What should I look for when choosing a medical tracker?

A. First, seek a company that focuses on developing medical tracking products and presents a robust record of bringing products to market. Making a tracker work in medicine requires clear understanding of technology tradeoffs, interface issues, and customization requirements. It is one thing to make a tracker work in a vacuum; it is a far different issue to make it work successfully in a medical application.

Second, evaluate competing trackers before making a decision. At least one major medical company has come to regret not performing due diligence before making a major investment.

Finally, look for expertise and versatility in tracking solutions. With the recent expiration of first generation AC magnetic tracking patents, a number of start-ups have built AC trackers and rushed into the medical market. While their intentions are good, their track records are poor. Your safest bet is to deal with an experienced tracking company offering multiple trackers, and configurations that can be readily modified to meet your requirements.