New Breast Implants Contain RFID Technology

Breast implants with radiofrequency identification (RFID) chips can be simply externally scanned for retrieval of information in the event of a recall or other product query.

The Motiva Implant Matrix VelvetSurface PLUS and SilkSurface PLUS breast implants are a made of a soft, gliding, printed nanosurface that reduces complications related to traditional textures, while at the same time reducing capsular contracture rates. The VelvetSurface PLUS implants also provide a printed microsurface that promotes a more secure fit in the breast pocket. Both breast implants are provided with Q Inside Safety Technology, which acts as an electronic serial identification number in breast implants and other implantable and reusable medical devices.

Manufacturers, physicians, and patients alike will have access to a secure online database to retrieve implant-specific data such as serial number, manufacturer name, date of manufacture, lot number, volume, size, and other data from the medical device manufacturer. The Motiva Implant Matrix VelvetSurface PLUS and SilkSurface PLUS breast implants are products of Establishment Labs (Alajuela, Costa Rica). Q Inside Safety Technology was developed by VeriTeQ Corporation (DelRay Beach, FL, USA), a provider of implantable medical device identification and radiation dose measurement technologies.

“We continue to advance the safety and exclusivity of our entire breast implant portfolio to answer the demands from both physicians and patients alike,” said Juan José Chacón-Quirós, CEO of Establishment Labs. “Including VeriTeQ’s Q Inside Safety Technology in Motiva’s SilkSurface PLUS and VelvetSurface PLUS implants emphasizes our primary focus of providing best-in-class products for the protection of the patient.”

“Giving physicians and patients the power to identify their breast implants in a healthcare setting is the next generation of technology and security, and we believe both groups will ultimately demand this level of safety from their implants,” said Scott R. Silverman, chairman and CEO of VeriTeQ.

A example highlighting the need for breast implant identification occurred in 2010, when a French manufacturer of breast implants named PIP was shut down because the company used industrial grade silicone in their implants instead of medical-grade silicone, which had double the rupture rate of other implants. As news of leaks spread, breast implant patients were concerned that they may have PIP's implants. Many of the patients did not have product or warranty cards, and no records were available on which implants were inside each patient.

Related Links:
Establishment Labs
VeriTeQ Corporation