RFID Medical Device Nest Reading with EPC Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RFID reading systems for RFID-tagged medical injection devices and their nests face issues with cross-reading, where adjacent RFID tags are inadvertently read, leading to incorrect data aggregation, especially when high power is required for reading, and it is difficult to ensure complete electromagnetic shielding to prevent this.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a conveyor system to convey RFID-tagged nests and devices into an RFID shielding chamber, with controlled power settings for RFID readers and filtering mechanisms to isolate and aggregate unique EPCs from the targeted RFID tags while minimizing cross-reading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high power is used for RFID reading, then reading capability is improved, but cross-reading of adjacent RFID tags occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The reading process is divided into two distinct segments: first reading the nest RFID tag at lower power, then reading device RFID tags at higher power. This segmentation allows each reading operation to use optimized power levels, reducing cross-reading while maintaining reading capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The nest RFID tag is read before the device RFID tags. This preliminary action establishes a baseline reading at lower power, and subsequent device readings can filter out the nest tag EPC, preventing cross-reading contamination while maintaining high power for reliable device tag reading.
2Measurement precision
If electromagnetic shielding is implemented to prevent cross-reading, then reading accuracy is improved, but complete shielding is difficult to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the power parameter dynamically - using lower power for nest tag reading and higher power for device tag reading. This parameter adjustment achieves accurate reading without requiring physical shielding structures, simplifying the overall system while maintaining precision.
3Productivity
If sequential reading of nests and devices is performed, then data aggregation is achieved, but cross-reading leads to incorrect aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses EPC format information as feedback to identify and filter out incorrectly read tags. When a device tag is read during the nest reading phase or a nest tag is read during the device reading phase, the format mismatch provides feedback that triggers filtering, ensuring accurate aggregation despite sequential reading challenges.
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
Effectively reads and aggregates RFID data from targeted nests and devices while preventing cross-reading, ensuring accurate data collection without the need for perfect shielding, thus enhancing data integrity and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
providing a RFID reading system comprising a RFID antenna positioned at the reading location
Implementation Method 2
conveying a RFID-tagged nest retaining a plurality of RFID-tagged medical devices therein, via a conveyor system, to a reading location inside of an RFID shielding chamber
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Provided herein is a system and method for reading a RFID-tagged nest (204) and a plurality of RFID-tagged medical devices (100), for purposes of data aggregation. The method includes conveying a RFID-tagged nest to a reading location inside of an RFID shielding chamber (410) and reading the RFID-tagged nest and RFID-tagged medical devices via a RFID reading system (400) including RFID antenna(s) (405) and a RFID reader (404). In performing the reading, a controller (402) having software stored therein operates the RFID reading system at a low power to perform a first reading and at a high power to perform a second reading. Any EPCs retrieved from the first reading are filtered using a first filter, to remove any EPCs having the second EPC format. Any EPCs retrieved from the second reading are filtered using a second filter, to remove any EPCs having the first EPC format. EPCs of the nest and medical devices are then aggregated.