Jerry Fahrni » RFID

Researchers develop anti-counterfeiting RFID technology

Jerry Fahrni — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:38:38 +0000

Daily Headlines – University of Arkansas: “Engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas have developed a unique and robust method to prevent cloning of passive radio frequency identification tags. The technology, based on one or more unique physical attributes of individual tags rather than information stored on them, will prevent the production of counterfeit tags and thus greatly enhance both security and privacy for government agencies, businesses and consumers.” – The researchers found that different tags responded to a range of radio frequencies from 903 to 927 MHz, giving them unique characteristics that could be reproduced for identification purposes; electronic fingerprinting. According to the article, this electronic fingerprinting increases security without increasing the cost of producing RFID tags.

Cool Technology for Pharmacy

Jerry Fahrni — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:55:34 +0000

Healthcare IT Consultant Blog: “VeriChip Corporation Outlines Current Applications and Potential Future Applications for its First-of-a-Kind Implantable RFID Implantable Microchip - VeriChip Corporation, a provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) systems for healthcare and patient-related needs, today provided additional comments regarding its VeriMed™ Health Link patient identification system following the recent passage of a bill by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives banning forced microchip implantation in humans, and also outlined its current and potential future applications for its RFID implantable microchip. The VeriMed Health Link system was cleared by the FDA in 2004 as a Class II medical device and is the first and only implantable microchip cleared by the FDA for patient identification. “

From the VeriChip website:

Health Link is the connection between you and your personal health record. Health Link utilizes a tiny,passive microchip (the nation’s first and only microchip cleared for patient identification by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration) and a secure, private online database that links you to your personal health record. Your Health Link is always with you and cannot be lost or stolen. It provides emergency room doctors and nurses with your vital medical and emergency contact information, allowing them to treat you rapidly, accurately and safely during an emergency.

The Health Link microchip

What you need to know about Health Link:
• Health Link allows ER doctors and nurses immediate access to your personal health record and emergency contact information during an emergency.
• ER doctors and nurses use Health Link as a tool to help treat you rapidly, accurately and safely based on your current medical information.
• Your personal medical and emergency contact information is easily updated through Health Link’s secure, online database.

About the size of a grain of rice, the microchip is inserted just under the skin and contains only a unique, 16-digit identifier. The microchip itself does not contain any other data other than this unique electronic ID, nor does it contain any Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking capabilities. And unlike conventional forms of identification, the Health Link cannot be lost, stolen, misplaced, or counterfeited. It is safe, secure, reversible, and always with you.

I’ve mentioned before that I think RFID would make a great way to track a patient’s EMR. Well, now you can do just that. That’s some pretty cool technology.

RFID vs. barcode

Jerry Fahrni — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:12 +0000

Barcode.com: “RFID, or radio frequency technology, uses a tag applied to a product in order to identify and track it via radio waves. The 2 parts that make up the tag are an integrated circuit and an antenna. While the circuit processes and stores information, the antenna transmits signals to the RFID reader, also called an interrogator, in order to interpret the data in the tag. In contrast, a barcode is an optical representation of data that can be scanned and then interpreted. The data is represented by the width and spacing of parallel lines, and are often used in POS applications, in addition to tracking objects throughout the supply chain.” – The article goes on to give the advantages of both technologies. The more I read about RFID technology, the more interested I become. While the technology hasn’t really caught fire in health care, I think the utility of RFID demands further investigation.

Apple patent details RFID tag reader.

Jerry Fahrni — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:44:36 +0000

9to5mac.com: “RFID reader built into the screen? We’re not quite sure why they’d need to do this (as opposed to putting the reader somewhere else in the device) but Apple has put a patent application on this.” – In addition, the US Patent and Trademark Office lists the following: “The efficient incorporation of RFID circuitry within touch sensor panel circuitry is disclosed. The RFID antenna can be placed in the touch sensor panel, such that the touch sensor panel can now additionally function as an RFID transponder. No separate space-consuming RFID antenna is necessary. Loops (single or multiple) forming the loop antenna of the RFID circuit (for either reader or tag applications) can be formed from metal on the same layer as metal traces formed in the borders of a substrate. Forming loops from metal on the same layer as the metal traces are advantageous in that the loops can be formed during the same processing step as the metal traces, without requiring a separate metal layer.” - I can think of several uses for an iPhone with a built in RFID Tag reader, it can already read barcodes. The iPhone just keeps getting cooler and cooler.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) as a form of EHR

Jerry Fahrni — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:44:07 +0000

TheHealthCareBlog.com: “When Harvard Medical School and CareGroup CIO Dr. John Halamka agreed to place his medical information on an RFID chip and have it implanted it in his arm, he triggered an instant global spotlight on this unusual form of portable electronic medical record. The decision, made in December 2004 and disclosed in early 2005, captured worldwide attention from places a diverse as Fox News, the BBC and the New England Journal of Medicine (where Halamka contributed a commentary ).

As recently as 2007, a debate over chip privacy and safety versus having critical medical data instantly at hand (as it were) was featured in a PLoS Medicine exchange. In it, Halamka asserted, “Implantation of RFID devices is one tool, appropriate for some patients based on their personal analysis of risks and benefits, that can empower patients by serving as a source of identity and a link to a personal health record when the patient cannot otherwise communicate.””

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) refers to small electronic devices that consist of a small chip and an antenna. They are capable of carrying quite a bit of information. To retrieve the information an RFID device must be scanned much like a barcode. However, the device can be scanned independent of position relative to the scanner and may be read up to 20 feet away.

I’ve always felt that RFID devices would make a great way to maintain a patient’s electronic health record (EHR). Important information like allergies, medical conditions and current medications would be a valuable resource for healthcare professionals during the hospital admission process. Approximately 28% of a healthcare professional’s time is spent looking for information. This is especially true in emergency departments where patients may not even be able to answer questions secondary to their condition. RFID devices can be small, easily taking up no more room than a credit card.

Of course these devices aren’t without issues. Securing the information on the RFID would prove difficult, but may be possible by eliminating a large portion of the patient’s identification such as social security number, account numbers or insurance information. Keeping the information up to date would also be difficult as the data would require input from several sources. A centralized database to house the information would be best, but that is an entirely different post.