Surgical Instrument RFID Tag Reading Apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current RFID tag readers for surgical instruments can only read a few instruments at a time and require them to be separated from their sets, making the process inefficient and prone to errors during decontamination and sterilization processes, especially in tracking instruments over years to manage contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument RFID tag reading apparatus with an interrogation zone, RF antenna, guidance apparatus, and controller that allows for the reading of RFID tags on multiple instruments within a set while they remain together, using different relative movements and cumulative comparisons to ensure all tags are read accurately without manual handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If current RFID tag readers are used to read surgical instruments, then individual instruments can be identified, but only a few instruments can be read at a time and they must be separated from their sets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple RFID tags (on multiple surgical instruments) into a single readable group by using a tray-mounted antenna system. The antenna is positioned to simultaneously interrogate all RFID tags within the tray, eliminating the need to separate instruments and enabling batch reading of entire instrument sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID reading system is designed to handle multiple instruments simultaneously through a single antenna configuration. The system can read all instruments in a tray during one operation, making the reading process universal across entire instrument sets rather than requiring individual instrument processing.
2Measurement precision
If instruments are separated for reading RFID tags, then accurate identification is possible, but the process becomes inefficient and error-prone during decontamination and sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the reading of multiple instruments into a single simultaneous operation. By positioning the antenna to cover the entire tray, all instruments are identified in one pass, maintaining accuracy while eliminating the time-consuming separation and reassembly process during decontamination and sterilization.
3Reliability
If manual checking of instrument sets is performed, then complete sets can be verified, but the process is time-consuming and prone to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and physical checking of instruments with an automated RFID reading system. The antenna automatically interrogates all RFID tags in the tray, and the controller compares the read identifiers against the required instrument list, eliminating human error and significantly reducing verification time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides automatic feedback by comparing the RFID identifiers read from instruments against the required instrument list. The controller can immediately identify missing or incorrect instruments and alert the user, providing real-time verification feedback without manual intervention.
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 accurate and efficient tracking of surgical instruments by reading all RFID tags in a set simultaneously, reducing errors and ensuring complete sets are maintained during decontamination and sterilization, while also providing a more reliable method for managing contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
The RF antenna is coupled to the RFID tag reader and arranged to transmit an RF signal. The RF signal has a signal field at least part of which extends within the interrogation zone.
Implementation Method 2
The RF antenna is arranged to receive RF return signals from at least some of the RFID tags, each RF return signal containing the identification information of the respective RFID tag.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Surgical instrument RFID tag reading apparatus (10) comprises an interrogation zone (12) for receiving a surgical instrument set (14) comprising: a plurality of surgical instruments, each having a respective RFID tag containing identification information; an RFID tag reader (16); RF antenna (18) arranged to transmit an RF signal (20) and arranged to receive RF return signals from at least some of the RFID tags; guidance apparatus (22) arranged to cause predetermined relative movement between the RFID tags on the surgical instruments and the RF signal; and a controller (24) arranged to: receive the surgical instrument identification information from the RFID tag reader for each RFID tag from which an RF return signal is received; compare the received surgical instrument identification information with a surgical instrument list of the set; and; determine whether surgical instrument identification information has been received for each of the surgical instruments on the surgical instrument list, and if not, generate an incomplete list alert.