RadarFind Technology Not Applicable To Study Results Indicating That Radio Frequency Identification Can Interfere With Medical Equipment

Main Category: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 03 Jul 2008 - 3:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

RadarFind Corporation, a health care technology company offering a Real Time Location System (RTLS) for tracking medical equipment in hospitals, said that a recent report stating radio frequency identification (RFID) can interfere with medical equipment in hospitals does not apply to its technology.

RadarFind's technology experts with extensive knowledge of deploying systems within hospitals are available for media interviews to address the report.

The study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that interference in electronic devices could occur because of the high energy levels used by some RFID systems and the frequencies of some RFID systems.

"Hospitals can safely implement the RadarFind system with assurance that the RTLS devices operate in a benign manner regarding nearby equipment and personnel," said RadarFind's CEO Terry Kane, M.D. "The RadarFind technology, developed by physicians and other health care practitioners intentionally for the hospital environment, was designed to avoid any potential interference with any critical hospital equipment."

RadarFind's RTLS system is not classified as an RFID system according to international standards for RFID. While some RTLS technologies are related to RFID in that the system components are architecturally similar, the two terms are commonly and mistakenly interchanged.

The RadarFind system elements use a tiny fraction of the power levels utilized in the JAMA study - so small that they cannot create enough interfering energy to make a nearby electronic device malfunction.

The study reported by JAMA used high-powered, RFID readers within the 868 MHz frequency with passive RFID tags. To compare this to the RadarFind system, the power level for RadarFind readers is about 20,000 times less than the readers that were used in the study. RadarFind is not surprised that interference occurred at such a high power level.

The study also found interference caused by low-powered active RFID tags operating at 125 kHz. RadarFind also is not surprised that the frequency referenced in the study caused interference. The RadarFind system operates in the 900 MHz frequency band where there is no interference with electronic medical devices. Health care practitioners and RF system engineers designed the RadarFind system to work within a frequency (902 MHz to 928 MHz) specifically so that there would be no interference with hospital equipment.

"Because RTLS systems use ultra-low power levels, they are harmless to electronic equipment and people," said RadarFind Chief Technology Officer Stephen Jackson.

About RadarFind Corporation

RadarFind Corporation, an information technology company focused on the health care industry, offers a unique, patented Real Time Location System that uses a platform technology for tracking medical equipment and patients. Specifically designed for hospitals, the RadarFind RTLS system seamlessly integrates with existing hospital infrastructure and operations, while functioning independently of a hospital's critical WiFi network. Headquartered in Morrisville, N.C., RadarFind develops integrated hardware and custom software solutions for their hospital customers and health care system partners.

RadarFind Corporation