Challenges for Power Supplies in Medical Equipment: Ensuring patient and operator safety

The health-care industry is rapidly evolving. Factors such as the increasing age profile of patients, the increase in lifestyle-related conditions, and the demand for higher levels of health care in the developing world have resulted in changes in diagnostics and treatments. The treatment environment is evolving as well, with increased levels of outpatient care for many illnesses, including more home care and clinic-based activities. In addition, there have been major changes in the safety standards that govern medical equipment with the full adoption of the harmonized standard International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60601-1 Third Edition, from which national standards are derived [e.g., Underwriters Laboratories (UL), European Normative Standards (EN), and Canadian Standards Association (CSA)].