Method and apparatus for automating the counting of sharps using RFID tags
View Patent ↗In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for counting sharps returned to a container. An example method of counting sharps returned to a container having at least two layers of penetrable conductive material includes periodically checking a plurality of circuits formed by the first and second layers of material to determine if each circuit is open or closed, and keeping a count of the number of closed circuits.
1. A sharps container having at least two layers of penetrable, conductive material positioned such that a sharp penetrating each layer closes a circuit.
2. The container of claim 1 , additionally comprising circuitry for determining the condition, open or closed, of a plurality of circuits formed by the at least two layers.
3. The container of claim 2 , wherein the circuitry includes a microcontroller.
4. The container of claim 2 , wherein the circuitry communicates data related to the condition of the plurality of circuits formed by the at least two layers to an RFID receiver.
5. The container of claim 2 , additionally comprising means for generating an “in count” representative of the number of sharps that are checked out for use.
6. The container of claim 5 , additionally comprising means for comparing the “in count” with the number of closed circuits.
7. The container of claim 5 , wherein the “in count” is generated through a manual input using a button or switch.
8. The container of claim 1 , additionally comprising at least one layer of penetrable, non-conductive material positioned between the at least two layers of penetrable, conductive material.
9. The container of claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two layers of penetrable, conductive material contains a plurality of conductive areas; and
wherein at least one conductive area is electrically separated from other conductive areas.
10. The container of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of conductive areas are electrically separated from other layers of the at least two layers of penetrable, conductive material using non-conductive material.
11. The container of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two layers of penetrable, conductive material contains a grid pattern.
12. The container of claim 11 , wherein the grid patterns on the at least two layers of penetrable, conductive material are stacked together to provide a location for a sharp penetrating each layer.
13. A method of counting sharps returned to a container of the type having at least two layers of penetrable conductive material, comprising:
periodically checking a plurality of circuits formed by the first and second layers of material to determine if each circuit is open or closed; and
keeping a count of the number of closed circuits.
14. The method of claim 13 , additionally comprising keeping track of the locations of the closed circuits.
15. A method of counting sharps returned to a container of the type having a plurality of electrical contacts, comprising:
determining which pairs of contacts are shorted, and′
keeping a count of the number of shorted pairs of contacts.
16. A method of counting sharps returned to a container of the type having a pair of electrical contacts on a blade removal tool, comprising:
determining when the contacts are shorted; and
keeping a count of the number of times the contacts are shorted.