Datakey Electronics’ GammaSafe™ non-volatile memory tokens allow
medical device manufacturers to add limit-use and anti-counterfeit features to
their disposables, while sterilizing using their choice of methods. Released in
October 2010, the GammaSafe line originally supported sterilization by ethylene
oxide (EtO) gas, autoclave or gamma radiation. The latest testing by the
company confirms that the GammaSafe memory tokens also survive e-beam
sterilization with no data loss.
Historically, non-volatile memory devices, such as EEPROMs,
have not been able to survive medical sterilization by gamma or e-beam
radiation methods. This forced medical disposable manufacturers who wanted to
limit the use of their devices to choose a sterilization method other than
gamma or e-beam, or to employ a mechanical limit-use feature. The GammaSafe
memory token allows medical device manufacturers to electronically limit the
use of their disposables by tracking usage information on the memory token’s
non-volatile memory, even if they sterilize using gamma or e-beam radiation.
“The GammaSafe memory token is an external memory device, so
it can easily be added to existing medical disposables, without changing their
designs,” said Paul Plitzuweit, business development engineer for GammaSafe
product line. “With the ability to sterilize via gamma or e-beam, the GammaSafe
product gives medical OEMs the ability to reduce their sterilization time and
costs, while still protecting their devices against counterfeits and overuse.”
The GammaSafe portable memory token contains four kilobits
of non-volatile, reprogrammable memory, and has been proven to withstand up to
45kGy (4.5Mrad) of gamma or e-beam radiation with no data loss or impact on
functionality. The memory token functions similar to an EEPROM device and uses
an SPI serial interface for communications.
Datakey Electronics
800-328-8828; www.datakeyelectronics.com