RFID Tag Spatial Arrangement for Surgical Instrument Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional RFID tags for surgical instruments have low transmission power, making them difficult to use effectively in clinical settings, and existing solutions compromise on anchoring, encapsulation, and cleanability.
Innovation Solution
An RFID tag design featuring a housing with a receiving chamber spatially distant from the metal frame, allowing the RFID element and antenna to be positioned outside the metal frame for improved emission and flexibility, with options for secure encapsulation and easy cleanability, including materials like plastic and ceramic, and various attachment methods such as welding and gluing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the RFID element is positioned close to the metal frame for stable anchoring, then the anchoring stability is improved, but the transmission power decreases due to signal shielding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the RFID element in a receiving chamber that extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the metal frame, rather than placing it flat against the frame. This spatial arrangement in another dimension reduces electromagnetic interference while maintaining secure anchoring through the chamber structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is divided into a metal frame and a separate receiving chamber structure, allowing the RFID element to be positioned in the chamber at an optimized distance from the frame. This segmentation enables independent optimization of anchoring stability and transmission power.
2Reliability
If the RFID element is enclosed in a housing for protection and cleanability, then the encapsulation and cleanability are improved, but the transmission power decreases due to signal obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving chamber is formed with thin-walled structures that provide encapsulation and protection while allowing electromagnetic signals to pass through with minimal attenuation. The chamber walls are designed to be sufficiently thin to maintain transmission power while providing necessary protection and cleanability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the receiving chamber is formed separately from the housing, then the RFID element positioning flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving chamber is integrated into the housing structure as an inherent feature rather than a separate component. The chamber can be formed during the same manufacturing process as the housing, combining multiple functions into a single structure and reducing assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving chamber serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the RFID element, enables precise positioning, offers protection through encapsulation, and maintains signal transmission. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to an RFID tag (10, 40, 60, 80), which is suitable for mounting on surgical instruments and by means of which encapsulation of the RFID elements from the surroundings, good cleanability, and improved detectability can be achieved, in addition to stable anchoring on the instrument. The RFID tag comprises a metal holder (12, 42, 62, 82), a housing (14, 44, 64, 84), which is made of electrically non-conductive or slightly conductive material and has an accommodating chamber (18, 48, 88), and an RFID element (16, 46, 66, 86) having an antenna (22, 56, 92), which RFID element is arranged in the accommodating chamber of the housing, wherein the housing has a first end, which is retained on the metal holder, wherein the accommodating chamber is formed in the housing at a spatial distance from the first end of the housing and wherein the RFID element is positioned in the accommodating chamber in such a way that the antenna of the RFID element is spatially arranged substantially outside of the metal holder.