RFID Syringe Filling Workflow for Faster Fluid Injection Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical procedures involving fluid injectors are inefficient due to time and access constraints, leading to wasteful use of personnel, equipment, and space, particularly in procedures where syringes need to be loaded and programmed for fluid injection.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a container loading device and fluid injector, where syringes are filled with fluids like contrast media and saline using information storage devices, such as RFID tags, to streamline the process by pre-programming the injector with patient and procedure information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If empty syringes are loaded onto the powered injector and connected to fluid sources for manual filling, then the injector can be programmed with injection parameters, but this process consumes substantial time and results in inefficient use of personnel, equipment, and space
Solution Approach 1:
The syringes are pre-filled with contrast media and saline in a separate filling station before being transferred to the powered injector. Patient information and injection parameters are also pre-programmed into the system during the filling process, so that when the syringes are installed in the injector, all configuration is already complete and the procedure can begin immediately without time-consuming setup in the procedure room
Solution Approach 2:
The injection system is divided into separate functional modules: a filling station for preparing syringes with fluids and pre-programming parameters, and a powered injector for executing the injection. This segmentation allows syringe preparation to occur independently and in advance, eliminating the bottleneck of manual loading and programming during the actual procedure
2Productivity
If syringes are pre-filled and pre-programmed at a separate filling station, then time and efficiency are improved, but the system complexity increases with additional equipment and coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The filling station is designed to perform multiple functions: filling syringes with contrast media and saline, pre-programming patient information, setting injection parameters, and preparing the syringes for transfer to the powered injector. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate complex systems into one integrated unit, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-filled syringes act as an intermediary carrier that transfers both the contrast media and the programmed information from the filling station to the powered injector. This intermediary approach allows the separation of preparation and execution functions while maintaining system simplicity through standardized interfaces
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
This system improves efficiency by reducing the time and steps required for syringe loading and programming, allowing for quicker and more organized fluid injection procedures, thereby optimizing personnel, equipment, and space usage.
Implementation Method 1
A RFID read/write device is configured to: read information related to the syringe stored on an RFID tag
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A system for conducting a fluid injection procedure comprises: a loading device for filling containers with fluid; an information read/write device operatively associated with the loading device and configured to: read information related to the containers stored on information storage devices associated with the containers and write information related to an injection procedure and/or a patient to the information storage devices; and a fluid injector system configured to receive the containers after filling by the loading device and inject the contents of the containers of fluid into the patient. The loading device is configured to fill the containers with fluid based on the information related to the containers read from the information storage devices. The information read/write device is configured to write information to the information storage device. The fluid injector system is configured to read the information and use this information to program the fluid injector system.