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Safety
scientific evidence that any health hazard
exists.
11. What about wireless phone
interference with medical equipment?
Radio Frequency (RF) energy from wireless
phones can interact with some electronic
devices. For this reason, the FDA helped
develop a detailed test method to measure
Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) of
implanted cardiac pacemakers and
defibrillators from wireless telephones. This
test method is now part of a standard
sponsored by the Association for the
Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
(AAMI). The final draft, a joint effort by the
FDA, medical device manufacturers, and
many other groups, was completed in late
2000. This standard will allow
manufacturers to ensure that cardiac
pacemakers and defibrillators are safe from
wireless phone EMI.
The FDA has tested hearing aids for
interference from handheld wireless phones
and helped develop a voluntary standard
sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This standard
specifies test methods and performance
requirements for hearing aids and wireless
phones so that no interference occurs
when a person uses a “compatible” phone
and a “compatible” hearing aid at the same
time. This standard was approved by the
IEEE in 2000.
The FDA continues to monitor the use of
wireless phones for possible interactions
with other medical devices. Should harmful
interference be found to occur, the FDA will
conduct testing to assess the interference
and work to resolve the problem.
12. Where can I find additional
information?
For additional information, please refer to
the following resources:
FDA web page on wireless phones
(http://www.fda.gov/cellphones/)
Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) RF Safety Program
(http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety)
International Commission on Non-lonizing