Assessment on a Safe use of a Home Telemedicine System regarding Electromagnetic Compatibility

摘要

Recent advances in wireless technologies have produced an increase in wireless instrumentation present in urban homes (wireless routers, cell phones, DECT technology, etc). Thus, the background level of electromagnetic fields has been on the increase. On the other hand, technological advances in miniaturization and wireless communications have enabled the development of wireless biomonitoring devices.Wireless telemonitoring and telecommunication systems must be able to coexist together in the same environment, but the current electromagnetic compatibility and immunity standards do not cover the emerging home telemonitoring scenarios.This work aims to characterize the electromagnetic environments currently present in urban homes in order to make an assessment for the potential safe use of home telemonitoring systems, according to the normative for RF immunity of medical devices IEC EN 60601-1-2 (which sets a minimum immunity level of 3 V/m). 33 houses with a potential use of a telemedicine system in the city of Madrid and 6 in the surroundings have been measured during, at least, 7 days. 23 houses presented Electric peaks higher than 3 V/m, which could compromise the security of the patients.In conclusion, careful assessment of electromagnetic compatibility must be taken into account when a new telemedicine system is going to be implanted.