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Performance and Safety Guidelines 177
What about wireless phone interference
with medical equipment?
Radio frequency energy (RF) from wireless
phones can interact with some electronic
devices. For this reason, FDA helped develop a
detailed test method to measure
electromagnetic 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 FDA, medical device
manufacturers, and many other groups, was
completed on late 2000. This standard will
allow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac
pacemakers and defibrillators are safe from
wireless phone EMI.
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.
verizonN300.book Page 177 Tuesday, December 18, 2001 1:04 PM