Interrogator and interrogation system employing the same

• US 7,764,178 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lone Star SCM Systems, LP (f/k/a Medical I.P. Holdings, LP) (Incucomm Holdings Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Veroscan, Inc. (Tenet Healthcare Corporation)
• Inventors: Volpi, John P., Boisbrun, Glenn W., Roemerman, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/838,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20080024276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/573.1, 340/573.2, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/10.1, 235/492, 343/700.MS, 343/795, 343/818
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0805 automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/66 Radar-tracking systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• 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: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

An interrogator, methods of discerning the presence of an object, and interrogation systems employing the same. In one embodiment, the interrogation systems include multiple interrogators that communicate with a base command unit to track a location of an object. In another embodiment wherein the object is an RFID object (e.g., an object with an RFID tag), the interrogators employ signal processing techniques such as precharging the RFID object, and correlating a reference code with a reply code from the RIFD object using selected techniques to increase a sensitivity of the interrogator, especially for adverse environments. In other embodiments, the interrogation systems include variations of metal instruments and sponges employed therewith. In yet another embodiment, the interrogation system includes metal interrogators capable of discerning the presence of a metal object, especially in a presence of another metal object.

Claims

1. An interrogation system, comprising:

a metal instrument, including;

a metal foundation,

a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, and

a coupler configured to couple said RFID chip to said metal foundation to allow at least a portion of said metal foundation to serve as an antenna, thereby forming at least a portion of an RFID tag with said RFID chip;

a sensing subsystem configured to provide a signal having at least one of a metal signature representing a presence of said metal foundation and an RFID signature representing a presence of said RFID tag; and

a control and processing subsystem configured to process said signal to discern a presence of at least one of said metal foundation and said RFID tag.

2. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensing subsystem comprises a metal sensing subsystem and an RFID sensing subsystem.

3. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said metal instrument further includes an insulator located between said coupler and said metal foundation.

4. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said metal instrument further includes a strap located between said RFID chip and said coupler.

5. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said metal instrument further includes an inductive loop about said RFID chip.

6. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said metal instrument further includes a depression in said metal foundation for said RFID chip and said coupler.

7. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said metal instrument further includes an encapsulant configured to encapsulate said RFID chip and said coupler.

8. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said metal instrument is a medical instrument.

9. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said RFID chip comprises information associated with said metal instrument.

10. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said coupler is bonded to a surface of said metal foundation.

11. A metal instrument, comprising:

a metal foundation with a cavity;

an insulator within said cavity; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag separated from said metal foundation within said cavity by said insulator, said cavity configured to act as a reflector of radio frequency energy associated with said RFID tag.

12. The metal instrument as recited in claim 11 wherein said RFID tag includes an RFID chip.

13. The metal instrument as recited in claim 11 wherein said RFID tag includes a strap.

14. The metal instrument as recited in claim 11 wherein said cavity is filled with an encapsulant to protect said RFID tag.

15. The metal instrument as recited in claim 11 wherein said cavity is filled with an encapsulant to enhance an impedance match for said RFID tag.

16. The metal instrument as recited in claim 11 wherein said cavity is hollowed from a long portion of said metal foundation.

17. The metal instrument as recited in claim 11 wherein said RFID tag is separated from said metal foundation within said cavity by a distance to allow an electromagnetic field launch.

18. The metal instrument as recited in claim 11 wherein said RFID tag is entirely separated from said metal foundation within said cavity.

19. The metal instrument as recited in claim 11 wherein said metal instrument is a medical instrument.

20. The metal instrument as recited in claim 11 wherein said RFID tag comprises information associated with said metal instrument.

21. An interrogation system, comprising:

a metal instrument, including;

a metal foundation with a cavity,

an insulator within said cavity, and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag separated from said metal foundation within said cavity by said insulator, said cavity configured to act as a reflector of radio frequency energy associated with said RFID tag;

a sensing subsystem configured to provide a signal having at least one of a metal signature representing a presence of said metal foundation and an RFID signature representing a presence of said RFID tag; and

a control and processing subsystem configured to process said signal to discern a presence of at least one of said metal foundation and said RFID tag.

22. The interrogation system as recited in claim 21 wherein said sensing subsystem comprises a metal sensing subsystem and an RFID sensing subsystem.

23. The interrogation system as recited in claim 21 wherein said RFID tag includes an RFID chip.

24. The interrogation system as recited in claim 21 wherein said RFID tag includes a strap.

25. The interrogation system as recited in claim 21 wherein said cavity is filled with an encapsulant to protect said RFID tag.

26. The interrogation system as recited in claim 21 wherein said cavity is hollowed from a long portion of said metal foundation.

27. The interrogation system as recited in claim 21 wherein said RFID tag is separated from said metal foundation within said cavity by a distance to allow an electromagnetic field launch.

28. The interrogation system as recited in claim 21 wherein said RFID tag is entirely separated from said metal foundation within said cavity.

29. The interrogation system as recited in claim 21 wherein said metal instrument is a medical instrument.

30. The interrogation system as recited in claim 21 wherein said RFID tag comprises information associated with said metal instrument.