Originally Published EMDM May/June 2005
Industry News
RFID Platform Designed for Life
Science Industries
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| The Heliport RFID system is the brains behind a “smart” test tube for blood-testing applications that will be introduced this year. |
An RFID system has been developed for OEMs and system integrators in the medical, pharmaceutical, and laboratory markets. The Heliport technology platform, developed by Maxell Corp. (Fort Lawn, NJ, USA), allows the secure wireless transfer of information from an RFID tag to a reader. The technology has been integrated into a “smart” test-tube system that will be introduced later this year.
Maxell anticipates that the Heliport will find broad support among drug companies, clinical trial facilities, and research labs. In addition to automating processes, the system provides automatic data tracking and management in real time.
“Heliport’s proprietary design ensures that the data are private and secure,” says new business development manager Jeff Giger. “Maxell is working with medical device manufacturers . . . to develop custom RFID systems based on the Heliport design.”
One early adopter is Smart Medical Technologies (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA). Smart Medical has used Heliport to develop a smart test-tube system for use in blood testing. The RFID-embedded test tube can help to reduce user errors, according to CEO Mehdi Hatamian. “The plug-and-play system is expected to fully automate the laboratory process,” he adds.
The small form factor RFID chip can be integrated into a range of products that previously were limited to bar code systems. Heliport is suited for tracking lot codes and expiry dates and storing pedigree data. It is also able to manage regulatory compliance data, track patient and specimen information, and record events.
The coil-on-chip RFID architecture enables tracking without line-of-sight restrictions. This architecture also makes Heliport less vulnerable to the contamination, destruction, and removal issues that may affect other systems.
To find out more, contact Maxell Corp., 22-08 Route 208, Fort Lawn, NJ 07410, USA; phone: +1 201 7945900; fax: +1 201 7968790; e-mail:
rfidpr@maxell.com [6]; Internet: www.maxwell.com [7].
Copyright ©2005 European Medical Device Manufacturer