Implantable Radio Frequency Identification Research Articles

Privacy, surveillance, and implanting RFID microchips to humans*

Background: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is specifically designed for the remote identification of objects. The first patent for human implantable RFID microchips was granted in 1997, and the FDA approved these microchips in 2004. Since then, they have found applications in humans for diverse reasons.Objective: This study aims to make an ethical evaluation of using RFID microchips in humans, focusing on privacy and surveillance.Methods: A literature review was conducted, exploring the conceptual dimensions of privacy and surveillance, and ethical evaluations were made regarding potential privacy violations caused by RFID microchips, as well as their potential uses for surveillance purposes.Results: Privacy is a multidimensional concept that spans various disciplines such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, medicine, theology, and law, and throughout history it constitutes an indispensable and intrinsic necessity for humanity. On the other hand, surveillance is a process wherein certain groups employ methods to gather, accumulate, analyze, process, and utilize data, with the objective of regulating the behavior of specific groups, entailing potential physical, ideological, or structural interventions, ultimately aiming to guide individuals toward predetermined behavioral patterns.Discussion and Conclusion: A major concern with RFID microchips is potential privacy violations and their use for surveillance. These microchips and their connected networks hold a significant amount of information, including sensitive data like healthrelated information. Thus, they make individuals become easily identifiable and make them vulnerable to surveillance practices.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 08 No. 01 Jan’24 Page: 84-94

Individualized tracking of self-directed motor learning in group-housed mice performing a skilled lever positioning task in the home cage.

Skilled forelimb function in mice is traditionally studied through behavioral paradigms that require extensive training by investigators and are limited by the number of trials individual animals are able to perform within a supervised session. We developed a skilled lever positioning task that mice can perform within their home cage. The task requires mice to use their forelimb to precisely hold a lever mounted on a rotary encoder within a rewarded position to dispense a water reward. A Raspberry Pi microcomputer is used to record lever position during trials and to control task parameters, thus making this low-footprint apparatus ideal for use within animal housing facilities. Custom Python software automatically increments task difficulty by requiring a longer hold duration, or a more accurate hold position, to dispense a reward. The performance of individual animals within group-housed mice is tracked through radio-frequency identification implants, and data stored on the microcomputer may be accessed remotely through an active internet connection. Mice continuously engage in the task for over 2.5 mo and perform ~500 trials/24 h. Mice required ~15,000 trials to learn to hold the lever within a 10° range for 1.5 s and were able to further refine movement accuracy by limiting their error to a 5° range within each trial. These results demonstrate the feasibility of autonomously training group-housed mice on a forelimb motor task. This paradigm may be used in the future to assess functional recovery after injury or cortical reorganization induced by self-directed motor learning. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We developed a low-cost system for fully autonomous training of group-housed mice on a forelimb motor task. We demonstrate the feasibility of tracking both end-point, as well as kinematic performance of individual mice, with each performing thousands of trials over 2.5 mo. The task is run and controlled by a Raspberry Pi microcomputer, which allows for cages to be monitored remotely through an active internet connection.

Design of Miniature Implantable Tag Antenna for Radio-Frequency Identification System at 2.45GHz and Received Power Analysis

SUMMARY In recent years, there has been rapid developments in radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems, and their industrial applications include logistics management, automatic object identification, access and parking management, etc. Moreover, RFID systems have also been introduced for the management of medical instruments in medical applications to improve the quality of medical services. In recent years, the combination of such a system with a biological monitoring system through permanent implantation in the human body has been suggested to reduce malpractice events and ameliorate the patient suffering. This paper presents an implantable RFID tag antenna design that can match the conjugate impedance of most integrated circuit (IC) chips (9.3 − j55.2 Ω at 2.45 GHz. The proposed antenna can be injected into the human body through a biological syringe, owing to its compact size of 9.3 mm × 1.0 mm × 1.0 mm. The input impedance, transmission coefficient, and received power are simulated by a finite element method (FEM). A three-layered

A Touch Probe Method of Operating an Implantable RFID Tag for Orthopedic Implant Identification

The major problem in operating an implantable radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag embedded on an orthopedic implant is low efficiency because of metallic interference. To improve the efficiency, this paper proposes a method of operating an implantable passive RFID tag using a touch probe at 13.56 MHz. This technology relies on the electric field interaction between two pairs of electrodes, one being a part of the touch probe placed on the surface of tissue and the other being a part of the tag installed under the tissue. Compared with using a conventional RFID antenna such as a loop antenna, this method has a better performance in the near field operation range to reduce interference with the orthopedic implant. Properly matching the touch probe and the tag to the tissue and the implant reduces signal attenuation and increases the overall system efficiency. The experiments have shown that this method has a great performance in the near field transcutaneous operation and can be used for orthopedic implant identification.

What's New in Acute Compartment Syndrome?

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) after trauma is often the result of increased size of the damaged tissues after acute crush injury or from reperfusion of ischemic areas. It usually is not solely caused by accumulation of free blood or fluid in the compartment, although that can contribute in some cases. There is no reliable and reproducible test that confirms the diagnosis of ACS. A missed diagnosis or failure to cut the fascia to release pressure within a few hours can result in severe intractable pain, paralysis, and sensory deficits. Reduced blood circulation leads to oxygen and nutrient deprivation, muscle necrosis, and permanent disability. Currently, the diagnosis of ACS is made on the basis of physical examination and repeated needle sticks over a short time frame to measure intracompartmental pressures. Missed compartment syndromes continue to be one of most common causes of malpractice lawsuits. Existing technology for continuous pressure measurements are insensitive, particularly in the deep tissues and compartments, and their use is restricted to highly trained personnel. Newer concepts of the pathophysiology accompanied by new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities have recently been advanced. Among these are the concept of inflammatory mediators as markers and anti-inflammatories as medical adjunct therapy. New diagnostic modalities include near-infrared spectroscopy, ultrafiltration catheters, and radio-frequency identification implants. These all address current shortcomings in the diagnostic armamentarium that trauma surgeons can use. The strengths and weaknesses of these new concepts are discussed to allow the trauma surgeon to follow current evolution of the field.

RFID technology for human implant devices

Abstract This article presents an overview on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for human implants and investigates the technological feasibility of such implants for locating and tracking persons or for remotely controlling human biological functions. Published results on the miniaturization of implantable passive RFID devices are reported as well as a discussion on the choice of the transmission frequency in wireless communication between a passive RFID device implanted inside human body and an off-body interrogator. The two techniques (i.e., inductive coupling and electromagnetic coupling) currently used for wirelessly supplying power to and read data from a passive implantable RFID device are described and some documented biomedical and therapeutic applications of human RFID-implant devices are finally reported.

Implanting inequality: Empirical evidence of social and ethical risks of implantable radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices

The aim of this study was to assess empirically the social and ethical risks associated with implantable radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices. Qualitative research included observational studies in twenty-three U.S. hospitals that have implemented new patient identification systems and eighty semi-structured interviews about the social and ethical implications of new patient identification systems, including RFID implants. The study identified three primary social and ethical risks associated with RFID implants: (i) unfair prioritization of patients based on their participation in the system, (ii) diminished trust of patients by care providers, and (iii) endangerment of patients who misunderstand the capabilities of the systems. RFID implants may aggravate inequalities in access to care without any clear health benefits. This research underscores the importance of critically evaluating new healthcare technologies from the perspective of both normative ethics and empirical ethics.

Antennas and Propagation of Implanted RFIDs for Pervasive Healthcare Applications

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a growing technology, with the potential for reducing medical errors and improving the quality of healthcare in hospitals. The benefits include more secure and safe access in the healthcare environment (with the possibility, for example, to track patients, personnel, and equipment), as well as providing the means to easily identify patients and their medications with low risk of error. In this paper, we present an overview of the challenges faced in antenna design, electromagnetic modeling and wave propagation for RFID implants. The performance of ultra-high-frequency (UHF) subcutaneous tag antennas was investigated numerically and validated with measurements. Furthermore, the wave propagation between an off-body reader and an implanted tag was analyzed, in both free space and a scattered indoor environment. Results demonstrated that a passive tag solution allows a very limited communication range, due to the body losses, the electrically small size of the antenna, and nulls in the radiation pattern. In comparison, a maximum communication range of 10 m was predicted as achievable for an active tag operating indoors with a limited power (-20 dBm).

Implantable Radiofrequency Identification (RFID) Tags are not Tattoos

As electronic technology continues to shrink in size and advance in capability, miniature radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags have become a reality. Their use in inanimate objects has acknowl...

Ethical Implications of Implantable Radiofrequency Identification (RFID) Tags in Humans

This article reviews the use of implantable radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags in humans, focusing on the VeriChip (VeriChip Corporation, Delray Beach, FL) and the associated VeriMed patient identification system. In addition, various nonmedical applications for implanted RFID tags in humans have been proposed. The technology offers important health and nonhealth benefits, but raises ethical concerns, including privacy and the potential for coercive implantation of RFID tags in individuals. A national discussion is needed to identify the limits of acceptable use of implantable RFID tags in humans before their use becomes widespread and it becomes too late to prevent misuse of this useful but ethically problematic technology.

Tagging products and people

In May 2006, William Koretsky made medical history when he became the first emergency patient to be identified from an implanted radiofrequency identification (RFID) chip. Koretsky, a 44‐year‐old sergeant with the Bergen County Police Department (NJ, USA), had crashed his car into a tree during a high‐speed chase. When he was taken to hospital, an emergency‐room scan revealed an RFID chip in his arm, which had been implanted in 2004 for identification purposes at the suggestion of his police chief. Doctors retrieved the ID number, identified Koretsky using an online database, reviewed his health history and learned that he had type 1 diabetes. While treating his other injuries, physicians quickly began monitoring Koretsky's blood sugar level. The RFID chip, which was manufactured by VeriChip (Delray Beach, FL, USA), might have saved his life. “I was unable to communicate, but the chip talked for me,” Koretsky said. “I couldn't lose the chip, like I could a MedicAlert® bracelet. The VeriChip™ was a home run.” Valeria Kaplan ![][1] RFID chips are increasingly exploited in healthcare, but not always under such dramatic circumstances. They are being used, for example, to address the emerging threats of diversion, theft and counterfeit of medications—from commonly used drugs, such as statins, to narcotics that are resold on the street. However, while politicians and government agencies consider their use in healthcare settings, privacy and consumer advocates worry about the safety and the possible abuse of RFID technology. As prices for RFID chips and readers have fallen, the technology has been taken up commercially, especially by retail giants such as Wal‐Mart in the USA, Tesco and Marks & Spencer in the UK, and Metro in Germany, which use them to track their inventory from suppliers, through their warehouses and into stores. The US Department of Defense is also a big … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif