Tagging methods and apparatus

• US 20080296373A1
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bluechiip Limited
• Original Assignee: Mems-Id Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chaffey, Jason, Zmood, Ronald Barry
• Granted Patent: US 8,186,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/081 Gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/087 Particle radiation, e.g. electron-beam, alpha or beta radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/22 Blood or products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/23 Containers, e.g. vials, bottles, syringes, mail
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0672 with resonating marks

Abstract

A method of tagging and sterilizing an item, the method including the steps of: providing an item (12) that is to be sterilized and tagged; applying an RFID tagging device (22) to said item, said tagging device including a data store (30) formed from an array of micromechanical resonant members (34), said resonant members being configured to vibrate in accordance with an applied RF signal, so as to provide a data response; and sterilizing said tagged item by autoclaving and/or by irradiation.

Claims

1. A method of tagging and sterilizing an item, the method including the steps of:

providing an item that is to be sterilized and tagged;

applying an RFID tagging device to said item, said tagging device including a data store formed from an array of micromechanical resonant members, said resonant members being configured to vibrate in accordance with an applied RF signal, so as to provide a data response; and

sterilizing said tagged item by autoclaving and/or by irradiation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said sterilization step includes autoclaving the tagged item at a temperature of 120°

C. or above.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said irradiation step includes the irradiation of the tagged item by gamma radiation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said irradiation step includes the step of applying a dosage of 2.5 Mrads or more of gamma radiation to said tagged item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said irradiation step includes the irradiation of the tagged item by beta radiation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said resonant members are configured for vibration under a Lorentz force.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said RFID device is encased in an autoclave and/or irradiation resistant outer cover.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said RFID device includes support circuitry for said resonant members formed from autoclave and/or irradiation resistant components.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said RFID device includes support circuitry for said resonant members including Schottky diodes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said tagged item is a medical or healthcare item.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said tagged item is a surgical instrument or a surgical implant.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said tagged items are provided in a container, said container including an RFID tag thereon.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said container RFID tag includes a transponder for communicating with said tagged items, and wherein said container RFID tag is provided in a thermally protective housing and/or is removably mounted on said tray.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said container tag is an active tag and said item tags are passive tags.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said tagged items are parts of a loaner kit of surgical equipment to be loaned to a hospital by a loaner kit provider.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said resonant members are configured for vibration under a Lorentz force.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said RFID device is encased in an irradiation resistant outer cover.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said RFID device includes support circuitry for said resonant members formed from irradiation resistant components.

16. A system of tracking RFID tagged items through a process including a sterilization of said tagged items by an autoclave or irradiation process, the system including an inventory controller in communication with one or more RFID readers for reading said tagged items, wherein said items are tagged by RFID devices, a said RFID device including a data store formed by micromechanical resonant members that respond to an applied RF interrogation signal with a data response.

17. A sterilized and RFID tagged item, wherein said RFID tag includes a data store formed from an array of micromechanical resonant members, said resonant members vibrating in accordance with an applied RF signal, so as to provide a data response;

and wherein said sterilization was by autoclaving and/or by irradiation of said tagged item whilst said item was tagged.

18. A method for providing a prothesis loaner kit, the method including:

tagging parts for use in loaner kits with RFID tags, said tags including micromechanical resonant members as data storage elements, said resonant members vibrating in accordance with an applied RF signal so as to provide a data response;

storing information regarding said tagged parts in a database;

constructing a kit of parts according to a kit list; and

checking said parts against said list by scanning said tags.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said tagged parts are tracking by RFID readers throughout a loan of said kit to a hospital.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said loaner kit is scanned to check receipt of said tagged parts on return of said kit to a kit provider.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said loaner kit is scanned to ensure compatibility between an implant and associated implantation instruments.

22. A method of identifying an item, the method including the steps of:

applying an RFID tagging device to the item, said tagging device including a data store formed from an array of micromechanical resonant members, said resonant members being configured to vibrate in accordance with an applied RF signal, so as to provide a data response;

subjecting the item to ionizing radiation in a non-sterile environment; and

reading the data response from the RFID tagging device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the ionizing radiation includes any one or more of x-rays, gamma rays, beta particles, neutrons and alpha particles.

27. A system of tracking RFID tagged items through a process in which each item is subject to ionizing radiation in a non-sterile environment, the system including an inventory controller in communication with one or more RFID readers for reading said tagged items, wherein said items are tagged by RFID devices, and said RFID device including a data store formed by micromechanical resonant members that respond to an applied RF interrogation signal with a data response.

28. A system of inspecting an item, including:

a radiation emitter for applying ionizing radiation to the item;

a radiation receiver for receiving and analysing radiation applied to the item; and

a system of tracking RFID tagged items according to claim 27.