopaque Polymer Ink for X-Ray Readable Asset Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RFID tags for asset tracking face limitations such as limited range, interference, complexity, and cost, as well as privacy concerns, making them inefficient for identifying and tracking assets in retail and medical settings.
Innovation Solution
Development of radiopaque ink compositions comprising radiodense compounds dispersed in a polymer matrix, suitable for use with printing devices to create machine-readable identifiers that are visible under radiographic imaging, allowing for accurate identification of objects using x-ray imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RFID tags are used for asset tracking, then identification capability is provided, but limited range and interference issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces RFID electromagnetic field-based identification with a radiopaque marking system that uses physical X-ray imaging. Machine-readable codes printed with radiopaque ink on substrates attached to assets can be visually imaged through X-ray, eliminating the electromagnetic interference and range limitations of RFID tags while maintaining reliable identification capability.
2Reliability
If radiopaque ink compositions are printed on substrates, then machine-readable codes become visible under x-ray imaging, but additional materials and processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite ink formulations containing radiopaque compounds (such as barium sulfate, bismuth subgallate, or tungsten oxide) dispersed in a polymer binder matrix. This composite material approach provides both the necessary radiopacity for X-ray visibility and the printing characteristics needed for standard inkjet printing processes, integrating multiple functions into a single material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of conventional ink by incorporating radiopaque compounds at specific concentrations (typically 1-50% by weight). This parameter change transforms ordinary printing ink into radiopaque ink that maintains printability while gaining X-ray visibility, allowing use of standard printing equipment with minimal process changes.
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 and accurate tracking and identification of assets by providing visible machine-readable codes under x-ray imaging, overcoming the limitations of RFID tags, and facilitating inventory management and medical procedure accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
radiopaque ink compositions comprising radiodense compounds dispersed in a polymer matrix, suitable for use with printing devices to print radiodense machine-readable object identifiers
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for identifying an object using radiopaque ink. In some embodiments, a system for identifying an object comprises an object having an identifying marking formed of a radiopaque ink comprising a polymer matrix having an average molecular weight of about 1,000 g/mol to about 50,000 g/mol, and a radiopaque compound comprising one or more elements having an atomic number of 53 or greater dispersed within the polymer matrix. A control circuit causes a radiographic imaging device to irradiate the object, receives from the radiographic imaging device image data associated with the object, processes the image data to generate an x-ray image showing the identifying marking of the object, causes a display device to display the x-ray image showing the identifying marking of the object, and identifies the object based on the identifying marking of the object shown in the x-ray image.