| The recently released ANSI/HIBCC 4.0 standard, | | | | ability to be accessed and controlled through its |
| created by the Health Industry Business | | | | ISO15693 13.56 MHz high frequency (HF) radio |
| Communications Council provides guidance for use | | | | frequency identification (RFID) antenna. There is |
| of item/package level data formatting for product | | | | one internal temperature sensor and two or more |
| identification plus recommends high and low | | | | external resistive sensor interfaces (depending on |
| frequencies for individual passive RFID tags in | | | | configuration) connected via the IC to make |
| hospitals and healthcare settings. Now healthcare | | | | battery-less sensing solutions. The read /write |
| systems integrators and original equipment | | | | "tag" harvests energy from a HF RFID reader to |
| manufacturers can use new systems that | | | | supply a regulated voltage to the other |
| combine HF RFID with sensors. | | | | components enabling long term embedded sensing. |
| Besides the concern that improperly tuned | | | | Adding a simple coin-sized battery enables the |
| passive UHF systems could interfere with | | | | standalone data logging mode. The sensor output |
| sensitive equipment, 13.56 MHz High frequency | | | | data is stored in the internal 3.5kbits user memory |
| (HF) RFID provides a secure proximity read - | | | | or can be extended with external memory. |
| ensuring 100% accuracy on reads that simply | | | | Sensors enabled with passive 13.56 MHz Radio |
| can't be achieved with active UHF. HF also | | | | Frequency ID (RFID) can download data direct to |
| provides superior performance on/around liquids | | | | the Proxima RF handheld, or desktop reader with |
| and tissues. HF RFID ensures that matching tags | | | | NO wires and NO active emitting parts. The |
| to medical equipment and devices does not | | | | combination of HF reads and sensing means that |
| require complex anti-collision algorithms. | | | | temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals or blood |
| However, besides monitoring of identification, | | | | bags, for example, can be tracked in transit and |
| healthcare applications and in particular, | | | | right into the care environment for complete end |
| pharmaceuticals, sensors are used for monitoring | | | | to end temperature tracking. |
| of a variety of parameters like temperature, | | | | High frequency RFID enabled sensors: |
| humidity, IR and shock for temperature sensitive | | | | Provide superior performance on/around liquids |
| materials and equipment. However, those sensors | | | | Ensure secure proximity reads |
| are either hardwired or add to the background | | | | Can write product ID directly to the sensor "tag" |
| EMI with wireless interfaces. With a sensor IC | | | | Include multiple sensing elements; temperature, |
| that communicates with passive HF RFID, sensors | | | | humidity, light and shock |
| can be read with desktop or handheld units or | | | | Come in data logging and battery-less versions |
| draw power from OEM equipment. | | | | Are easy to calibrate |
| The following illustrates an application where HF | | | | Have a small footprint |
| RFID enabled sensors make sense in the | | | | Can be re-used |
| healthcare supply chain. Current data loggers | | | | The Melexis IC tag can be combined with passive |
| commonly used for in transit temperature | | | | HF encrypted RFID tags for the most sensitive |
| monitoring of pharmaceuticals typically require | | | | applications - all read with the Proxima RF |
| each unit to be plugged in individually to download | | | | reader. |
| data via USB to a PC. Further, these data loggers | | | | How do I create a product with HF RFID enabled |
| are typically sent back to the point of origin for | | | | sensors? |
| the data upload and analysis. With proposed | | | | ProximaRF Technology Corporation and Melexis |
| revisions to U.S. Pharmacopeia , Good Storage | | | | have partnered to create a unique plug and play, |
| and Shipping Practices firms may be required to | | | | HF RFID enabled sensor development kit so |
| report on the effect and potential remediation to | | | | system integrators and product vendors can |
| temperature excursions within 24 hours. Under | | | | focus on their cold chain and pharmaceutical |
| the new proposed guidelines, the time to ship the | | | | applications instead of developing a HF reader. |
| data loggers to a central location for data upload | | | | The kit includes the Proxima RF plug and play USB |
| creates an unnecessary burden on those charged | | | | Desktop reader that comes with a powerful API |
| with interpreting and acting on that data. | | | | and evaluation software and development tools, |
| To improve monitoring processes and meet ANSI | | | | unique to the 13.56 MHz HF RFID industry. The |
| HIBCC 4.0 and , Proxima RF has partnered with | | | | DVK90129 HF RFID enabled resistive sensor |
| sensor leader Melexis to create a passive HF | | | | development kit also includes an evaluation board |
| -enabled resistive sensor and reader. The | | | | from Melexis populated with a temperature, light |
| Melexis MLX90129 is a sensor transponder IC that | | | | sensor and potentiometer. |
| combines a precise and programmable interface | | | | These products are available for sale to |
| for external resistive sensors that can be used | | | | end-users, 3PLs, system integrators and suppliers |
| for a wide variety of sensing applications. | | | | of cold chain or sensor/equipment monitoring |
| What makes this sensor transponder unique is its | | | | software as an extension to their product suites. |
| unusually low power and voltage draw plus the | | | | |