DIRECTIONAL RFID READER

• US 20090295541A1
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PatientSafe Solutions, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intellidot Corporation (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Roof, William H.
• Application Number:
  US12/127,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20090295541A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

One embodiment is a hand held device, which comprises a body comprising a directional antenna and an integrated radio frequency identification (“RFID”) reader coupled to the directional antenna. Another embodiment provides a system and a method for identifying an animal, which comprises an RFID tag attached to the animal and a hand held device, wherein the hand held device comprises an RFID reader and a directional antenna coupled to the RFID reader.

Claims

1. A hand held device comprising:

a body comprising a directional antenna; and

an integrated radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader coupled to the directional antenna.

2. The hand held device of claim 1, wherein the directional antenna comprises a material selected from the group consisting of ferrite, titanium and ceramic.

3. The hand held device of claim 1 further comprising a database of patient information.

4. The hand held device of claim 1, wherein the hand held device is configured to be operated with one hand.

5. The hand held device of claim 1 further comprising an input device.

6. The hand held device of claim 5, wherein the input device is configured to activate the RFID reader.

7. The hand held device of claim 1 further comprising an aiming light coupled to the directional antenna, the aiming light aligned with respect to the directional antenna.

8. The hand held device of claim 7 further comprising a switch coupled to the aiming light.

9. The hand held device of claim 8, wherein the aiming light is configured to read a one dimensional or a two dimensional code.

10. The hand held device of claim 8, wherein the aiming light is configured to read an IntelliDot dot.

11. The hand held device of claim 8 further comprising a timer coupled to the aiming light.

12. The hand held device of claim 11, wherein the timer is configured to delay activating the RFID reader.

13. A system for identifying an animal comprising:

an RFID tag attached to the animal; and

a hand held device, wherein the hand held device comprises;

an RFID reader; and

a directional antenna coupled to the RFID reader.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the hand held device further comprises a database of identification information.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the hand held device further comprises an aiming light.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the animal is a human.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the hand held device is configured to display identification information on the hand held.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the identification information is at least one of a number and a name.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the RFID tag is attached to the animal by at least one of a bracelet, a necklace, a collar, and a pin.

20. A method for monitoring workflow in a medical environment comprising:

providing a hand held device comprising a directional antenna coupled to an RFID reader;

providing an RFID tag; and

reading the RFID tag with the hand held device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the directional antenna comprises a material selected from the group consisting of ferrite, titanium and ceramic.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the RFID tag comprises as least one of a bracelet, a necklace, a collar, and a pin.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the hand held device is configured to visually signal whether the RFID tag has been read.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising

providing an aiming light coupled to the hand held;

and

aligning the directional antenna with the aiming light.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the aiming light is configured to read a one dimensional or a two dimensional code.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the aiming light is configured to remain on until the RFID tag has been read.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the hand held device is configured to audibly signal whether the RFID tag has been read.

28. A method for monitoring workflow in a medical environment comprising:

providing a hand held device comprising a directional antenna coupled to a RFID reader;

providing a RFID tag; and

writing to the RFID tag with the hand held device.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising reading the RFID tag with the hand held device.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising

providing an aiming light coupled to the hand held;

and

aligning the directional antenna with the aiming light.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the aiming light is configured to read a two dimensional code.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the aiming light is configured to remain on until the RFID tag has been read.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the directional antenna comprises a material selected from the group consisting of ferrite, titanium and ceramic.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the hand held device is configured to visually or audibly signal whether the RFID tag has been read.