The beginning of good surgical tracking starts with a very good DataMatrix mark, been sure can be read it by 2D readers.
Opposite of what you can find on the internet or your software vendor, marking is extremely complex, not only because the perfection of the code itself but the configuration of that code, mathematically must match the geometry of the code (12X12 14X14) according to the number you are writing in it.
The material of the instrument plays a final roll, we want to be sure the code is etched in the right place with just one shoot opportunity.
Think, we are marking a $12K camera head (HD) and find out the code just don't work or marked the wrong number or penetrate to deep into the metal.
We have testing already thousands of different surgical instruments to give our customers the confidence their instruments are in good hands.