New Surgical Instrument Tracking Improves Asset Management, Maximizes Clinical Efficiencies
Xerafy and SIS-USA partner to introduce RFID-based system to accurately and automatically track surgical trays and devices
HONG KONG and CHICAGO, May 1, 2013 – Xerafy and Surgical Instrument Service Company, Inc. (SIS-USA) have partnered to solve the ongoing issues related to tracking and managing surgical trays, surgical devices and biomedical equipment. Each company is a leader in its respective field and the new partnership will bring an innovative, best-of-breed solution to provide highly visible surgical asset management aimed at tracking the use history of surgical instruments and devices.
The SIS-USA solution incorporates software and Xerafy autoclavable radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to bring tray-level visibility to tray inventories between the sterilization department and operating room. It uses EPCglobal Gen 2, ISO 18000-6C standard passive UHF RFID technology to automatically track, count and record items as they move through decontamination, assembly, sterilization, storage, transport and procedural uses – from the autoclave to the operating room and back. Continue reading
Xerafy Denies Omni-ID Allegations of Patent Infringement
Xerafy, Ltd. rejects Omni-ID USA’s allegations of patent infringement. Xerafy considers these claims totally unfounded and spurious
HONG KONG, April 26, 2013 – Following comprehensive analysis by independent RFID technology experts, Xerafy is very confident that its RFID tags do not infringe on either of Omni-ID USA’s patents. Xerafy reached this conclusion after engaging with independent technology and IP experts to review the claims made by Omni-ID USA and conducting a thorough examination of Xerafy product portfolio against the complaint.
Omni-ID USA filed a lawsuit against Xerafy that makes general claims about product designs and reading methods that are inaccurate. Xerafy will vigorously defend the suit. Xerafy has successfully defended erroneous claims made by other companies before, and those disputes ended with the other companies withdrawing their inaccurate positions. Xerafy will continue to defend its rights and it reputation, and to contest any false or misleading claims about the company.
“We are extremely confident on our intellectual property position, and should this matter go to court, we are very confident we will prevail,” said Xerafy founder and CEO Dennis Khoo. “There is absolutely no basis for Xerafy to pay any royalties, licensing fees or penalties to Omni-ID USA, and we will continue to resist Omni-ID USA’s pressure to do so.”
Xerafy conducted numerous discussions and meetings with Omni-ID USA prior to the lawsuit being filed to understand the basis for the infringement allegations as well as the technical points at issue. During that time, Omni-ID USA insisted that Xerafy join Omni-ID USA’s technology licensing program and pay royalties for Xerafy’s entire product portfolio. However, Omni-ID USA failed to demonstrate that any Xerafy products infringed its patents. Xerafy is fully convinced it does not infringe, and that Omni-ID USA has no rights to revenues from the sale of any Xerafy products. Continue reading
Access Solutions and Xerafy Enhance Nuclear Safety at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant
PORTLAND, Oregon and HONG KONG, April 25, 2013 – Access Solutions and Xerafy recently provided an automated Foreign Materials Exclusion (FME) solution with RFID functionality to improve safety at the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant in Homestead, Florida. The plant recently completed an extended power uprate (EPU) project that expanded its power generating capacity by 15 percent. The plant was offline during the EPU as thousands of contractors were on site to upgrade the facility. Access Solutions’ FME STARtrac(SM), AUTO-ID Foreign Material Exclusion system, featuring RFID tags from Xerafy on tools and materials used in the project, enhanced safety and provided asset tracking during the upgrade.
FME is an essential component in protecting critical power generation equipment during maintenance. The power industry has experienced equipment failure when objects not part of the operational design are left behind following maintenance activities. FME STARtrac from Access Solutions reduces the potential of this happening by using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and other auto-ID technologies to identify and track tools, components and other assets. The software stores detailed asset information, alerting FME technicians if an item’s condition has changed or is left in a controlled area. Continue reading
Xerafy Introduces Specialty RFID Tags Engineered for Industrial Applications
Wedge Series makes it easy to embed durable, ISO/EPCglobal-standard RFID tags into assets and equipment in construction, oil and gas, manufacturing and other environments
HONG KONG, April 18, 2013 – Xerafy Ltd., a market leader in RFID metal tags, introduced the Pico Wedge and Nano Wedge today, two EPCglobal Gen 2, ISO 18000-6 standard UHF passive RFID on-metal tags that are specifically designed to be easily embedded for industrial applications. Because of their shape and design, the tags can be permanently embedded into metal objects without any adhesives or special tools.
Using RFID for asset identification in construction, oil and gas fields and other industrial operations can be extremely challenging because there is a risk the attached tags may be damaged or detached in the rugged environments they inhabit. The Wedge Series design not only protects the chip, but also enables RFID tags to be embedded in oil and gas valves, pipes, I-beams, construction equipment and other assets quickly and efficiently. Thanks to their innovative design, the Pico Wedge and Nano Wedge can be easily plugged into circular recesses on metallic assets to provide lifetime identification without the need to use epoxy. A common drill and mallet are all that is needed to permanently embed Wedge tags into most metal objects. Continue reading
Xerafy Statement on Competitive Claims
HONG KONG, March 8, 2013 – Xerafy, Ltd, a global supplier of RFID metal tags, is aware of the patent allegations made against the company by Omni-ID. Xerafy is currently reviewing the allegations and will not comment on the merits of the complaint.
“Xerafy respects the intellectual property of all companies, including its competitors. Xerafy has very broad patent protection itself, and therefore we take any allegations of infringement very seriously,” said Xerafy founder and CEO Dennis Khoo. “We are very confident in our intellectual property position.”
Xerafy’s broad patent protection for its product line arises from its 15 issued and more than 15 additional pending patents. Xerafy also manufactures products that conform to ISO, GS1, Air Transport Association and other international standards.
“Patent disputes are common in growth technology markets. We are not surprised by Omni-ID’s actions, but we are disappointed,” Khoo said. “There have been aggressive patent litigation and licensing programs in the automated data collection industry before, and they have rarely if ever been beneficial for customers. Success in the market won’t come from the courtroom, but will come from focusing on meeting the needs of customers.”