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FDA Approves Use of Chip in Patients
Wed Oct 13, 2004 15:19
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FDA Approves Use of Chip in Patients

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041013/ap_on_hi_te/fda_implantable_chip

y DIEDTRA HENDERSON

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) on Wednesday approved an implantable computer chip that can pass a patient's medical details to doctors, speeding care.

VeriChips, radio frequency microchips the size of a grain of rice, have already been used to identify wayward pets and livestock. And nearly 200 people working in Mexico's attorney general's office have been implanted with chips to access secure areas containing sensitive documents.

Delray Beach, Fla.-based Applied Digital Solutions said it would give away $650 scanners to roughly 200 trauma centers around the nation to help speed its entry into the health care market.

A company spokesman would not say how much implanting chips would cost for humans, even though chips have been implanted in some, including Scott R. Silverman, the company's chief executive officer.

The company is targeting patients with diabetes, chronic cardiac conditions, Alzheimer's disease (news - web sites) and those who undergo complex treatments like chemotherapy, said Dr. Richard Seelig, Applied Digital Solutions' vice president of medical applications.

It's the first time the FDA (news - web sites) has approved medical use of the device, though in Mexico, more than 1,000 scannable chips have been implanted in patients. The chip's serial number pulls up the patients' blood type and other medical information.

With the pinch of a syringe, the microchip is inserted under the skin in a procedure that takes less than 20 minutes and leaves no stitches.

Silently and invisibly, the dormant chip stores a code — similar to the identifying UPC code on products sold in retail stores — that releases patient-specific information when a scanner passes over the chip.

At the doctor's office those codes stamped onto chips, once scanned, would reveal such information as a patient's allergies and prior treatments.

The FDA in October 2002 said that the agency would regulate health care applications possible through VeriChip. Meanwhile, the chip has been used for a number of security-related tasks as well as for pure whimsy: Club hoppers in Barcelona, Spain, now use the microchip much like a smartcard to speed drink orders and payment.

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On the Net:

VeriChip: http://www.4verichip.com/index.htm

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October 13th 2004

** FDA CLEARS VERICHIP™ FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES **

DELRAY BEACH , FL and So. ST. PAUL, MN -- Applied Digital (NASDAQ: ADSX), a provider of Security Through Innovation™ and Digital Angel Corporation (AMEX:DOC) announced today that VeriChip™, the world’s first implantable radio frequency identification (RFID) microchip for human use, has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medical uses in the United States. The FDA clearance follows the completion of a de novo application review. (click here for complete story)
http://www.4verichip.com/nws_10132004FDA.htm

eriChip Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Applied Digital (Nasdaq: ADSX), markets a complete line of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Devices that can be used in a variety of security, financial, emergency identification, and other applications
http://www.4verichip.com/index.htm

Contact:
CEOcast, Inc. for Applied Digital Ken Sgro, 212-732-4300
ksgro@ceocast.com
Allen & Caron Inc. for Digital Angel Corporation
Investors: Mike Lucarelli, 1-212-691-8087,
m.lucarelli@allencaron.com  ,
Media: Len Hall, 949-474-4300, len@allencaron.com
http://www.4verichip.com/nws_10132004FDA.htm

VeriChip™ - There when you need it

The VeriChip miniaturized Radio Frequency Identifcation (RFID) Device is the core of all VeriChip applications. About the size of a grain of rice, each VeriChip contains a unique verification number, which can be used to access a subscriber-supplied database providing personal related information. And unlike conventional forms of identification, VeriChip cannot be lost, stolen, misplaced or counterfeited.

Once implanted just under the skin, via a quick, painless outpatient procedure (much like getting a shot), the VeriChip can be scanned when necessary with a proprietary VeriChip scanner. A small amount of Radio Frequency Energy passes from the scanner energizing the dormant VeriChip, which then emits a radio frequency signal transmitting the individuals unique verification (VeriChipID) number. The VeriChip Subscriber Number then provides instant access to the Global VeriChip Subscriber (GVS) Registry - through secure, password protected web access to subscriber-supplied information. This data is maintained by state-of-the-art GVS Registry Operations Centers located in Riverside, California and Owings, Maryland.