RFID Surgical Item Inventory for Retained Item Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing detection and inventory systems for surgical items in medical settings face challenges due to large, nuisance-inducing components or degraded performance in the presence of variable dielectric and conductive materials, failing to accurately detect and identify retained surgical items during surgeries.
Innovation Solution
An inventory system utilizing RFID tags and an antenna to detect and count surgical items within a body cavity, employing a first RFID tag on a secure package and a second RFID tag on the surgical item, with a processor to generate and decrypt unique identifiers for authentication, ensuring accurate detection and inventory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RFID tags are attached to surgical items for detection and inventory tracking, then detection capability is improved, but the physical size and nuisance of the tags deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical attachment methods with RFID electromagnetic field-based communication. The RFID tags transmit identification signals wirelessly through electromagnetic fields, eliminating the need for physical attachment mechanisms and reducing the physical footprint of the tracking system while maintaining reliable detection capability.
2Area of stationary object
If detection systems are used in surgical environments with variable dielectric and conductive materials, then detection coverage is improved, but detection performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs RFID technology that operates by changing electromagnetic parameters to penetrate and function effectively through variable dielectric and conductive materials. The system adjusts electromagnetic field characteristics to maintain stable detection performance across different surgical environment conditions, ensuring reliable detection coverage without degradation from material variability.
3Reliability
If cryptographic functions are implemented on RFID tags for authentication, then security is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts complex cryptographic authentication functions from the RFID tags themselves and relocates them to the external reader system. The simplified RFID tags only perform basic identification, while the authentication and verification processes are handled by the more powerful external processing system, reducing tag complexity and energy requirements while maintaining security.
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
Provides reliable detection and inventory of retained surgical items with high confidence in authenticity, avoiding the need for cryptographic functions on the second RFID tag and ensuring secure, efficient tracking.
Implementation Method 1
a signal generator, an antenna operably coupled to the signal generator... The signal generator is configured to generate an energizing signal for at least one of the first RFID tag or the second RFID tag
Implementation Method 2
The antenna is configured to receive at least one of the first return signal transmitted by at least one of the first RFID tag or the second return signal transmitted by the second RFID tag
Data Source
AI summary
An inventory system configured for detecting and counting potentially retained surgical items within a body of a patient includes a signal generator which generates an energizing signal for a first RFID tag affixed to a secure package or the second RFID tag affixed to a surgical item, an antenna operably coupled to the signal generator, a processor, and a memory. The antenna is configured to receive at least one of the first return signal transmitted by at least one of the first RFID tag or the second return signal transmitted by the second RFID tag. The memory includes instructions which when executed by the processor cause the system to energize the first RFID tag, receive from the antenna the first return signal including a first unique identifier, and generate a key based on the first unique identifier and a master private key stored on the memory.