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28.06.2016, Landshut, Germany

Biocompatible glass protects sensitive microchips

The technology group SCHOTT is the only company that manufactures biocompatible glass tubes for animal transponders at its site in Landshut

Animal transponders are usually implanted into the left side of the neck of the animal. Biocompatible glass from SCHOTT ensures that the transponder is particularly tissue- compatible. Photo: SCHOTT.

A loud noise, the presence of another animal or simply disorientation, can cause a beloved pet dog or cat to run away in an instant. And without clear identification, it will be difficult to return it home again to its owner. The chipping of pets with animal transponders and registration of the identification number stored on the chip in central animal databases can help greatly in this situation. The injection of RFID (radio frequency identification) transponders is easy for veterinarians to do and very reliable and well-tolerated in their application due to a vacuum-tight seal with biocompatible special glass from SCHOTT.

While the old standard was to tattoo a letter and number combination inside the ear of an animal, the use of RFID microchips has now made unique identification and registration of animals easier than ever before. This passive transponder is about the size of a grain of rice and contains a copper coil and a chip that is injected directly into the tissue. A reader device held at a distance of only a few centimeters over the neck of the animal reads the 15-digit number stored in the chip using electromagnetic waves.

SCHOTT has developed a unique solution of high-quality transponder tubes made of biocompatible special glass for this biologically-sensitive application at its German plant in Landshut. This product has been used successfully on domestic and farm animals under the name 8625 for about 20 years. “We are the only manufacturer that makes transponder cases out of tissue-compatible glass,” explains Cornelia Rusche, Sales Manager for transponders at SCHOTT. The extremely biocompatible glass is drawn into tubing in diameters of 1.2 to 4 millimeters, processed and then delivered to the transponder manufacturers who then complete the assembly by filling the tubes with a chip, an antenna and ferrite. Due to the special glass composition, the manufacturer can vacuum seal the open end of the transponder package with infrared light from a laser and even autoclave it, if necessary.

Microchips for animal identification are already being used in a larger-sized application for farm animals in conjunction with fixed readers installed at gates as an alternative to ear tags. Product developers at SCHOTT are already thinking about new applications and the further development of biocompatible glass.