LG Electronics AX260 This reason, the FDA helped, To measure Electro Magnetic, Cardiac pacemakers

Safety

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
S	sponsored by the Association for
a f	the Advancement of Medical
e ty	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.

96