Smart instrument tray RFID reader
US7118029B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 27, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 10, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 18, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG16H40/63
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically identifying the contents of an instrument tray by use of a radio-frequency tag (RFID) is disclosed. The method, apparatus, and system enable the instrument tray to receive an interrogation signal from a reader and to respond to the interrogation signal with a code comprised of its identifying information as well as its contents of radio frequency tagged instruments. Both the instrument tray and/or the reader may be coupled by a proximity electromagnetic field, an inductive coupling, or may be units of a wireless LAN system such as a wireless fidelity local area network. The interrogation signal interrogates the tray to ascertain its contents, and the tray in turn transmits a signal to the reader to inform the reader of its contents. The method, apparatus, and system can track, inspect, and verify inbound and outbound surgical instrument trays and kits, to assess, for example, the surgical instruments' and trays' duty life cycle usage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.