Study: RFID Tags May Scramble[A1] Hospital Equipment
Study: RFID Tags May Scramble[A1] Hospital Equipment
By JR Raphael
TechNewsWorld
06/25/08 11:49 AM PT
A study cautions[A2] that radio frequency chips can interfere with[A3] hospital equipment. While researchers identified 22 "hazardous[A4] " cases of interference, the head of an RFID industry group says the likelihood[A5] of injury is low and the study demonstrates a need for industry standards.
A new study is raising questions over how radio frequency identification chips could be interacting with hospital equipment. The report, published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests RFID chips could cause some medical devices to fail when in close contact.
RFID chips have grown in popularity for corporate inventory[A6] tracking, library management and even passport data control. They also power many cities' transit payment systems and are used for animal identification and store theft control. More recently, some hospitals have begun using the technology to monitor medical products and other hospital resources.
Health Applications
U.S. health providers are currently spending US$90 million a year on RFID systems -- an amount expected to more than double in the coming decade, according to the study's authors.
"It's become more popular in the last 12 to 18 months," Dan Mullen, president of the Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility, told TechNewsWorld. Mullen's organization acts as the international trade association for manufacturers of RFID technology.
"They're starting to crop up[A7] in terms of[A8] asset tracking -- primarily applications where they're trying to know where equipment is. It can be utilizing a WiFi network to locate equipment in most cases," he said.
The technology, however, may not be as widespread as one might think. Several healthcare Latest News about healthcare providers contacted by TechNewsWorld said RFID is viewed as an advanced and high-cost platform and is still far from prevalent[A9] even in many larger hospitals.
Interference Concern
The concern raised by the study revolves around[A10] radio frequencies sent out by the chips. Past research has found such waves in electronic anti-theft systems can interfere with certain pacemakers and defibrillators, so the authors wanted to see if hospital-based medical devices would be affected in a similar way.
Scientists set up two different kinds of RFID devices inside an empty intensive care unit room. They measured whether electromagnetic[A11] interference from the chips was reaching 41 nearby medical devices, ranging from pacemakers[A12] to dialysis[A13] /daɪˈælɪsɪs/ systems.
The researchers found 22 "hazardous" incidences[A14] of interference. These included, they say, ventilators[A15] switching off or changing rates, syringe[A16] pumps stopping, external pacemakers malfunctioning, and kidney replacement devices shutting down.
Don't Panic
One thing worth noting: Most equipment affected was all within a foot of the RFID chips -- much of it less than 10 inches away. The likelihood of RFID chips being placed within such a short range of hospital equipment, Mullen said, is probably not high.
"It's important to understand the interaction[A17] /ˌɪntərˈækʃən/ and the distance," Mullen noted.
"I don't think there's any need to panic[A18] ['pænɪk]. RFID is starting to hit more mainstream applications, and as it does so, it might interact in the hospital environment in different ways. It's a good thing to study that," he said.
Next Steps
The study's authors did not recommend removing or banning the RFID technology from hospitals, noting that it does have a strong potential to help healthcare providers. They did, however, suggest moving forward with additional testing and efforts to create standards for how these devices should be used.
"The intensity of electronic life-supporting medical devices in this area requires careful management of the introduction of new wireless communications such as RFID," the researchers concluded. "Implementation of RFID in the ICU and other similar healthcare environments should require on-site EMI tests in addition to updated international standards."
Such standards may be an asset to both hospitals and the companies creating the technology -- and may become a more common consideration as different kinds of electronics enter all facets of our lives.
"These sort of studies are important to understand the potential impact of any electronics in the hospital environment," Mullen said. "Right now, I don't see any kind of major concern. Best practices, standards, guidelines -- as technology is matured and the use of it is moving forward, I think you'll see more of those sorts of things."
==================== 音标、注释、例句及其他 ====================
[A1][Tn] change the way (a telephone conversation, etc) sounds by altering the wave frequency, so that only sb with a special receiver can understand it 扰频或倒频使（电话通话等）只可由有特殊接收器的人收听.
[A2][Tn, Dn.t] warn (sb) to be careful 提醒或警告（某人）要小心: We were cautioned not to drive too fast. 人家提醒我们车不要开得太快.
[A3]~ with sth (a) handle, adjust, etc sth without permission, esp so as to cause damage （未得允许）摆弄; （尤指）弄坏: Who's been interfering with the clock? It's stopped. 是谁摆弄这钟来着? 已经不走了. (b) obstruct sth wholly or partially; prevent sth from being done or carried out properly 阻碍; 妨碍; 妨害: interfere with sb else's plans 妨碍某人的计画
[A4]involving risk or danger
[A5]involving risk or danger
[A6]n detailed list, eg of goods, furniture, jobs to be done 详细目录, 清单（如商品﹑ 家具﹑ 要做的事的单子）: keep/make a full, complete, careful inventory (of sth) 记录[开列]（某事物的）详尽的﹑ 完整的﹑ 仔细的清单.
[A7](phr v) crop up appear or happen, esp unexpectedly 出现或发生（尤指意外地）: All sorts of difficulties cropped up. 各种各样的困难意想不到地出现了. * The subject cropped up as we talked. 我们交谈时无意中涉及到了这个问题.
[A8]in terms of sth; in sth terms as regards sth; expressedas sth 在某事物方面; 以某说法来表达: Think of it in terms of an investment. 从投资的角度来考虑那件事. * The figures are expressed in terms of a percentage/in percentage terms. 那些数字是以百分数表示的.
[A9]adj (fml 文) ~ (among/in sth/sb) existing or happening generally; widespread 普遍存在的; 普遍发生的; 盛行的; 流行的: The prevalent opinion is in favour of reform. 一般舆工艺品厂的业务员，我的职业是积极地在城中寻找合适的商家推介特色的漆器、角梳、纸伞、绢扇、琉璃花瓶。厂里的集体宿论都支持改革. * Is malaria still prevalent among the populationhere? 疟疾是否仍为此地居民的多发病?
[A10][I, Ipr, Tn] ~ (around/round/on sth) (cause sth to) go round in a circle; rotate （使某物）作圆周运动, 旋转, 转动: A wheel revolves round/on its axis. 轮子是绕轴旋转的. * The mechanism that revolves the turntable is broken. 带动转盘旋转的机械装置坏了. * (fig fml 比喻, 文) revolve sth in one's mind, ie consider sth carefully 仔细考虑某事物.
[A11]adj (physics 物) having both electrical and magnetic properties 电磁的: electromagnetic waves, eg X-rays, radio-waves, light waves 电磁波（如X射线﹑ 无线电波﹑ 光波）. electromagnetism n [U].
[A12]a small machine that is placed inside someone's chest in order to help their heart beat regularly
[A13][U, C] (medical 医) process of purifying blood by passing it through a membrane, used esp for treating patients with damaged kidneys 透析, 渗析（通过薄膜过滤来净化血液的方法, 尤用於治疗肾脏损伤的病人）: renal dialysis 肾透析 * [attrib 作定语] a dialysis machine 透析机.
[A14]~ of sth extent to which sth happens or has an effect 事情发生或具有影响的程度; 发生率; 影响范围: This area has a high incidence of crime, disease, unemployment, etc. 这个地区的犯罪率﹑ 发病率﹑ 失业率等很高.
[A15]a piece of equipment that puts fresh air into a room, building etc
[A16]any of various types of device for taking liquid in and forcing it out again in a thin stream, used for spraying plants, washing wounds, etc 液体喷射器（如浇花用的喷该是个倒置的W，首尾两点之间距离没那么均匀分配，中间的社区相对密集，是嘈杂的闹市。如果有时间，哪怕你走马观花也水器﹑ 洗伤口用的冲洗器等）: a garden syringe 浇花用的喷该是个倒置的W，首尾两点之间距离没那么均匀分配，中间的社区相对密集，是嘈杂的闹市。如果有时间，哪怕你走马观花也水器.
[A17]a mutual or reciprocal action; interacting
[A18]sudden irrational feeling of great fear 恐慌; 惊惶: be in a (state of) panic (about sth) （对某事）惊惶失措 * I got into a panic when I found the door was locked. 我发觉门锁上了, 十分惊慌.
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