A high-accuracy RFID system for efficient management of hospital textiles: design, implementation, and performance evaluation

This paper presents an RFID-based system for hospital textile management, addressing challenges of textile loss, inventory control, and infection prevention. The system integrates an RFID gate station, handheld RFID readers, and web/mobile software for real-time textile tracking. A cylindrical reflector structure is incorporated into the gate station to enhance electromagnetic field confinement and uniformity. Simulations and measurements demonstrate improved field distribution and reduced radiation leakage, with electric-field intensity behind the reflector reduced by approximately 94.4%. The system reliably processes up to 800 RFID-tagged textiles with a minimum reading accuracy of 99.8%. Thermogravimetric analysis confirms that the selected silicone RFID tag withstands repeated high-temperature laundry processes. The software platform supports real-time monitoring, inventory management, and textile lifecycle tracking. The proposed system offers a practical and scalable solution for improving operational efficiency, reducing textile losses, and supporting infection control in healthcare environments.