Image Credit: VeriMed
VeriMed’s VeriChip is the only RFID tag that has been cleared by FDA for human implant. The concept behind the medical use of the VeriChip is that patients would have the tiny chip implanted just under the skin, in the back of the arm. Each VeriMed microchip contains a unique identification number that emergency personnel may scan to immediately identify the patient and access his/her personal health information, thus facilitating appropriate treatment without delay. This is especially important for patients who suffer from conditions that may render them unconscious, confused, or unable to communicate. Although the FDA approved the use of the device for anyone 12 years of age or older, it would mostly be recommended for patients with diabetes, stroke, seizure disorders, dementia, Alzheimer’s, developmental disorders, and organ transplants.
In July 2010, VeriMed’s parent company PositiveID announced that it had discontinued marketing the VeriChip implant and its associated Electronic Health Record. The reason was poor acceptance – Unfortunately, the general public is too ignorant and too superstitious to weigh the advantages of positive patient identification against absurd and imaginary privacy concerns.
In spite of this setback, PositiveID remains active in the medical field, and just a few days ago (December 12, 2011) anounced that it had completed Phase II development of GlucoChip™, a continuous glucose-sensing implantable microchip, and proved a stable and reproducible, closed-cycle continuous glucose sensor that functions in human blood.
Elsewhere in the world, PositiveID still makes the VeriChip available for specific customers. For example, in October 2011 PositiveID announced that it received an order for its VeriChip microchip to be used for disaster preparedness and emergency management by the Israeli Military.
Company website: www.positiveidcorp.com
UPDATE: December 8, 2015
Digital Angel formerly owned a minority position (49%) in VeriChip, but divested itself of the stake in 2008. VeriChip Corporation and Steel Vault Corporate later merged to form PositiveID. PositiveID (www.psidcorp.com ) no longer develops RFID tags, but has repositioned to develop biological detection systems (PCR-based ebola, SARS, etc. detection) for homeland security, as well as rapid medical testing.
Digital Angel merged with Veriteq in 2013. Veriteq owned Sicel’s implantable dosimeter products. They have a website at: veriteqcorp.com. Veriteq is no longer in the business of selling human or animal ID tags. Instead, they have reinvented their tags approved for human use as UDI (unique device identifiers) for medical devices. Their website states that they plan to relaunch the implantable radiation dosimeters.