Measurement and analysis of the electromagnetic fields radiated by the medical devices

Abstract

Wireless communication technologies and wireless devices are being developed. In addition, recently developed medical devices are also used for equipped WiFi function to communicate between the server and client for convenience. Therefore, the electromagnetic field environment in the hospitals is getting complex and unstable. The electromagnetic interference and susceptibility of the medical equipment are very important because it is related to the patient life in the hospitals. So, the international standard committees are suggested and managed the electromagnetic field problems. Although nations in the world are agreed and introduced the standard of electromagnetic fields, the interference between the devices is still occurred. Especially, devices that are closed to each other could be easily affected. In addition, the electromagnetic problems of medical devices are very important and should be completely managed because it could be affected to human being. The electromagnetic fields of extremely low frequency bands are not exactly effect to the human body, but the world health organization and the international agency for research on cancer reported that the extremely low frequency and radio frequency bands are possibly carcinogenic to humans for cancer occurrence. Therefore, the hospital manager should be assessed the electromagnetic environment radiated by the medical devices or telecommunication and prepared the method of safe management. In addition, they should be prepared to avoid the electromagnetic interference and susceptibility between the medical devices or other electrical devices. The electromagnetic radiation according to the medical devices in the hospitals has to be measured and analyzed. The measured results of electromagnetic field strengths radiated by the medical devices in the hospitals are not very strong except some high power used devices such as the electrosurgical units. However, if there are the interfering devices near by the medical equipment, interference could be occurred during working of medical equipment in the hospitals.