A practical procedure to prevent electromagnetic interference with electronic medical equipment

Hanada E, Takano K, Antoku Y, Matsumura K, Watanabe Y, Nose Y

J Med Syst 26(1):61-65, 2002

Problems involving electromagnetic interference (EMI) with electronic medical equipment are well-documented. However, no systematic investigation of EMI has been done.

We have systematically investigated the causes of EMI. The factors involved in EMI were determined as follows:
1) Electric-field intensity induced by invasive radio waves from outside a hospital.
2) Residual magnetic-flux density at welding points in a building.
3) Electric-field intensity induced by conveyance systems with a linear motor.
4) The shielding capacity of hospital walls.
5) The shielding capacity of commercial shields against a wide range frequency radio waves.
6) The immunity of electronic medical equipment.
7) EMI by cellular telephone and personal handy-phone system handsets.

From the results of our investigation, we developed a following practical procedure to prevent EMI.
1) Measurement of electric-field intensity induced by invasive radio waves from outside the hospital and industrial systems in the hospital.
2) Measurement of residual magnetic-flux density at electric welding points of hospital buildings with steel frame structures.
3) Control of the electromagnetic environment by utilizing the shielding capacity of walls.
4) Measurement of the immunity of electronic medical equipment. And
5) Installation of electronic gate equipment at the building entrance to screen for handsets.