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Contactless smart cards given science boost
16 Mar 2010

The proliferation of a cashless catering in hospitals could be boosted by a new study which shows that radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is safe to use around MRI and CT scanners.

According to the RFID Journal, researchers from St Gallen Canton Hospital in Switzerland found that wristbands fitted with the technology did not interfere significantly with imaging devices or pose any sort of health risk to patients.

The breakthrough could encourage more hospitals to use RFID wristbands for patients, which would provide a range of benefits, one of which could be cashless catering.

Roger Luechinger, a researcher at the University of ETH Zurich's Institute of Biomedical Engineering, told the publication that the technology is safe "using normal operation mode for RF field when the types of tag tested here are used".

However, he suggested: "Other types of RFID tags need to be tested in different MRI conditions and also under other clinical conditions."

RFID is used in a number of contactless payment systems including those operated by sQuid in the UK and abroad. It is used in terminals and tills at the electronic point of sale.