RFID Carrier for Sterile Implants with Environmental Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a system and method to accurately track and monitor the location and environmental conditions of regulated products like sterile implants and biologics during transportation, as existing methods such as RFID devices are not effective for continuous monitoring outside of inventory systems and do not provide real-time data during transport.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent portable carrier device equipped with RFID tags and readers, sensors for environmental monitoring, and GPS, which transmits critical data wirelessly in real-time to a back-end inventory tracking system, ensuring continuous tracking and monitoring of temperature and location during transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If RFID devices are used for inventory tracking, then product identification and location tracking are improved, but continuous monitoring during transportation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines RFID tracking capability with environmental sensing capability into a single integrated monitoring system. The RFID device is merged with temperature, humidity, and other environmental sensors to create a unified monitoring unit that provides both location tracking and environmental condition monitoring continuously during transportation and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is designed to perform multiple functions: RFID-based location tracking, temperature monitoring, humidity monitoring, and other environmental parameter sensing. This multi-functional device replaces the need for separate tracking and monitoring systems, ensuring continuous monitoring capability across all product lifecycle stages.
2Reliability
If real-time monitoring during transportation is implemented, then product integrity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system operates autonomously during transportation, automatically sensing environmental conditions, recording data, and transmitting information without requiring manual intervention. The device self-manages the monitoring process, reducing the operational complexity despite the enhanced monitoring capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors environmental parameters and provides real-time feedback about product conditions. This feedback mechanism enables automatic alerting and tracking, improving product integrity through continuous oversight while managing complexity through automated response protocols.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and RFID devices are integrated, then monitoring capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensing functions (temperature, humidity, environmental monitoring) and RFID tracking are merged into a single integrated device. This consolidation reduces the total quantity of separate components needed, thereby reducing overall system cost while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
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 solution provides real-time inventory and monitoring data, ensuring the integrity of sensitive products by maintaining continuous tracking and environmental monitoring during transport, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of product tracking and storage processes.
Implementation Method 1
radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs)
Implementation Method 2
sensors for environmental monitoring... providing critical monitoring data, such as temperature monitoring
Implementation Method 3
a transmitter for transmitting messages over a wireless network, the messages including modulated information
Data Source
AI summary
Intelligent portable carrier device for supporting movement in product tracking and monitoring of regulated products, such as tissue and biologics. Embodiments of the invention use product identification technology, such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and readers, to uniquely identify the regulated products as they are added to or removed from the intelligent portable carrier device. Embodiments of the invention may also be configured to monitor and report temperature and other environmental conditions associated with the intelligent portable carrier device.