RFID Inlay for Tissue Cassettes
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Solution Overview
Problem
RFID tags, especially those with integrated circuits connected to antennas, are damaged by microwave ovens used in tissue sample processing, and externally attached tags risk damage from paraffin scraping and microtome clamping, limiting their use in pathology procedures.
Innovation Solution
Design of an RFID inlay system that can be temporarily removed from tissue cassettes during microwave processing and repositioned, with the RFID chip and antenna positioned inside the cassette to avoid damage, and bonded to a polymer layer for chemical resistance and secure fixation without additional adhesives, allowing for tracking and tracing throughout pathology processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RFID tags are permanently attached to tissue cassettes, then tracking functionality is improved, but the tags are damaged by microwave ovens used in tissue processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the tracking function into two separate components: a durable RFID tag attached to the cassette and a removable inlay with RFID chip that can be temporarily removed during microwave processing. This segmentation allows the permanent tag to provide continuous tracking while the removable inlay protects against microwave damage by being taken out during those specific processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID inlay is extracted from the cassette during microwave oven processing steps and reinserted afterward. This temporary removal eliminates exposure to the harmful electromagnetic field generated by the microwave oven, preventing damage to the RFID components while maintaining tracking functionality during non-microwave processing steps.
2Reliability
If RFID tags are attached to the outside of tissue cassettes, then tracking is enabled, but the tags are damaged during paraffin scraping and microtome clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID inlay is nested inside the tissue cassette, specifically within the tissue sample chamber. This internal placement protects the RFID components from external mechanical damage during paraffin scraping and microtome clamping operations, while still enabling tracking functionality through the cassette walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The cassette structure itself acts as an intermediary protective layer between the RFID inlay and the external mechanical forces during processing. By placing the RFID tag inside the cassette rather than on the outside, the cassette body shields the sensitive electronic components from damage during routine pathology procedures.
3Reliability
If RFID tags block the holes in the cassette, then tracking is improved, but fluid flow during processing is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID inlay is positioned in a specific location within the tissue sample chamber that avoids blocking the holes in the cassette. The local placement ensures that fluid flow through the holes during processing is not obstructed, while the RFID components remain in a position sufficient for tracking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID inlay is designed with a configuration that utilizes the three-dimensional space within the tissue sample chamber without interfering with the two-dimensional fluid flow paths through the holes. By carefully considering the spatial arrangement, the system achieves both tracking functionality and unobstructed fluid flow.
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 the use of RFID technology in all tissue processing steps except microwave oven use, ensuring inlay safety, maintaining fluid flow, and providing long-term chemical resistance, thus enhancing RFID tag durability and functionality in pathology.
Implementation Method 1
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag or RFID chip... When the signal transmitted from such a device is picked up by the antenna of the RFID chip it is transformed into electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
bonded to a polymer layer for chemical resistance and secure fixation
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method to turn cassettes for biological tissue samples into devices traceable with RFID technology, using a system with inlays tagged with an RFID chip, which inlays are placed in the tissue sample chamber of the tissue cassettes, wherein the part of the inlay that contains the antenna of the RFID chip is running around an opening or is folded together. Such inlays do not risk to be affected by damaging forces outside the tissue cassettes. With an inlay that at every suitable moment can be positioned in the tissue sample chamber for one or more limited periods of time, or indefinitely, tissue cassettes can tracked and traced with RFID technology without the fear of destroying the RFID chip during processing that involves the use of a microwave oven. During that period the inlay can be temporarily removed from the tissue cassette. The inlays are further designed to: - allow sufficient flow of fluids through cassette lids and the bottom of the tissue cassettes. - leave as much room as possible for tissue samples. - fit in cassettes with and without an inner tissue sample chamber. - enable the use of different RFID chips and antennas. - enable fixation in a cassette, without additional fixation means.