Friday, 10 August 2012

IE Research PAPER



 Topic: “Design for Inventory Management in Health Care using smart RFID”
Authors:  S. Moslehpour, K. Jenab* & N. Namburi
Abstract
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is used to identify the characteristics of an object wirelessly using radio waves. The purpose of this technology in this study is mainly focused on healthcare for inventory management and theft control replacing the manual logs. The storage and tracking of high-cost inventory items is developed. Automatic reordering and billing interfaces are designed for the inventory falling below the par levels. iRISupply and iRIScope are the two RFID systems developed to reduce the inventory costs, expired item costs and to improve the inventory management with easy reporting system

Introduction
The goal of this project is to design a SMART inventory Management System with Radio Frequency Identification.
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the use of a wireless non-contact system that uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data from a tag attached to an object, for the purposes of automatic identification and tracking. Some tags require no battery and are powered by the electromagnetic fields used to read them. Others use a local power source and emit radio waves (electromagnetic radiation at radio frequencies). The tag contains electronically stored information which can be read from up to several meters (yards) away. Unlike a bar code, the tag does not need to be within line of sight of the reader and may be embedded in the tracked object.
RFID tags are used in many industries. An RFID tag attached to an automobile during production can be used to track its progress through the assembly line. Pharmaceuticals can be tracked through warehouses. Livestock and pets may have tags injected, allowing positive identification of the animal.
Since RFID tags can be attached to clothing, possessions, or even implanted within people, the possibility of reading personally-linked information without consent has raised privacy concerns.
Data stored on the RFID tag is retrieved through the use of a reader. The reader has one or more antennas that emit radio waves and receive signals back from the tag. Once the reader receives the information from the tag, it then passed in digital form to a computer system. This is accomplished utilizing Radio Frequency (RFID) technology to manage the inventory levels and for patient tracking. Through the process of transmitting object data from tag to a reader, RFID enables the communication of information in a timely and accurate manner.

This explains the main processes using RFID technology in medical cabinets. Medical industries and hospitals are in need of a device that monitors the supplies and expensive equipment such as pacemakers, stents, drugs etc,iRISupply is designed to meet the needs of the medical industries and reduce the inventory cost by eight to twelve percent. These cabinets identify three things: what items are taken by whom and at what time. They even identify, when the items were returned.
iRISupply- RFID solution














Hardware Development
Design methodology of the cabinet is an important concern to be discussed. The hardware and software developments for the iRISystems classified as iRISupply and iRIScope.  The design is concentrated towards its being patient centric which has several advantages. Some of the advantages are discussed below :
1. Increase patient safety by preventing equipment cross-contamination and reducing risk for proliferation or transmission of infection.

2. Improve care quality by enhancing compliance to protocols for equipment cleaning
3. Re- processing and utilization.
4. Optimize asset management by tracking equipment utilization and mitigating risk of equipment theft damage or misuse.
In addition to this, this provides easy-to-use solution that automates the workflows of nurses and technicians, responsible for endoscope utilization and reprocessing.
The key features for the same are discussed below:
1.      Cabinet-based storage units provide secure, yet easy access to all endoscopes
2.      Forced-ventilation within Cabinet units to dry endoscopes following reprocessing washes.
3.      Ruggedized RFID tags affixed to endoscopes that withstand the chemicals pressure and action of reprocessing stations including ultrasonic agitations.
4.      Reprocessing work stations that automate processes and data capture associated with cleaning protocols.
5.      Automated rules and alerts delivered to email and handheld devices for cross-contamination risk or equipment status concerns (e.g. scope out of system exceeds 24 hours).
6.      Web based reporting tools to support analysis of endoscope utilization reprocessing compliance instrument repair and operational indicators.
By eliminating the common problems associated with manually intensive approaches that use paper stickers, barcode scanning or button pushing iRISupply enables an increased level of automation and accuracy by removing the burdensome tasks, typically completed by clinical staff. Common benefits experienced by organizations implementing the technology include:
1.      Improved Charge Capture Accuracy
2.      Eliminated Product Expiration Costs
3.      Reduced Time Spent Managing Inventory
4.      Optimized On-Hand Inventory Levels and
5.       Improved Product Recall Management.

Hardware Design for Reliability and Safety
the hardware consists of PCB designing of the boards and the antennas that ate used in these. The PCB are designed with one of the sophisticated application known as EAGLE. The authorized users have an RFID tag on their ID and when the ID is scanned on the scanner attached to the cabinet, it detects the user and the status of the Cabinet. A touch screen console is designed to provide quick and easy end user interaction. Adjustable shelving to accommodate a variety of packaging sizes and shapes is provided in the Cabinet. Re-configurable Cabinets to adapt to changes in inventory mix. Easy-to-learn intuitive work flows that significantly speeds end user adoption and proficiency. Item-level product tracking including lot number serial number and expiration date. If any product reaches its expiry date that will be intimated immediately by email through cabinet console.
Hardware Design of Printed Circuit Boards
The design and circuitry are discussed while designing the boards. Joining the diverse line of RFID readers and the Intermec RFID antennas including antennas, specifically designed for fixed applications as well as vehicle mount applications. The shock and vibration can far exceed average industry specifications. Intermec RFID antennas provide the vital link between reader and tag serving as the conduit that moves data back and forth. The antenna in an RFID tag is a conductive element that permits the tag to exchange data with the reader. Passive RFID tags make use of a coiled antenna that can create a magnetic field using the energy provided by the reader's carrier signal.
RFID Antenna
The antenna pairs are on a PC board. The PC board includes an RJ45 connector which provides both power to the antenna assembly as well as a communication interface for the antenna assembly. The RJ45 connector could be used to provide the RF signals from the antenna to a reader. In a preferred embodiment, the loop antenna and the Figureure eight antenna are arranged about a common axis, referred to as the X-axis. The Figureure eight antenna is placed symmetrically within the loop antenna.
In the current embodiment, the antenna assembly has a layer with several coplanar antennas on side of the PC board. The first antenna layer has a loop antenna enclosing a first Figureure eight antenna. A second Figureure eight antenna is positioned within the perimeter of the first loop of the first Figureure eight antennas. Within the second Figureure eight antenna is a second loop antenna. A third Figureure eight antenna.
The resultant system has high accuracy detecting RFID tagged items placed on the shelf. Additionally, the shelves are easily movable, allowing a Cabinet or shelf system to be adaptable so as accommodate a variety of articles. These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the current embodiment and the drawings.
Main Controller
The Main Controller performs the function of communication, control and command scheduling. It connects to the various payloads through a common interface depending on the role for which it is being deployed.
Test and Results
Both hardware and software tests are conducted to check its feasibility. Hardware testing is done for boards on the physical cabinet. Software testing is done for the application and reporting system that controls the cabinet.
After the board has been populated it may be tested in a variety of ways:
1.      While the power is off, visual inspection, automated optical inspection. JEDEC guidelines for PCB component placement, soldering, and inspection are commonly used to maintain quality control in this stage of PCB manufacturing.
2.      While the power is off, analog signature analysis, power-off testing.
3.      While the power is on, in-circuit test, where physical measurements (i.e. voltage, frequency) can be done.
4.      While the power is on, functional test, just checking if the PCB does what it had been designed for.

Conclusions
This paper describes the use of Radio Frequency Identification for simplifying the healthcare management. iRISupply is the system designed for tracking the inventory and patients. Hardware design was developed to store the inventory that was controlled by the application.
Reporting system of the inventory is simple and user friendly.
Tagging the products with RF tags was done with Synergy software. Overall, the system is simple with patient interface and reporting system.
Future enhancements for tagging procedures are being planned to reduce the time for tagging each product. Also, scan times of the antennas need to be reduced to improve systems speed.



 Presented BY
Choudhary Ritesh
roll no 24


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