Achieving medical device EMC: the role of regulations, standards, guidelines and publications

Many organizations around the world are working to improve EMC of electrical and electronic medical devices. Anecdotal evidence indicates that medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable and diligent regarding medical device EMI and EMC. Existing and new wireless services and other sources of electromagnetic disturbance (EMD) continue to proliferate; however at the same time, there is continuing development of regulations, standards, guidelines and publications that are intended to help prevent EMI and promote EMC and that can be applied to the safe use of RF sources and medical devices in hospitals. This paper provides a critical overview of the impact of such regulations, standards, guidelines and publications and their role in minimizing EMI malfunctions in healthcare. It also provides a bibliography that lists many of these important works.