Patent Description:
2D barcode readers may be used to decode 2D barcodes on syringes. 2D bar code readers may use a complex optical system that is manually triggered when a syringe is attached to the 2D bar code reader. This electro-mechanical triggering may not be reliable due to a relatively tight tolerance control associated with mating various components of an injection system for the syringe. In addition, the optical system for a 2D barcode reader may use an expensive barrel lens in a light transmission path, for which factory calibration is relatively difficult and yield rates are relatively low. Accordingly, there is a need for improved reading of syringe information.

<CIT> is reflected in the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Additional advantages and details are explained in greater detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments or aspects that are illustrated in the accompanying schematic figures, in which:.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary and non-limiting embodiments or aspects. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments or aspects disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.

No aspect, component, element, structure, act, step, function, instruction, and/or the like used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the articles "a" and "an" are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with "one or more" and "at least one. " Furthermore, as used herein, the term "set" is intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related and unrelated items, etc.) and may be used interchangeably with "one or more" or "at least one. " Where only one item is intended, the term "one" or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms "has," "have," "having," or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based at least partially on" unless explicitly stated otherwise.

As used herein, the terms "communication" and "communicate" refer to the receipt or transfer of one or more signals, messages, commands, or other type of data. For one unit (e.g., any device, system, or component thereof) to be in communication with another unit means that the one unit is able to directly or indirectly receive data from and/or transmit data to the other unit. This may refer to a direct or indirect connection that is wired and/or wireless in nature. Additionally, two units may be in communication with each other even though the data transmitted may be modified, processed, relayed, and/or routed between the first and second unit. For example, a first unit may be in communication with a second unit even though the first unit passively receives data and does not actively transmit data to the second unit. As another example, a first unit may be in communication with a second unit if an intermediary unit processes data from one unit and transmits processed data to the second unit. It will be appreciated that numerous other arrangements are possible.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods, described herein, can be implemented in different forms of hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and/or methods are described herein without reference to specific software code, it being understood that software and hardware can be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on the description herein.

Some non-limiting embodiments or aspects are described herein in connection with thresholds. As used herein, satisfying a threshold may refer to a value being greater than the threshold, more than the threshold, higher than the threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than the threshold, fewer than the threshold, lower than the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, etc..

For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms "end," "upper," "lower," "right," "left," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "lateral," "longitudinal," and derivatives thereof shall relate to non-limiting embodiments or aspects as they are oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that non-limiting embodiments or aspects may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments or aspects. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments or aspects of the embodiments or aspects disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting unless otherwise indicated.

As used herein, the term "computing device" or "computer device" may refer to one or more electronic devices that are configured to directly or indirectly communicate with or over one or more networks. The computing device may be a mobile device, a desktop computer, or the like. Furthermore, the term "computer" may refer to any computing device that includes the necessary components to receive, process, and output data, and normally includes a display, a processor, a memory, an input device, and a network interface. An "application" or "application program interface" (API) refers to computer code or other data sorted on a computer-readable medium that may be executed by a processor to facilitate the interaction between software components, such as a client-side front-end and/or server-side back-end for receiving data from the client. An "interface" refers to a generated display, such as one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs) with which a user may interact, either directly or indirectly (e.g., through a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, etc.).

As used herein, the term "server" may refer to or include one or more processors or computers, storage devices, or similar computer arrangements that are operated by or facilitate communication and processing for multiple parties in a network environment, such as the Internet, although it will be appreciated that communication may be facilitated over one or more public or private network environments and that various other arrangements are possible. Further, multiple computers, e.g., servers, or other computerized devices, such as POS devices, directly or indirectly communicating in the network environment may constitute a "system," such as a merchant's POS system.

Provided are improved systems, devices, products, apparatus, and/or methods for reading syringe information.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. An RFID system typically includes an RFID reader and a plurality of RFID tags. The RFID reader communicates wirelessly with the RFID tags. The RFID tags may be passive tags, which have no power source and are powered by energy received wirelessly from the RFID reader, or active tags, which are powered by a local or internal power source (e.g., a battery, etc.). The RFID tags include an antenna and a device to electronically store information and/or data to be read from the RFID tags by the RFID reader (e.g., a memory chip, etc.).

RFID typically operates in three main frequency ranges: Low Frequency (LF) (e.g., about <NUM>-<NUM>), High Frequency (HF) (e.g., about <NUM>), and Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) (e.g., about <NUM>-<NUM> in Europe and <NUM>-<NUM> in the U. The LF and HF frequency ranges use magnetically coupled systems where the fields of the RFID reader antenna and the fields of the RFID tag must line up for the RFID reader to read the RFID tag. The LF and HF frequency ranges work well if the orientation of the RFID tags with respect to the reader can be controlled. In contrast, in the UHF frequency range, the RFID tags may still be read if the field orientation of the RFID tags is not directly lined up with the RFID reader antenna. Accordingly, UHF RFID tags may perform better in situations in which the orientation of the RFID tags with respect to the RFID reader cannot be easily controlled and/or known.

An area in which UHF RFID tags can be read by an RFID reader may be controlled by changing a transmit power and/or receive signal gain of the system to make the area smaller or larger. However, UHF RFID has no mechanism for selecting a specific or single tag in a particular location. For example, a UHF RFID reader for reading syringe information from RFID tags on syringes may not be able to identify or differentiate a syringe intended to be scanned and/or being connected to an injection system from other syringes in a surrounding area.

Non-limiting embodiments or aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a system, a reader, and a method therefor including a first antenna, a second antenna spaced apart from the first antenna, an RFID reader circuit, and a processor. The first antenna and the second antenna are connected to the RFID reader circuit. The first antenna is configured to receive a first signal from an RFID tag. The second antenna is configured to receive a second signal from the RFID tag. The processor controls the RFID reader circuit to determine a first value of a signal parameter associated with the RFID tag based on the first signal and a second value of the signal parameter associated with the RFID tag based on the second signal, receives, from the RFID reader circuit, the first value and the second value, and determines, based on the first value and the second value, whether the RFID tag is located between the first antenna and the second antenna. In this way, a syringe including the RFID tag that is intended to be scanned and/or being connected to an injection system can be identified or differentiated from other syringes in a surrounding area that are not intended to be scanned and/or are not being connected to an injection system.

Referring now to <FIG> is a diagram of an example environment <NUM> in which systems, devices, products, apparatus, and/or methods described herein, may be implemented. As shown in <FIG>, environment <NUM> includes reader device <NUM>, first syringe <NUM>, first RFID tag <NUM>, at least one second syringe <NUM>, at least one second RFID tag <NUM>, communication network <NUM>, and/or remote computing system <NUM>. Systems and/or devices of environment <NUM> can interconnect via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections.

Reader device <NUM> includes one or more devices capable of receiving information and/or data from first RFID tag <NUM>, at least one second RFID tag <NUM>, and/or remote computing system <NUM> (e.g., via communication network <NUM>, etc.) and/or communicating information and/or data to first RFID tag <NUM>, at least one second RFID tag <NUM>, and/or remote computing system <NUM> (e.g., via communication network <NUM>, etc.). For example, reader device <NUM> may include one or more computing systems including one or more processors (e.g., one or more computing devices, one or more mobile computing devices, etc.). In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, reader device <NUM> is capable of receiving information (e.g., from first RFID tag <NUM>, from at least one second RFID tag <NUM>, etc.) via a RFID communication connection (e.g., via a UHF RFID communication connection, etc.), and/or communicating information (e.g., to first RFID tag <NUM>, to at least one second RFID tag <NUM>, etc.) via a RFID communication connection. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, reader device <NUM> includes a reusable base of a BD Intelliport™ flow sensor and base system included as part of the BD Intelliport™ Medication Management System. Further details regarding non-limiting embodiments or aspects of reader device <NUM> are provided below with regard to <FIG>.

First RFID tag <NUM> may be attached to (e.g., removably attached to, integrally formed with, etc.) first syringe <NUM>. For example, first RFID tag <NUM> may include a first label applied to first syringe <NUM>. As an example, first RFID tag <NUM> may be attached to a body of first syringe <NUM>.

The at least one second RFID tag <NUM> may be attached to (e.g., removably attached to, integrally formed with, etc.) the at least one second syringe <NUM>. For example, the at least one second RFID tag <NUM> may include a second label applied to the at least one second syringe <NUM>. For example, the at least one second RFID tag <NUM> may be attached to a body of the at least one second syringe <NUM>.

Communication network <NUM> may include one or more wired and/or wireless networks. For example, communication network <NUM> may include a cellular network (e.g., a long-term evolution (LTE) network, a third generation (<NUM>) network, a fourth generation (<NUM>) network, a fifth generation (<NUM>) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, etc.), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a telephone network (e.g., the public switched telephone network (PSTN)), a private network, an ad hoc network, an intranet, the Internet, a fiber optic-based network, a cloud computing network, and/or the like, and/or any combination of these or other types of networks.

Remote computing system <NUM> may include one or more devices capable of receiving information and/or data from reader device <NUM> (e.g., via communication network <NUM>, etc.) and/or communicating information and/or data to reader device <NUM> (e.g., via communication network <NUM>, etc.). For example, remote computing system <NUM> may include one or more computing systems including one or more processors (e.g., one or more computing devices, one or more mobile computing devices, one or more servers, etc.). In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, remote computing system <NUM> includes a nurse station in a hospital. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, remote computing system <NUM> includes a secure hospital server and/or one or more secure hospital databases that store personally identifiable information (PII) and/or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protected information.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams of non-limiting embodiments or aspects of an implementation <NUM> of one or more systems and/or one or more devices of <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, reader device <NUM> may include first antenna <NUM>, second antenna <NUM> spaced apart from first antenna <NUM>, connector <NUM>, switch <NUM>, RFID reader circuit <NUM>, processor <NUM> (e.g., a microcontroller, etc.), indicator <NUM> (e.g., a display, one or more LED lights, a speaker, etc.), first antenna shielding material <NUM>, and/or second antenna shielding material <NUM>. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, reader device <NUM> may include a housing <NUM> that houses first antenna <NUM>, second antenna <NUM>, connector <NUM>, switch <NUM>, RFID reader circuit <NUM>, processor <NUM>, indicator <NUM>, first antenna shielding material <NUM>, and/or second antenna shielding material <NUM>.

First antenna <NUM> and second antenna <NUM> may be connected to RFID reader circuit <NUM>. First antenna <NUM> may be configured to receive a first signal from an RFID tag (e.g., first RFID tag <NUM>, at least one second RFID tag <NUM>, etc.). Second antenna <NUM> may be configured to receive a second signal (e.g., a second signal different than the first signal received by first antenna <NUM>, etc.) from an RFID tag (e.g., first RFID tag <NUM>, at least one second RFID tag <NUM>, the same RFID tag from which first antenna <NUM> received the first signal, etc.).

Connector <NUM> may be configured to connect to a syringe (e.g., first syringe <NUM>, at least one second syringe <NUM>, etc.). Connector <NUM> may be located between first antenna <NUM> and second antenna <NUM>. First antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> may be located a same distance from connector <NUM> (e.g., a same distance from a longitudinal axis of connector <NUM>, etc.). For example, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a distance D1 between first antenna <NUM> and a center or longitudinal axis of connector <NUM> may be equal to a distance D2 between second antenna <NUM> and a center or longitudinal axis of connector <NUM>.

RFID reader circuit <NUM> may be configured to determine a value of a signal parameter (e.g., a received signal strength indication (RSSI), etc.) associated with an RFID tag based on a signal (e.g., a UHF RFID signal, etc.) received from that RFID tag. For example, RFID reader circuit <NUM> (e.g., under control of processor <NUM>, etc.) may determine a first value of a signal parameter associated with the RFID tag based on the first signal received by first antenna <NUM> and determine a second value of the signal parameter associated with the RFID tag based on the second signal received by second antenna <NUM>. As an example, RFID reader circuit <NUM> (e.g., under control of processor <NUM>, etc.) may determine an RSSI value of the first signal received by first antenna <NUM> and determine an RSSI value of the second signal received by second antenna <NUM>.

Switch <NUM> may be configured to be actuated in response to a connection of a syringe (e.g., first syringe <NUM>, etc.) to connector <NUM>. For example, processor <NUM> may be in electrical communication with switch <NUM>, and processor <NUM> may be programmed and/or configured to control RFID reader circuit <NUM> to determine the first value and the second value in response to an actuation of switch <NUM>.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, RFID reader circuit <NUM> includes a switching circuit (e.g., an RFID switch, a multiplexer, etc.). For example, RFID reader circuit <NUM> may include a ST25RU3993 module. As an example, first antenna <NUM> and second antenna <NUM> may be connected to the switching circuit, and the switching circuit may be configured to selectively couple first antenna <NUM> and second antenna <NUM> to RFID reader circuit <NUM>. In such an example, processor <NUM> may control, using the switching circuit, RFID reader circuit <NUM> to selectively read a first signal from an RFID tag with first antenna <NUM> and a second signal from that same RFID tag with second antenna <NUM>. The first signal from the RFID tag received with first antenna <NUM> and the second signal from that same RFID tag received with second antenna <NUM> may each include a unique identifier associated with the RFID tag, and RFID reader circuit <NUM> (and/or processor <NUM>) may distinguish first and second signals from the same RFID tag (e.g., from first RFID tag <NUM>, etc.) from first and/or second signals received with first antenna <NUM> and/or second antenna <NUM> from one or more other RFID tags (e.g., the at least one second RFID tag <NUM> on the at least one second syringe <NUM>, etc.) based on the unique identifiers included in the received signals. However, non-limiting embodiments or aspects are not limited thereto, and RFID reader circuit <NUM> may include separate RFID reader modules (e.g., separate ST25RU3993 modules, etc.) for each of first antenna <NUM> and second antenna <NUM> to respectively read the first signal from the RFID tag with first antenna <NUM> and the second signal from that same RFID tag with second antenna <NUM>.

Processor <NUM> may be connected to (e.g., in electrical communication with, etc.) RFID reader circuit <NUM>. Processor <NUM> may receive, from RFID reader circuit <NUM>, a first value of a signal parameter associated with an RFID tag and a second value of the signal parameter associated with that same RFID tag, and determine, based on the first value and the second value, whether the RFID tag is located between the first antenna and the second antenna (e.g., whether a syringe including the RFID tag is connected to connector <NUM>, etc.). For example, processor <NUM> may determine whether the first value and the second value (e.g., the RSSI value of the first signal received by first antenna <NUM> and the RSSI value of the second signal received by second antenna <NUM>, etc.) are substantially equal to each other (e.g., within a tolerance threshold, etc.). As an example, processor <NUM> may determine a difference between the first value and the second value and, in response to the determined difference satisfying a threshold difference, determine that the RFID tag associated with the same unique identifier included in those corresponding first and second signals is located between the first antenna and the second antenna (e.g., that a syringe including the RFID tag is connected to connector <NUM>, etc.). In such an example, a syringe including the RFID tag that is connected to connector <NUM> may have substantially equal RSSI values for the first signal and the second signal. As an example, processor <NUM> may determine a difference between the first value and the second value and, in response to the difference failing to satisfy the threshold difference, determine that the RFID tag is not located between the first antenna and the second antenna (e.g., that the RFID tag is located outside the first antenna and the second antenna, that a syringe including the RFID tag is not connected to connector <NUM>, etc.). In such an example, a syringe including the RFID tag that is not connected to connector <NUM> may have substantially different RSSI values (e.g., outside a tolerance threshold, etc.) for the first signal and the second signal.

Indicator <NUM> may be configured to provide an indication associated with information included in and/or associated with a signal received from an RFID tag (e.g., information included in a first signal received from an RFID tag with first antenna <NUM>, information included in a second signal received that same RFID tag with second antenna <NUM>, etc.). In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, an indication may include at least one of the following: a unique identifier associated with the RFID tag, an indication that a syringe associated with the RFID tag is connected to connector <NUM>, an indication that the syringe associated with the RFID tag is not connected to connector <NUM>, information associated with a medication contained in the syringe associated with the RFID tag, or any combination thereof. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, reader device <NUM> may communicate the indication and/or the information associated therewith to remote computing system <NUM>.

First shielding material <NUM> may surround a portion of first antenna <NUM>. For example, first shielding material <NUM> may be configured such that first antenna <NUM> forms a directive beamforming antenna (e.g., in a <NUM>-dimensional direction toward a top of <FIG>, etc.). Second shielding material <NUM> may surround a portion of second antenna <NUM>. For example, second shielding material <NUM> may be configured such that second antenna <NUM> forms a directive beamforming antenna (e.g., in a direction toward a top of <FIG>, etc.).

Referring now to <FIG> is a diagram of non-limiting embodiments or aspects of an implementation <NUM> of one or more systems and/or one or more devices of <FIG>. A structure and function of first antenna <NUM>, second antenna <NUM> spaced apart from first antenna <NUM>, connector <NUM>, switch <NUM>, RFID reader circuit <NUM>, processor <NUM> (e.g., a microcontroller, etc.), indicator <NUM> (e.g., a display, one or more LED lights, a speaker, etc.), first antenna shielding material <NUM>, and/or second antenna shielding material <NUM> may be the same as or similar to that described with respect to <FIG> and <FIG> and, therefore, a further description thereof is omitted in the interest of brevity.

As shown in <FIG>, reader device <NUM> may further include at least one third antenna <NUM> and at least one third shielding material <NUM>. The at least one third antenna <NUM> may be located the same distance from connector <NUM> as first antenna <NUM> and second antenna <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, a distance D1 between first antenna <NUM> and a center or longitudinal axis of connector <NUM>, a distance D2 between second antenna <NUM> and the center or longitudinal axis of connector <NUM>, and a distance D3 (and/or D4) between at least one third antenna <NUM> the center or longitudinal axis of connector <NUM> may be a same distance.

The at least one third antenna <NUM> may be configured to receive at least one third signal (e.g., at least one third signal different than the first signal received by first antenna <NUM> and the second signal received by second antenna <NUM>, etc.) from an RFID tag (e.g., first RFID tag <NUM>, at least one second RFID tag <NUM>, the same RFID tag from which first antenna <NUM> received the first signal and from which second antenna <NUM> received the second signal, etc.). For example, RFID reader circuit <NUM> (e.g., under control of processor <NUM>, etc.) may determine at least one third value of the signal parameter associated with the RFID tag based on the at least one third signal received by the at least one third antenna <NUM>. As an example, RFID reader circuit <NUM> (e.g., under control of processor <NUM>, etc.) may determine an RSSI value of the first signal received by first antenna <NUM>, determine an RSSI value of the second signal received by second antenna <NUM>, and determine an RSSI value of the at least one third signal received by the at least one third antenna <NUM>.

Processor <NUM> may receive, from the RFID reader circuit <NUM>, the at least one third value of the signal parameter associated with the RFID tag and determine, based on the first value, the second value, and the at least one third value, whether the RFID tag is located between the first antenna, the second antenna, and the at least one third antenna (e.g., whether a syringe including the RFID tag is connected to connector <NUM>, etc.). For example, processor <NUM> may determine whether the first value, the second value, and the third value (e.g., the RSSI value of the first signal received by first antenna <NUM>, the RSSI value of the second signal received by second antenna <NUM>, and the RSSI value of the at least one third signal received by the at least one third antenna <NUM>, etc.) are substantially equal to each other (e.g., within a tolerance threshold, etc.). As an example, processor <NUM> may determine one or more differences between the first value, the second value, and the third value and, in response to the determined difference(s) satisfying one or more threshold differences, determine that the RFID tag associated with the same unique identifier included in those corresponding first, second, and third signals is located between the first antenna, the second antenna, and the at least one third antenna (e.g., that a syringe including the RFID tag is connected to connector <NUM>, etc.).

The number and arrangement of systems and devices shown in <FIG> and <FIG> are provided as an example. There can be additional systems and/or devices, fewer systems and/or devices, different systems and/or devices, or differently arranged systems and/or devices than those shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Furthermore, two or more systems or devices shown in <FIG> and <FIG> can be implemented within a single system or a single device, or a single system or a single device shown in <FIG> and <FIG> can be implemented as multiple, distributed systems or devices. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of systems or a set of devices (e.g., one or more systems, one or more devices, etc.) of environment <NUM>, implementation <NUM>, and/or implementation <NUM> can perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of systems or another set of devices of environment <NUM>, implementation <NUM>, and/or implementation <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> is a diagram of example components of a device <NUM>. Device <NUM> may correspond to one or more devices of reader device <NUM> and/or one or more devices of remote computing system <NUM>. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, one or more devices of reader device <NUM> and/or one or more devices of remote computing system <NUM> can include at least one device <NUM> and/or at least one component of device <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, device <NUM> may include a bus <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, a storage component <NUM>, an input component <NUM>, an output component <NUM>, and a communication interface <NUM>.

Bus <NUM> may include a component that permits communication among the components of device <NUM>. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, processor <NUM> may be implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. For example, processor <NUM> may include a processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), etc.), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or any processing component (e.g., a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a microcontroller (MCU), etc.) that can be programmed to perform a function. Memory <NUM> may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device (e.g., flash memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, etc.) that stores information and/or instructions for use by processor <NUM>.

Input component <NUM> may include a component that permits device <NUM> to receive information, such as via user input (e.g., a touch screen display, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, a microphone, a camera, an electroencephalogram (EEG) monitor, patient monitoring system etc.). Additionally, or alternatively, input component <NUM> may include a sensor for sensing information (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) component, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an actuator, etc.). Output component <NUM> may include a component that provides output information from device <NUM> (e.g., a display, a speaker, one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and/or the like).

Communication interface <NUM> may include a transceiver-like component (e.g., a transceiver, a separate receiver and transmitter, etc.) that enables device <NUM> to communicate with other devices, such as via a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired and wireless connections. Communication interface <NUM> may permit device <NUM> to receive information from another device and/or provide information to another device. For example, communication interface <NUM> may include an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, an infrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi® interface, a cellular network interface, and/or the like.

Device <NUM> may perform one or more processes described herein. Device <NUM> may perform these processes based on processor <NUM> executing software instructions stored by a computer-readable medium, such as memory <NUM> and/or storage component <NUM>. A computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) is defined herein as a non-transitory memory device. A non-transitory memory device includes memory space located inside of a single physical storage device or memory space spread across multiple physical storage devices.

Additionally or alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to perform one or more processes described herein. Thus, embodiments or aspects described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

Memory <NUM> and/or storage component <NUM> may include data storage or one or more data structures (e.g., a database, etc.). Device <NUM> may be capable of receiving information from, storing information in, communicating information to, or searching information stored in the data storage or one or more data structures in memory <NUM> and/or storage component <NUM>. For example, the information may input data, output data, medical data, or any combination thereof.

Referring now to <FIG> is a flowchart of a non-limiting embodiment or aspect of a process <NUM> for reading syringe information. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, one or more of the steps of process <NUM> are performed (e.g., completely, partially, etc.) by reader device <NUM> (e.g., one or more devices of a system of reader device <NUM>, etc.). In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, one or more of the steps of process <NUM> are performed (e.g., completely, partially, etc.) by another device or a group of devices separate from or including reader device <NUM>, such as remote computing system <NUM> (e.g., one or more devices of remote computing system <NUM>, etc).

As shown in <FIG>, at step <NUM>, process <NUM> includes receiving, with reader device <NUM> (e.g., with first antenna <NUM>, etc.), a first signal (e.g., a UHF RFID signal, etc.) from first RFID tag <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, at step <NUM>, process <NUM> includes receiving, with reader device <NUM> (e.g., with second antenna <NUM> spaced apart from the first antenna <NUM>, etc.), a second signal (e.g., a UHF RFID signal, etc.) from first RFID tag <NUM>.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, reader device <NUM> receives (e.g., with at least one third antenna <NUM> located a same distance from connector <NUM> as first antenna <NUM> and second antenna <NUM>, etc.) at least one third signal from first RFID tag <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, at step <NUM>, process <NUM> includes determining, with reader device <NUM> (e.g., with RFID reader circuit <NUM>, etc.), a first value of a signal parameter associated with first RFID tag <NUM> (e.g., an RSSI value of the first signal, etc.) based on the first signal.

As shown in <FIG>, at step <NUM>, process <NUM> includes determining, with reader device <NUM> (e.g., with RFID reader circuit <NUM>, etc.), a second value of the signal parameter associated with first RFID tag <NUM> (e.g., an RSSI value of the second signal, etc.) based on the second signal.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, reader device <NUM> determines (e.g., with RFID reader circuit <NUM>, etc.) at least one third value of the signal parameter associated with first RFID tag <NUM> (e.g., an RSSI value of the at least one third signal, etc.) based on the at least one third signal.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, reader device <NUM> selectively reads the first signal from first RFID tag <NUM> with first antenna <NUM> and the second signal from first RFID tag <NUM> with second antenna <NUM> (and/or the at least one third signal from first RFID tag <NUM> with the at least one third antenna <NUM>).

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, connecting first syringe <NUM> (e.g., first syringe <NUM> including first RFID tag <NUM> applied as a label to first syringe <NUM>, etc.) to connector <NUM> located between first antenna <NUM> and second antenna <NUM>, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are located a same distance from the connector, actuates switch <NUM> and, in response to actuation of switch <NUM>, reader device <NUM> determines the first value and the second value.

As shown in <FIG>, at step <NUM>, process <NUM> includes receiving, with reader device <NUM> (e.g., with processor <NUM>, etc.), the first value of the signal parameter associated with first RFID tag <NUM> and the second value of the signal parameter associated with first RFID tag <NUM>.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, reader device <NUM> receives the at least one third value of the signal parameter associated with first RFID tag <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, at step <NUM>, process <NUM> includes determining, with reader device <NUM> (e.g., with processor <NUM>, etc.), whether first RFID tag <NUM> is located between first antenna <NUM> and second antenna <NUM> (e.g., whether first syringe <NUM> including first RFID tag <NUM> is connected to connector <NUM>, etc.).

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, reader devices determines, based on the first value, the second value, and the at least one third value, whether first RFID tag <NUM> is located between first antenna <NUM>, second antenna <NUM>, and the at least one third antenna <NUM> (e.g., whether first syringe <NUM> including first RFID tag <NUM> is connected to connector <NUM>, etc.).

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, reader device <NUM> determines a difference between the first value and the second value and, in response to the difference satisfying a threshold value, determines that first RFID tag <NUM> is located between first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> (e.g., that first syringe <NUM> including first RFID tag <NUM> is connected to connector <NUM>, etc.).

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, reader device <NUM> provides an indication (e.g., via indicator <NUM>, etc.) associated with information included in at least one of the first signal received from first RFID tag <NUM> and the second signal received from first RFID tag <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A reader (<NUM>) comprising:
a first antenna (<NUM>);
a second antenna (<NUM>) spaced apart from the first antenna (<NUM>);
an RFID reader circuit (<NUM>), wherein the first antenna (<NUM>) is connected to the RFID reader circuit (<NUM>), wherein the first antenna (<NUM>) is configured to receive a first signal from a RFID tag (<NUM>) on a syringe (<NUM>), wherein the second antenna (<NUM>) is connected to the RFID reader circuit (<NUM>), and wherein the second antenna (<NUM>) is configured to receive a second signal from the RFID tag (<NUM>) on the syringe (<NUM>); and
one or more processors (<NUM>) programmed and/or configured to:
control the RFID reader circuit (<NUM>) to determine a first value of a signal parameter associated with the RFID tag (<NUM>) based on the first signal;
control the RFID reader circuit (<NUM>) to determine a second value of the signal parameter associated with the RFID tag (<NUM>) based on the second signal;
receive, from the RFID reader circuit (<NUM>), the first value of the signal parameter associated with the RFID tag (<NUM>) and the second value of the signal parameter associated with the RFID tag (<NUM>); characterized in that the reader further comprises
a connector (<NUM>) configured to be connected to the syringe (<NUM>), wherein the connector (<NUM>) is located between the first antenna (<NUM>) and the second antenna (<NUM>), wherein the one or more processors (<NUM>) are further programmed and/or configured to determine, based on the first value and the second value, whether the syringe (<NUM>) including the RFID tag (<NUM>) is connected to the connector (<NUM>).