Abstract
BackgroundThe use of radio frequency identification (RFID) systems in healthcare is increasing, and concerns for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) pose one of the biggest obstacles for widespread adoption. Numerous studies have demonstrated that RFID systems can interfere with medical devices; however, the majority of past studies relied on time-consuming and burdensome test schemes based on ad hoc test methods applied to individual RFID systems.MethodsThis paper presents the results of using an RFID simulator that allows for faster evaluation of RFID-medical device EMC against a library of RFID test signals at various field strengths.ResultsThe results of these tests demonstrate the feasibility and adequacy of simulator testing and can be used to support its incorporation into applicable consensus standards.ConclusionsThis work can aid the medical device community in better assessing the risks associated with medical device exposure to RFID.
Highlights
The use of radio frequency identification (RFID) systems in healthcare is increasing, and concerns for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) pose one of the biggest obstacles for widespread adoption
Medical devices have been shown to be susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI) from RFID and current medical device EMC standards do not adequately test electromagnetic immunity of medical devices to RFID systems
This study has demonstrated the feasibility and adequacy of using simulators and the RFID Test Library to test medical devices for EMC with RFID
Summary
The use of radio frequency identification (RFID) systems in healthcare is increasing, and concerns for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) pose one of the biggest obstacles for widespread adoption. Numerous studies have demonstrated that RFID systems can interfere with medical devices [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8] and previous ad hoc testing by FDA [8] demonstrated the need for a standardized test method, as it is impractical and time consuming to test for EMC between a medical device and individual RFID systems. IEC 60601-1-2:2007 (the EMC test standard for non-implantable medical devices) has no immunity requirements at 125 kHz nor a radiated immunity requirement at 13.56 MHz. the radiated immunity requirements at 915 MHz and 2.4 GHz do not represent the potential field strengths allowed by the FCC. Medical devices tested to IEC 60601-1-2 can still be susceptible to RFID emissions as shown by Seidman et al [1,8]
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