MEMS barcode device for monitoring medical systems at point of care

摘要

This invention relates to a novel wireless barcode MEMS canary which can be embedded in electronic systems that can be monitored at any time for their degradation over a period of time until they fail. By establishing the relationship between the healthy state of the barcode and its degradation to that of the electronic system and the components, the residual life of the system can be established and preventive measures can be taken before part failure. In a barcode sensor system used to identify a component, the material used to print the bars of the barcode is selected such that it is capable of changing one or more of its properties in response to a change in ambient conditions. A means is provided for reading out said change in properties and storing this information such that when the sensor is brought into proximity to an interrogator data can be retrieved.