An RF module and method include a base with a probe, a reader unit, a communications unit, and a control unit that establish tracking activation EM field into a container having electrically-conductive walls. RFID tags attached to medical articles located within the container are activated and produce identification signals. The probe and base receive the identification signals and provide identification data related to medical articles located within the container. The RF module is self-contained excepting power and a data connection with which to operate. Where an Ethernet is used, power is obtained by PoE. The RF module is used to retrofit existing medication containers and may be used during the construction of a new medication container.

A ring or jewel assembly has a radio frequency transceiver function. The assembly includes a metal body of the ring or jewel; a cavity in the body, filled, at least in part, by portions with dielectric material; and a radio frequency transceiver microelectronic device. The transceiver microelectronic device transmits and receives radio frequency signals SRF, with a spectrum belonging to a predetermined radio frequency range and is fixed to the body, at least partially inserted in the cavity and at least partially surrounded by the dielectric material. The dielectric material is interposed between the metal body and the transceiver microelectronic device, to prevent the transceiver microelectronic device from being in contact with the metal of the ring or jewel, and to form a space of dielectric material, adapted to allow propagation of electromagnetic signals SRF having a spectrum in the radio frequency range.

An incontinence detection system monitors an area for moisture events and wirelessly transmits moisture-related information to one or more notification devices. The system has a pad that includes a substrate and one or more sensors supported by the substrate. The sensor(s) emit wireless signals indicative of the moisture-related information. A sensor event communication system forwards the sensor signals to another device, such as a notification device. Portions of the system are included in a patient support apparatus, such as a bed.

An apparatus that includes a partial power source including a first material and a second material, the partial power source configured to generate, upon contact with a conducting medium, a potential difference between the first material and the second material to provide power to a control device, and generate, using the first material and the second material, a current flow within the conducting medium, the current flow including information encoded based on a variable conductance between the first material and the second material.

An automatic inventory tracking and control system tracks the inventory of medical articles in an enclosure by providing a robust electromagnetic (EM) field within the enclosure. The enclosure has electrically-conductive walls. Wireless identification devices such as RFID tags, attached to each medical article respond to the electromagnetic field by transmitting unique data identified with each medical article. A probe or probes are used to generate transverse electromagnetic modes in the enclosure.

The system of the present invention includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, a voltage potential is created and the power source is completed, which activates the system. The electronic component controls the conductance between the dissimilar materials to produce a unique current signature. The system can be used in a variety of different applications, including as components of ingestible identifiers, such as may be found in ingestible event markers, e.g., pharma-informatics enabled pharmaceutical compositions.

This disclosure describes techniques for operating an inductive coupling reader. The techniques include operations comprising: applying an excitation frequency to a resonance circuit of the inductive coupling reader; detecting a change to a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit of the inductive coupling reader; and in response to detecting the change to the resonance frequency of the inductive coupling reader, adjusting the excitation frequency being applied to the resonance circuit.

A system for using thin and energy-autonomous backscatter tags and corresponding sensing nodes may operate with 24 GHz backscatter reflectarray tags having low power consumption. A digital beam steering, frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar may be used for detection, localization, identification and communications. The tags may include environmental sensors that are used to modulate backscatter waves for data communications directed to a reader or may digitally modulate the backscatter transmissions without sensor data for independent localization of each tag in a network.

A battery system. The battery system comprises an electric battery and a radio frequency identity (RFID) chip. The electric battery comprises an internal metal plate and an exterior package skin. The RFID chip is retained by the exterior package skin of the electric battery and comprises a non-transitory memory, a processor, a radio transceiver coupled to the processor, an antenna, a first impedance matching component coupling the radio transceiver to the antenna, and a second impedance matching component coupling the internal metal plate of the electric battery to the radio transceiver, wherein the radio transceiver is configured to transmit radio frequency signals through the second impedance matching component to the internal metal plate and the internal metal plate is configured to radiate the radio frequency signals as radio waves.

A system and method for the supply of a medical storage container that has a required inventory of medical articles. An enclosure is used to isolate, scan, and inventory a tray or other container of medical articles. The container and each of the medical articles stored in the container having a wireless identification device. A probe injects activation energy and receives identification data in the enclosure. A program compares the scanned identification of the tray and the inventory of the tray to the required inventory list for the tray and indicates any differences. Extra articles and expired and recalled articles are identified. Text and graphical data displays of inventory are provided. Selectable periods for expiration of medical articles are also provided.