Filter
Top Products
273
Safety
effects. Their recommendation to limit wireless phone use by children
was strictly precautionary; it was not based on 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/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProdu
ctsandProcedures/HomeBusinessandEntertainment/CellPhones/default.