Release date: 2008-07-23 Electromagnetic Interference Problems Test Hospital RFID System Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a relatively advanced, non-contact automatic identification technology. It automatically recognizes the target object and acquires relevant data through the RF signal, and the identification work can be performed in various harsh environments without manual intervention. RFID can recognize high-speed moving objects and recognize multiple labels at the same time, which is quick and easy to operate. China Medical Glove,Disposable Medical Gloves supplier & manufacturer, offer low price, high quality Medical Examination Gloves,Medical Examination Gloves, etc. Medical Glove,Disposable Medical Gloves,Medical Examination Gloves,Medical Examination Gloves Surgimed Medical Supplies Co.,Ltd , https://www.surgimedcn.com
The most basic RFID system consists of three parts: a tag, consisting of a coupling element and a chip, each tag has a unique electronic code attached to the object to identify the target object; a reader for reading (some still Writable) tag information; an antenna that transmits RF signals between the tag and the reader.
In medical institutions, RFID systems are considered to be used for:
â—† Help doctors or nurses identify patients with communication difficulties â—† Monitor and track people who are not allowed to enter high-risk areas â—† Track the position of medical staff, patients, important medical equipment and equipment â—† Manage the use of important drugs and blood bags â—† When medical emergencies, epidemics, terrorist threats and other situations occur, promote the implementation of restrictive measures to prevent unauthorized medical care, staff and patients from entering and leaving the hospital. â—† Mother-to-child identification In recent years, the RFID industry has been generally optimistic. The global market for such technologies, chips, card readers, software and services has grown from $1 billion in 2002 to around $2.6 billion in 2007. At present, relevant industries and departments at home and abroad attach great importance to the application of medical system RFID products. For example, Tyco's Imaging Solutions subsidiary, a health care product manufacturer, plans to put the RFID contrast delivery system into operation this summer. The Treviglio-Caravaggio Hospital in Italy, with its new RFID system, has achieved its main goal of locating patient positions, ensuring patient safety, and depending on the information provided by the system, hospitals may consider adding equipment in specific areas.
However, while a new technology brings more convenience, there must be some technical problems. For RFID technology used in hospitals, some scholars have questioned whether it will interfere with the work of medical devices like mobile phones. Not long ago, a large number of tests conducted by the University of Amsterdam Academic Medical Center in the Netherlands proved that the RFID system does cause electromagnetic interference to the running medical equipment.
Research result:
Electromagnetic Interference Can Cause Dangerous Events At present, many countries are interested in the application of RFID systems to track blood supplies. Malaysia is considering the use of RFID systems to manage blood in more than 300 medical institutions across the country. Research at the University of Amsterdam Academic Medical Center in the Netherlands stems from investigating the suitability of RFID systems to track blood products and expensive medical supplies.
According to reports, the researchers tested 41 medical devices from 22 manufacturers. The researchers tested passive 868 MHz and active 125 MHz RFID systems. A total of 34 electromagnetic disturbances were recorded in 123 tests (averaging 3 tests per test). Research reports indicate that electromagnetic interference from RFID systems can seriously affect medical devices in deep treatment testing.
According to reports, the passive 868 MHz signal causes 26 devices (63%) to interfere, while the active 125 kHz signal causes 8 devices (19.5%) to interfere, and all 8 devices that suffer from 125 kHz signal interference are also subject to 868 MHz. Signal interference. The researchers subdivided the severity of these disturbances. Twenty-two of the 34 electromagnetic disturbances were classified as severely dangerous, two were significant risks and 10 were mildly dangerous. Among them, a "dangerous" event is defined as having a direct physical impact on the patient, such as the cessation of a pacemaker being used by the patient; a "significantly dangerous" event is defined as an error that causes patient care, such as an incorrect device being issued Alerts require additional monitoring of the patient; “mild risk†events do not require special attention.
Studies have shown that pacemakers, defibrillators, dialysis machines, infusion/syringe pumps, and ventilators are all susceptible medical devices. All three external pacemaker tests in the study were subject to electromagnetic interference and eight out of 9 infusion/syringe pump tests. Although the pacemaker did not completely shut down, 6 of the 9 infusion/syringe pumps stopped working and the two kidney replacement devices did not work properly.
Testing of RFID tags and readers is done in the patient's room. The average distance between the tag and the reader and the affected medical device is 30 cm. For comparison purposes, the reporter cited a study of mobile phone security (the average distance generated by a mobile phone in a medical facility was 3 cm). The researchers found that the greater the output power of the RFID system, the more times the hazard event occurred. The RFID system can cause electromagnetic interference to medical equipment within a distance of 6 meters.
Experts pointed out:
Don't be overly nervous about potential dangers At the end of June, this study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and immediately attracted widespread attention. There have been a lot of reports at home and abroad.
In response to recent reports, medical experts in the Journal of the American Medical Association pointed out that some reports have been overstated. In fact, the results of the study were not as scary as some media commented. This study emphasizes that the danger that RFID technology brings to medical devices is just like the radiation of mobile phones. It is a potential problem for RFID devices, and it is not allowed to apply RFID technology to the medical world.
The researchers pointed out that there is currently no standardized RFID in the medical field. The existing RFID system is mathematically designed according to the requirements of the effective range of medical labeling items or detected individuals, but it may be in some medical environments, especially Problems in the intensive care unit. Due to the intensive use of electronic life support systems in critical care settings, care must be taken when introducing new wireless communication systems such as RFID systems.
Experts have concluded that the study of RFID technology can pose a potential hazard to medical devices in the context of controlled non-medical trials. In the intensive care unit and other similar medical environments, RFID technology is implemented in accordance with the latest international standards for on-site electromagnetic interference testing. (China Medical News)