Implanet Using IBM Software to Protect Patients in the Event of Medical Device Recalls

Implanet Using IBM Software to Protect Patients in the Event of Medical Device
Recalls

ARMONK, N.Y., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Implanet, a manufacturer of
implantable medical devices, has selected IBM (NYSE: IBM) sensor technology as
the foundation for BeepN'Track, a new service that traces the movement of
Implanet's products - including knee and hip implants - across its supply
chain to hospitals.

Spiraling medical costs and growing demand for medical care present the health
care industry with unprecedented challenges. To meet the cost and quality
expectations of the hospitals it serves, Implanet is infusing its operations
with new intelligence to reduce the costs associated with human error,
out-of-stock products, and supply chain inefficiencies while offering the best
possible medical devices and supporting services.

By offering a line of products that are completely traceable, Implanet gives
health care providers the peace of mind that comes with being able to easily
identify patients whose implanted medical devices are the subject of a recall.

Prior to the creation of its new system, Implanet had no means of tracking its
products once they left its manufacturing facilities. This meant the
company's medical devices were difficult to trace once shipped.

The company's BeepN'Track service uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
tags to track medical devices from Implanet to hospitals. Prior to shipping,
Implanet affixes an RFID tag bearing a unique serial number to the packaging
of each individual device. Before a surgical procedure takes place, a
hospital uses a handheld device to scan the tag from the medical device being
implanted and stores that information along with the patient's records. The
tag is given to the patient after surgery so he or she will have all available
information concerning the implant in the event of future concerns.

The information stored on the tags is gathered by IBM's WebSphere Sensor
Events software and transmitted to IBM's InfoSphere Traceability Server
software. This allows Implanet to manage and share information with the
systems of any trading partners that adhere to GS1 EPCglobal's Electronic
Product Code Information Services standard for capturing and sharing sensor
data.

"We do not want to focus on our commodity product - the implant itself - but
on a complete solution which makes the product smart and thus creates a new
generation of medical solutions," said Erick Cloix, chief executive officer,
Implanet. "With IBM's health care industry knowledge and its technology
expertise, this initiative is opening up the whole international market to
us."

IBM is creating a smarter, more connected healthcare system that delivers
better care with fewer mistakes, predicts and prevents diseases, and empowers
people to make better choices. This includes integrating data so doctors,
patients and insurers can share information seamlessly and efficiently. IBM
also helps clients apply advanced analytics to improve medical research,
diagnosis and treatment in order to improve patient care and help reduce
healthcare costs.

About IBM
For more information about IBM, visit: http://www.ibm.com/think.

For more information about IBM sensor technologies, visit:
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/solutions/sensors/.

To see a video on smarter healthcare go to http://tinyurl.com/cdqjuo.

IBM
Carine Legras
+33 6 75 65 35 86
Carine_legras@fr.ibm.com

Holli Haswell
512-590-8879
hhaswell@us.ibm.com

Implanet
Caroline Dauba de Remur
+ 33 557 995 555
cdr@implanet.com

SOURCE IBM

Carine Legras, +33-6-75-65-35-86, Carine_legras@fr.ibm.com, or Holli Haswell,
+1-512-590-8879, hhaswell@us.ibm.com, both of IBM; or Caroline Dauba de Remur
of Implanet, +33-557-995-555, cdr@implanet.com