Article re-posted with permission from Parker Hannifin Life Sciences Division.
Original content can be found on Parker’s Website.
The influential 1999 report To Err is Human (National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine) reported that preventable medical errors caused at least 44,000 and perhaps as many as 98,000 deaths each year, with total costs of between $17 and $29 billon. One response to that and other reports was the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Medication Barcode Rule of 2004, which built on the existing National Drug Code (NDC) — a universal product identifier for drugs. In turn, the FDA Amendment Act of 2007 directed the FDA to create a Unique Device Identifier (UDI) system for most medical devices distributed in the United States.
The FDA UDI Final Rule states: “ Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology means any technology that conveys the UDI or the device identifier of a device in a form that can be entered into an electronic patient record or other computer system via an automated process.” AIDC (aka auto-ID) for medical devices may employ — at least in theory — any automatic data capture technology, including bar codes, radio frequency identification (RFID), magnetic stripe cards, optical character recognition (OCR), smart cards, etc. But from a practical design and user application point-of-view, most medical device designers are looking to either RFID tags or bar code technology.
So, what are the unique advantages of built-in RFID tags for medical devices?
Article re-posted with permission from Parker Hannifin Sealing & Shielding Team.
Original content can be found on Parker’s Blog.
Parker is revolutionizing part identification technology with a multitude of options. Customers are able to benefit from various identification methods such as non-permanent and permanent part markings by selecting their part number and company logo on the seal. For more advanced identification, a customer may opt to use the Parker Tracking System or utilize our RFID seals for tracking purposes. These identification methods ensure product authenticity and reduce seal installation errors by providing visual indicators for the assembly process.
Non-permanent markings are applied to the surface of the seal and can be in the form of a company logo, unique part number, barcode, or other seal information. Non-permanent markings ensure Parker’s part origin, enables part level traceability and provides an easily visible cue to operators. This value-added feature helps reduce installation errors in addition to protecting customers against counterfeit seals.