The Verichip and Its Use

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The Verichip and Its Use This piece of technology was manufactured and is being marketed by the VeriChip Corporation. The VeriChip is a microprocessor used for verification and identification. A VeriChip can also be referred to as a radiofrequency identification tag, abbreviated as RFID. The VeriChip is used by doctors and is implanted under the human skin behind the triceps of the right arm, between the elbow and shoulder with the use of a syringe and when done the device can be used to identify the person’s medical history, credit-card number, security clearance and even club membership status. The chip is no bigger than 12 mm long and 21 mm in diameter. The insertion of the VeriChip takes approximately 20 seconds and this procedure costs about $200 (Dishneau, 2005). The medical-grade glass container consists of two main components incorporated together: a small microchip and an antenna. The microchip is used as the circuitry for the VeriChip and in it, a radio receiver and modulator as well as control logic and storage memory. The second component, the antenna and its made with a piece of coiled wire (Garfinkel, 2005). The VeriChip doesn’t require the use of batteries because it deprives all necessary electrical power to transmit its signal using the antenna which is coiled through physical property which is referred to as inductance. The VeriChip offers both passive and active RFID tags, the implantable, wearable and attachable. The implantable tag, this tag is inserted into the person and can be used for tracking, identification and medical uses. The wearable tag is worn by an individual either on the arm or on the wrist. The VeriChip Corporation has two departments ... ... middle of paper ... ...I incompatibility, adverse tissue reaction, and migration of the implanted transponder. Albrecht cites MRI incompatibility is perhaps the most serious issue. An MRI machine uses powerful magnetic fields coupled with pulsed radio frequency (RF) fields. According to the FDA's Primer on Medical Device Interactions with Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems, "electrical currents may be induced in conductive metal implants" that can cause "potentially severe patient burns." Conclusion Even though the VeriChip has its beneficial uses just like every other evolving piece of technology it also has its disadvantages which outweigh the positives. References Albrecht, K. (2004b, November 29). VeriChip RFID implants in Mexican Attorney General’s Office Overstated. Retrieved November 23, 2005, from http://www.spychips.com/press-releases/mexican-implant-correction.html

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