Surgical Instrument Identification System with Multi-Technology Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instrument tracking systems face challenges in reliably detecting a large number of instruments simultaneously with high process reliability and throughput speed, often resulting in increased throughput times and costs due to limitations in RFID technology, such as interference and incorrect detection in medical environments.
Innovation Solution
A device combining multiple detection technologies like RFID, optical, and barcode scanning, with a matching device to verify detection results and a vibrating/conveyor belt system to optimize instrument positioning, allowing for simultaneous bulk detection and improved process reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If passive RFID tags are used with high transmission power to detect instruments through overlaps and coverings, then detection capability is improved, but interference with sensitive medical devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection technologies (RFID, optical, barcode) into a single detection system. The RFID reader, optical reader, and barcode reader work together to detect surgical instruments, allowing the system to leverage the strengths of each technology while mitigating their individual weaknesses, particularly the interference issue with high-power RFID signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a matching device as an intermediary that processes and verifies detection results from multiple sources. This matching device cross-checks information from RFID tags, optical codes, and barcodes to confirm instrument identity, thereby reducing false detections and improving reliability without requiring excessive transmission power.
2Reliability
If individual instrument reading is performed to ensure high process reliability, then detection accuracy is improved, but throughput time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple detection technologies into a single simultaneous detection system that reads multiple instruments at once. The RFID reader, optical reader, and barcode reader operate concurrently to detect instruments in bulk, maintaining high process reliability through cross-verification while dramatically reducing throughput time compared to sequential individual reading.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary detection actions by having multiple detection devices (RFID, optical, barcode) simultaneously scan and read instrument information before any verification or sorting takes place. This preliminary bulk reading approach allows the system to process multiple instruments in parallel, improving throughput while the subsequent matching device ensures reliability through cross-checking.
3Productivity
If bulk recording of instruments is performed to reduce throughput times, then productivity is improved, but detection probability and process reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines three different detection technologies (RFID, optical, barcode) into an integrated bulk recording system. By using multiple detection methods simultaneously on multiple instruments, the system maintains high detection probability through technological diversity while achieving fast bulk processing speeds, thus improving both productivity and reliability compared to single-technology bulk recording.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through the matching device that verifies detection results from multiple sources. The matching device cross-checks instrument information detected by RFID, optical, and barcode readers, providing feedback validation that ensures high detection probability even when performing bulk recording at high speeds. This feedback loop maintains reliability without sacrificing throughput.
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
The solution enables accurate and efficient simultaneous identification of multiple surgical instruments, reducing error rates and throughput times, enhancing process reliability and automation, while minimizing interference with sensitive medical devices.
Implementation Method 1
passive RFID tags must be used, which are operated by the high-frequency electromagnetic alternating field generated by the RFID reader
Implementation Method 2
the radiation field of the radiation field decreases with the square of the distance
Data Source
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AI summary
Device for the simultaneous identification of a plurality, preferably different, surgical instruments or groups of instruments, comprising: a first detection device (10) with a first detection technology, in particular RFID technology, for detecting instruments and optionally associated instrument-specific information (E1); a second detection device (12) with a second detection technology, different from the first, in particular optical shape recognition, for detecting instruments and optionally associated instrument-specific information (E2); and a comparison device (14) for comparing the detection results (E1, E2) of the two detection devices (10, 12), wherein the comparison device (14) issues a positive assessment regarding the accuracy of the detected instruments if the two detection results (E1, E2) match.