Implant chip will improve care
A local doctor has developed a chip that can be implanted in artificial knees, hips or other prosthetics that will relay medical information about the patient.
Dr. Lee Berger, an orthopedic surgeon, developed the technology after frequent experiences with patients who did not remember the information needed to get proper follow-up care.
"Ortho-Tag" is a wireless chip imbedded in the prosthetic that contains information about a patient, implant, and procedure. A handheld receiver allows physicians to access information about their patient.
"A patient could just have all information necessary for care available in their implant," said Berger, who has been affiliated with St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center for 25 years and The Valley Hospital for 15 in addition to having his own private practice in Fair Lawn.
The Ortho-tag still has to be approved by the FDA.
"We hope to have it out between six months to a year" said Berger.
Berger described the possibilities available with this technology, including accelerometers which measure movement of the implant for use during physical therapy. No longer will doctors have to deal with inaccurate results.
"Instead of being subjective, we can be objective," Berger said.
The tags will also contain information that the patient wants included. Each tag holds "as much as a book" according to Berger.
The handheld probe was invented by Berger and designed in the laboratory of Marlin Mickle, Professor and Director of the University of Pittsburgh RFID Center of Excellence.