An Experimental Validation of a Detailed Numerical Model for Predicting Implantable Medical Devices EMI Due to Low-Band RFID reader/writers

摘要

Wireless communication devices such as mobile phones, radio-frequency identification (RFID), electric article surveillance (EAS), and contactless IC cards are essential devices to realize the ubiquitous and universal network society. On the other hand, since they are wireless devices, they emit electromagnetic fields (EMF) that could potentially cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) for other electromagnetic devices. The EMI on implantable medical devices (IMDs) such as implantable-cardiac pacemakers and - cardioverter defibrillators is one of the most important issues needing investigation [1], [2]. This is because the number of IMD users is increasing every year due to technological advances in IMDs as well as due to the aging of the population (more persons using IMDs). In this paper, a numerical assessment methodology of EMI occurrence in IMD due to low-band RFID reader/writer (RFID/IMD-EMI) is confirmed based on the results of in-vitro experiments and FDTD analyses. First, the EMI is outlined using the operating principle of tag communication. Secondly, in-vitro EMI experiments using fabricated experimental RFID reader/writer antennas and implantable-cardiac pacemakers are discussed. Then, the maximum interference distance obtained by the experiments and the numerical analyses are compared in order to validate the assessment methodology.