RFID ring illumination system for surgical machine

• US 7,551,077 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Ronald T., Raybuck, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US11/496,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.12, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.8, 340/539.26, 340/572.6, 600/300, 600/301, 606/169, 606/170, 606/171, 200/314, 200/341, 200/520
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/92 coded with colour
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

An RFID ring illumination system includes an illumination ring and a printed circuit board. The illumination ring has a light refracting layer integral with the front of a surgical machine. The printed circuit board is located behind and close to the front of the surgical machine. The printed circuit board has an RFID reader antenna and a light source mounted on it. The light emitted by the light source travels through the illumination ring and is visible from the front of the surgical machine.

Claims

1. A ring illumination system comprising:

an illumination ring integral with a front of a surgical machine, the illumination ring comprising a light refracting layer; and

a printed circuit board located behind and close to the front of the surgical machine, the printed circuit board comprising an RFID reader antenna and a light source;

the printed circuit board further comprising a set of openings to allow light from the light source to reach the illumination ring;

wherein light emitted by the light source travels through the illumination ring and is visible from the front of the surgical machine.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a light diffusing layer disposed on the front of the surgical machine.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the printed circuit board is located on a plane generally parallel with the front of the surgical machine.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the face of the illumination ring exposed on the front of the surgical machine is textured.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the light source is a set of light emitting diodes located on a face of the printed circuit board furthest from the front of the surgical machine.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the RFID reader antenna is located on a face of the printed circuit board closest to the front of the surgical machine.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the light refracting layer is a set of prisms.

8. A ring illumination system comprising:

a module having a front face and a back face;

an illumination ring integral with the module and extending from the front face of the module to the back face of the module; and

a printed circuit board located behind and close to the back face of the module, the printed circuit board having an RFID reader antenna and a light source;

the printed circuit board further comprising a set of openings to allow light from the light source to reach the back face of the module;

wherein light emitted by the light source travels through the illumination ring and is visible from the front face of the module.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the illumination ring comprises a set of prisms for refracting light emitted from the light source.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a light diffusing layer disposed on the front face of module.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the front face of the module is textured.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the printed circuit board is located on a plane generally parallel with the front face of the module.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the light source is a set of light emitting diodes located on a face of the printed circuit board furthest from the back face of the module.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the RFID reader antenna is located on a face of the printed circuit board closest to the back face of the module.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein the illumination ring diffuses light from the light source.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein the light source is capable of producing at least two different colors of light.

17. A ring illumination system comprising:

a light diffusing layer integral with a front cover of a surgical machine;

a light refracting layer integral with the front cover of the surgical machine, the light refracting layer comprising a set of prisms arranged in a generally circular pattern; and

a printed circuit board located behind, close to, and generally parallel with the front cover of the surgical machine, the printed circuit board comprising an RFID reader antenna located on a face of the printed circuit board closest to the front cover of the surgical machine, the printed circuit board further comprising a set of light emitting diodes located on a face of the printed circuit board furthest from the front cover of the surgical machine, the printed circuit board further comprising a set of openings to allow light from the light emitting diodes to reach the light refracting layer;

wherein the light from the light emitting diodes is refracted by the light refracting layer and is diffused by the light diffusing layer to form a generally circular ring of light visible from the front cover of the surgical machine.