German researchers say they’ve developed intelligent radio nodes that can perform many tasks that radio frequency identification systems cannot.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, the Fraunhofer Working Group and colleagues at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and other facilities developed the radio nodes mainly for hospital uses.
For example, using the wrong blood by mistake during a blood transfusion could have fatal consequences. But radio nodes attached to the blood bags and to a patient wristband can exchange information. If the donor blood does not match that of the patient, a warning signal sounds and a red light illuminates.
Their system is built upon a basic platform, allowing the units to be tailored for various applications.A six-month test phase is set begin in January at Erlangen University Hospital. Officials expect the system to be ready for use in about two years.