IEEE C63.18-1997

This recommended practice is intended to serve as a guide for health-care organizations in evaluating the radiated radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic immunity of their existing inventories of medical devices to their existing inventories of RF transmitters, as well as to RF transmitters that are commonly available. It can also be used for newly purchased medical devices and RF transmitters, as well as for prepurchase evaluation. This recommended practice applies to medical devices used in health-care facilities and to portable transmitters with a rated power output of 8 W or less. It does not apply to implantable medical devices, transport environments such as ambulances and helicopters, or to RF transmitters rated at more than 8 W. Testing with transmitters greater than 8 W should not be performed in health-care facilities because of possible adverse effects on critical-care medical devices that are in use in other areas of the facility.

The purpose of this recommended practice is to a) Provide an inexpensive, relatively reproducible test method for estimating the radiated RF electromagnetic immunity of medical devices to available, portable RF transmitters that might be operated in proximity; b) Provide a test method that can be performed by clinical and biomedical engineers;c) Improve reproducibility and intercomparability of test results; and d) Provide information for and facilitate development of policies and procedures for managing (i.e., allowing or restricting) the use of specific RF transmitters within specific areas of a health-care facility.

New IEEE Standard - Inactive-Withdrawn. Guidance is provided for health-care organizations in evaluating the radiated RF electromagnetic immunity of their existing inventories of medical devices to their existing inventories of RF transmitters, as well as to RF transmitters that are commonly available. This recommended practice can also be used for newly purchased medical devices and RF transmitters, as well as for pre-purchase evaluation. It applies to medical devices used in health-care facilities and to portable transmitters with a rated power output of 8 W or less. It does not apply to implantable medical devices, transport environments such as ambulances and helicopters, or to RF transmitters rated at more than 8 W.