120 UHF Sensor Transponders Monitor Cytostatic Drug Temperatures

The Early 2000s

In 2004, Verlag & Freie Medien, now the Think WIOT Group, launched the German print magazine RFID im Blick.

At that time, the main focus was on the traceability of goods, access control, and labeling and identification with RFID technology. Metal and water were hostile environments, UHF was not yet state-of-the-art, RFID and sensor technology were mere visions and experts predicted that it would be a long time before RFID would become widespread.

RFID is now an established technology in numerous automation and digitalization projects. The trend is rising.

Internationalization and Wireless IoT (WIOT)

Since 2016, the publishing house has no longer focused primarily on RFID, but on wireless IoT technologies. These include: LPWAN, BLE, NFC, RTLS, UWB, 5G, wireless sensor technology and ORM. RFID is now one of many wireless technologies.

The first English-language magazine Wireless IoT Global was also published in 2016. The Think WIOT Group is now experiencing its strongest growth in Asia and North America.

Think WIOT Group

The publishing house has diversified since 2017.

Today, the portfolio includes two topic-oriented e-magazines, two information platforms, a partner network for more than 70 companies, regular livestreams, video interviews, an end user conference, and joint booths at the Wireless IoT tomorrow.

All activities take place under the umbrella of the Think WIOT Group.

20 Years Later

Supply chains are transparent, processes in the warehouse can be mapped in real time as a digital twin, Manufacturing X achieves a high level of connectivity, big data and transparency, wireless sensor technology, data glasses, robotics and AI expand the applications.

The technologies are developing more rapidly than the implementations.

The Lower Silesian Oncological Center (DCO) in Wroclaw (Poland) implements UHF-RFID for seamless temperature monitoring of cytostatic drugs.

Sensor transponders on refrigerators in the laboratories and refrigerated transport boxes ensure the quality of the cytostatics. The sensor transponders also control the preventive maintenance of the cooling technology.

The Lower Silesian Oncology Centre (DCO) was opened in Wroclaw in March 1954 and was the second regional oncology center in Poland. The new building of the clinic, opened in 2018, has 550 beds.

Process Requirements

Depending on the type and status of the preparation, cytostatic drugs must be stored properly at temperatures of two to eight degrees Celsius or 15 to 25 degrees Celsius. If the cold chain is interrupted during transport, preparation or storage, cytostatic drugs worth more than 100,000 euros can be rendered unusable.

Incorrectly stored drugs can also lose their efficacy or become toxic. Therefore, the temperatures of all refrigerators and refrigerated warehouses in the Oncology Center had to be checked manually several times a day.

Objectives

Permanent monitoring of the specific temperatures in refrigerators, rooms and transport boxes
Warning notifications in case of malfunctions or failures of cooling technology
Application of technology with electromagnetic compatibility
Exclusion of interference with frequency bands of already existing medical technology

Solution

More than 120 UHF RFID sensors are installed throughout the hospital. Two sensors each are installed in refrigerators used for storing blood bags. All other refrigerators have one sensor each. Rooms in which cytostatics are prepared are also equipped with UHF RFID sensors for temperature monitoring.

To maintain the cold chain during transport between different rooms and parts of buildings, the special containers used also have UHF temperature sensors.

The sensor data is collected by a total of eleven RFID hubs distributed throughout the building and transferred directly to the hospital information system (HIS). An analysis tool integrated into the HIS enables monitoring and optimization of the cooling process.

Learn More

Wireless IoT Technologies in HEALTHCARE 2019/2020 as an E-Magazine.

Questions? Your contact to the editorial team!

120 UHF Sensor Transponders Monitor Cytostatic Drug Temperatures

Brand Think WIoT