Filter
Top Products
127127
using wireless phones at all. For
example, the government in the
United Kingdom distributed leaflets
containing such a recommendation
in December 2000. They noted
that no evidence exists that using a
wireless phone causes brain tumors
or other ill 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.
VN251S_VZW_UG_EN_V1.0_130410.qxd 4/11/13 1:45 PM Page 127