# Electromagnetic Assessment of UHF-RFID Devices in Healthcare Environment
## 1 Introduction  
The application of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) that guarantee smart and seamless assistance has been significantly increasing and, thus, the health sector has become dependable on these technologies. To quote a relevant example, a reference should be made to the tracking system that is based upon short-range radio frequency, Ultra High Frequency--Radio Frequency Identification (UHF-RFID). This system is used to aid the identification process of materials, instrumentation and people at healthcare centers. At the outset, the monitored objects are assigned a digital identity, with the use of labels attached to the objects that contain written individual number, as replaced or supplemented by barcodes, which are optically read by scanners (using infrared laser beams). With regard to the use of optical technologies, long-term and substantial human efforts are required for an object to be subject to individual processing, as an object needs to be approachedto the scanner each time and a bar code needs to be located precisely within the optical scanner line. The RFID is a widely used wireless technology for Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC); it has been commonly applied to identify and track tags attached to specific objects. The RFID readers obtain and write data on tags, which are most frequently \"passive tags\", i.e., small electronic circuits which are supplied (charged) by the production of electromagnetic energy of the electromagnetic field (EMF) transmitted by the reader of RFID system. Smart solutions for medical purposes (e-Health) are globally implemented as Smart Health [1] solutions. In this context, RFID technology enables objects to retain to their identity, similar to a unique serial number. The wireless RFID data exchanged are processed to provide real-time data in the monitoring systems. Usually, fixed readers and handheld readers are employed and, to this extent, from the point of view of the environmental electromagnetic impact, the following are most often recognized to be fit for their intended purpose: Manually Operated (MO) readers or Autonomous (A) readers. A schematic of performance of performance of an UHF-RFID system used in healthcare centers [2] is depicted in Figure 1.  
What we may observe today is that the environment and individuals are more and more exposed to new electromagnetic conditions, with no relevant provision made therefore in the legislation on human exposure or sufficient previous studies on their longstanding effect, considered low intensity exposure effects or operation of medical devices in indoor environments [3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9]. The electromagnetic assessment of the operation of the UHF-RFID system, that operates at the 865-868 MHz range, being in fact similar to the frequency of the EMF emitted by mobile communication GSM systems, and is essential for underpinning all aspects in response to a high demand for dynamic wireless applications in the healthcare environment. For these technologies to be developed, manufactured and deployed further on, a need for signals, devices, antennas and complete systems to be measured and analyzed with respect to RF exposure nearby has emerged. The Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) may cause severe problems to electronic devices, and can imply dangerous consequences,  
Figure 1: RFID performance scheme at a health center [2]. if medical devices are affected. In relation with the effect of exposure on humans, the studies regarding the risk posed by mobile communication devices to health prove of relevance here [8; 10; 11]. In all cases, the electromagnetic environmental impact and the related risk can be mitigated when the relevant preventive measures are undertaken, as shown in [12; 13].