Gentag Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is unique about Gentag?
A: Gentag correctly anticipated ten years ago that cell phones would be used as diagnostic devices. The company has developed a unique intellectual property portfolio and suite of technologies to exploit this emerging global market. Gentag has also created a new generic disposable wireless sensor platform that is directly compatible with cell phones as well as specific applications of this technology for the diagnostics markets, including diabetes. The aim of the company is to make these diagnostic technologies ubiquitous, affordable and accessible to everyone worldwide.
Q: What frequencies do the Gentag technologies use?
A: Gentag uses three stand-alone wireless sensor platforms operating at 13.56 MHz, 430 MHz and 2.4 GHz allowing read ranges from inches to several miles, depending on the specific market application.
Q: Can the Gentag technologies be used in hospitals?
A: Yes. Gentag combines 13.56 MHz readers with Wi-Fi to communicate the data directly to a hospital server. 13.56 MHz is accredited for medical use worldwide and most hospitals currently use Wi-Fi.
Q: What is an "E-visit" ? How will this technology help me?
A: E-visits or telemedicine links a patient and either a hospital or a physician electronically, anywhere worldwide. Gentag believes that cell phones combined with its disposable sensor platform is the ideal technology platform for E-visits.
Q: How does an E-visit work?
A: Let's assume you go to a hospital for surgery. Post surgery a special non-invasive disposable wireless sensor patch is applied to the surgery area, you are sent home and you will then scan the surgery area at recommended times directly with your cell phone (or reader kit loaned by the hospital or doctor's office). If something becomes abnormal then you will be called back immediately to the hospital. Essentially you and the hospital save money because you limit your time in the hospital and problems are caught early on. Reducing the time spent in hospitals will result in major cost savings.
Q: What are examples of E-visits?
A: Specific examples include post orthopedics surgery, pre-labor monitoring, diabetes monitoring, asthma monitoring and heart condition monitoring, among many others.
Q: In addition to E-visits what other diagnostic applications are possible using cell phones?
A: Virtually any condition can be monitored with your cell phone including diabetes, asthma, fever monitoring, medication, pre-cancer, Point-of-Care (POC) or immunoassays. An example of the latter would be monitoring foods for peanut traces using a disposable wireless immunoassay read directly by the cell phone.
Q: Will my health data be safe if I use a cell phone to monitor my medical condition?
A: Yes. You can select several options. The most common one is simply to display the test result only on your cell phone or PC screen and it does not go any further. Alternatively you can store and send the data remotely to a family relative or your physician. You may also select to send the data to remote medical records storage systems such as Microsoft's HealthVault. If the data is send remotely the cell phone identify is hidden and encrypted using very secure standards.
Q: What are the cost savings using the Gentag technologies?
A: By using cell phones as readers our aim is the save costs for every diagnostic application. Our technologies are based on disposable diagnostic wireless sensors and proprietary software. E-visits can save hospitals thousands of dollars per patient. Some of our proprietary technologies like the glucose sensor are expected to save diabetics hundreds of dollars per year (Type 2) compared to current diabetes monitoring technologies - and be painless. For Type 1 diabetes the savings will be even greater.
Q: When are these technologies going to be available?
A: Some are already available now and others will become available gradually over the coming years.
Q: Can the Gentag technologies be used with my PC?
A: Yes. In addition to cell phones a low cost USB reader for your PC can be used for your diagnostic needs. You will need Microsoft Windows XP or Vista with Microsoft .net framework 3.5 or better.
Q: Do I need to buy a special cell phone ? What is the cost?
A: Most Gentag applications will run on common cell phones. For some applications RFID enabled cell phones (or NFC cell phone) are necessary but it is anticipated that this technology will soon be integrated in most cell phones. The cost of an NFC cell phone is anticipated to be virtually the same as a normal cell phone.
Q: Can the patented Gentag technologies be used for applications other than diagnostics?
A: Yes. Disposable wireless sensors combined with cell phones have many immediate global market applications such as temperature monitoring, remote appliance monitoring ("smart" homes), checking the pressure of your tires with your cell phone, counterfeit checking and Homeland Security applications.
Q: What is Gentag's business model?
A: Our business model is to license our technologies or partner with large consumer and diagnostic companies to ensure that the technology becomes widely available worldwide.
Q: Who do I contact to get more information on the company?
A: Please contact anyone below:
| John Peeters: | +1-240-994-2236 | john.peeters@gentag.com |
| Marc Bense: | +31-235-431-015 | marc.bense@gentag.com |
| Marc Onigman: | +1-617-413-2830 | marc.onigman@gentag.com |