EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Mobile Phones

The rationale is use technology where it applies. Rules and policies are for people to follow but never cast them in stone, where possible relax with a change for the betterment of our patients and doctors treating them.

Cheers!

You must believe it will affect medical equipment though most kits are built to comply with IEC 60601-1-2 but remember to be immuned from such interference relies on 3 basic factors: the strength of the interference; the distance between the interference and the kit, and the transmitting frequency.

Cheers!

But let's not forget that the vast majority of medical equipment (suction pumps, for example) couldn't care less about all the radiated noise that is zooming around "the ether" at any one time. Either that, or it produces hefty doses of its own (electrosurgical units, x-ray systems)!

And well-designed modern equipment should be pretty much RF-proof too. After all, "screening" (or "shielding") has been about for donkey's years, and is hardly rocket science. We should always remember that hospitals are dirty places in all senses of the word - that is, in terms of electro-magnetic noise, too.

Frankly, if modern kit wasn't so (often unnecessarily) complicated, the possibility of interference would be diminished anyway. Much of the time, the "latest technology" is used for what amounts to little more than proprietary reasons (or even, gouging), or just because it's the "latest stuff". In many cases little, or no, real utility is added. Just a bunch of gee-whiz "features" that no-one actually uses - but still have to pay for (very much like modern software, in fact). What's next, Bluetooth connectivity for the Roberts Pump?

Perhaps the real problem with the "infusion pump that resets itself" etc. is bad design of the pump! Perhaps we could start by returning to the idea of using metal cases (that can be readily screened) rather than plastic! And don't devices coming to market get checked out for this sort of thing (eg, mobile phone "compliance") during the FDA approval process, and whatever we do (if anything) in the UK, and in other parts of the world? Could this be the rub:- "prevention is better than cure"?

Perhaps we need to devise a "mobile phone test" of our own, to be carried out during acceptance testing. Maybe Rigel et al already have such a tester on the drawing board as we speak!

I believe the mobile phone debate is more of a "social" (meaning un-social, "I don't care") issue. Ignorant people are in the ascendancy ... hadn't you noticed?

OK again, if I leave my Nokia N95 next to my hifi, just as its about to ring my Hifi pops and screams out! Now if this is not EMI then am I missing something? Granted, most medical kit is screened from EMI (IEC 60601-1-2 as Roger states). but "Most" is not "Everything" is it???

Eddie

Duplicate post! Oops!

Of course it's EMI ... it's all around us, almost everywhere (and certainly within hospital buildings). So what?

Like most other "issues", this thing needs to be kept in perspective. As I keep saying, surely the real problem stems from the ways that the dull and the ignorant use them (the mobile phones). If someone in authority grabbed their damned mobile phone, and put a hammer to it, then perhaps they'd get the message! How's that for SMS?

Don't forget also that "it could work the other way". That is, equipment (apart from hammers) could "affect" the mobiles, too. For instance, I always keep mine well away from the microwave oven. Or am I just being "old fashioned" again?

PS: what test do you use during acceptance? Any, or none at all? I feel another poll coming on. What became of the last one?

I remember a rather funny story about a sales rep coming into a certain Liverpool hospital and declaring his suction jars where unbreakable! Bad mistake!

Eddie

Oh yes, you are right about suction pumps. With ambient electromagnetic wave in the air, the more the EMC issues need to be managed.


It is beyond our controls but all of us will agree that technology needs to advance for its intended purpose.


Most frequently, it is the infusion pump, with commonly over-infused (free-flow)problem. FDA asked for certification (those of similar kit in the market) for RF immunity and emission and that is all they need to put the product in the market.

I doubt there is a willingness for the manufacturer to produce one.

OK agreed! But what happens if I strip a piece of kit down for repair and for some reason or other the screening is compromised during reassembly of the said kit? How would I know?

Eddie

Hi Eddie,

You have a point there! But as with normal practices, put back where it is supposed to be or else you will find some extra parts/components left over when you have assembled back the unit. But having said that, there is no guarantee that everyone of us will follow the good practices all the time. Therefore, it is always for the hospital to implement a policy so that the public and staff can follow. Again, you find that it is really difficult to police all these and I am sure that everyone in Biomed or the department involved in the keeping the control find it difficult to control the utilization of mobile phone in the hospital. Therefore, to a certain extend of control, hospital chooses to ban them in certain areas like the ICU, Operating Theatres, etc.