TEst

Electromagnetic interference (EMI), which refers to the disturbance of a device’s performance by an unwanted electromagnetic field, is a serious concern in healthcare environments, risking distorted signals, data loss, and dangerous malfunctions if devices are not designed according to electromagnetic compatibility principles.

Healthcare’s escalating EMI landscape

In a busy hospital environment where imaging systems, diagnostic tools, monitoring equipment, and infusion pumps operate in close proximity, interference risks are abundant. Some medical devices can be particularly powerful sources of EMI such as electrosurgical tools and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, while wireless communication systems such as WiFi, Bluetooth, and mobile phones add to the crowded signals.

EMI risks are increasing in healthcare settings as the number of electronic devices with wireless data transfer proliferates, creating an increasingly complex environment of signal sources. Previously static and bulky devices are becoming more and more portable, meaning the location of EMI sources is shifting and hard to predict. Modern ultrasound machines are now handheld, for instance, wirelessly transmitting images to tablets or smartphones for point-of-care diagnostics.

Outside of traditional healthcare settings, EMI is still a challenge for medical devices. For example, wearables must remain accurate during daily use so that patients can depend on them for important health tracking requirements, from glucose monitoring to arrythmia detection. Yet certain environments with high concentrations of overlapping electromagnetic fields, including urban areas, gyms, and industrial zones, can cause problems for sensitive electronics.

With wearables, the challenge is heightened by the dense, tightly packed nature of these miniaturised devices and their low operating powers, making them more susceptible to external EMI as well as self-interference, with sensitive components placed close to internal interference sources....