EMC for medical equipment
Medical equipment is covered by EN60601-1-2. This standard is applicable to all medical equipment and systems covered by the Medical Device Directive.
The standard specifies various emissions and immunity tests to be carried out on the product either through radiated means or by conduction along the signal or power supply cables. In particular, patient coupled cables must be tested in specific ways to simulate connections to the human body.
The test requirements of these standards include mains harmonic emissions, flicker, conducted RF emissions, radiated emissions, radiated immunity, conducted RF and transient type immunity tests on power and signal cables as well as ESD (Electrostatic Discharge).
The standard specifies higher level immunity requirements for life supporting equipment and lower immunity requirements for non-life supporting equipment. There is also a table in the standard for lower immunity levels and higher emissions limits for equipment used within a shielded location, if these levels are used it is essential that the actual RF shielding effectiveness and filter attenuation of the shielded location be verified to ensure that they meet or exceed the specified minimum values required.
As the standard refers back to CISPR 11 for emissions there are different emissions limits for different intended usage environments such as in a hospital or within the home where different limits apply and also for different types of ISM equipment where some intentional transmissions from the equipment may be required as part of its intended function.
