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Related Experiment Videos

Cellular telephone interference with medical equipment.

Jeffrey L Tri1, Rodney P Severson, Allen R Firl

  • 1Division of Foundation Telecommunications and Network Services, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

Mayo Clinic Proceedings
|October 11, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Current cellular telephones can cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) with medical devices, with 1.2% of tests showing clinically significant issues. Periodic testing is essential as technology evolves.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Electromagnetics
  • Medical Device Technology

Background:

  • Cellular telephones are ubiquitous, raising concerns about their potential impact on sensitive medical equipment.
  • Previous studies have indicated a risk of electromagnetic interference (EMI) between mobile phones and medical devices.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the electromagnetic interference (EMI) potential of current-generation cellular telephones on various medical devices.
  • To determine the incidence and clinical relevance of EMI in a controlled setting.

Main Methods:

  • Six cellular telephones representing different technologies (e.g., Code Division Multiple Access, Global System for Mobile communications) were tested.
  • Sixteen medical devices were tested with cellular telephones operating at or near maximum power output.

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  • Medical devices were monitored for display and alarm anomalies during testing with clinical simulators.

    • Main Results:

    • Out of 510 tests, 1.2% resulted in clinically important interference.
    • Electromagnetic interference (EMI) was induced in 21.2% of tests.
    • Interference was observed in 44% of the medical devices tested.

    Conclusions:

    • Cellular telephones pose a risk of electromagnetic interference (EMI) to medical equipment.
    • Technological advancements in both cellular phones and medical devices may alter the prevalence of clinically relevant interference.
    • Despite potential mitigation, ongoing periodic testing of cellular telephones is necessary to ensure medical device safety.