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Table 1 Categories of medical devices, interference distances and type of incidents per signal

From: Interference by new-generation mobile phones on critical care medical equipment

Type of device or incident

Number of devices

Distancea (cm)

Type of incident per signalb

 

Tested

Influenced

 

GPRS-1

GPRS-2

UMTS

Intensive care unit ventilator

9

7

1.5 [0.1–300]

6H, 1L

2H, 1S, 1L

1H, 2S, 1L

Critical care monitor

13

7

3 [0.1–500]

4S, 3L

2S, 4L

 

Syringe pump

7

3

5 [0.1–50]

2H, 1S

S

S

Volumetric infusion pump

4

1

30

S

S

S

Intra-aortic balloon pump

2

1

0.1

L

  

Haemofiltration/dialysis

5

1

15

H

  

External pacemaker

4

1

3

H

  

Defibrillator

3

1

0.1

  

L

12-lead EKG

1

1

150

S

S

S

Fluid warmer

2

1

6

S

S

 

Enteral feeding pump

2

1

30

H

H

 

Air humidifier

1

1

5

H

  

EKG telemetry

1

0

    

Forced-air warming unit

3

0

    

Mobile suction unit

1

0

    

Critical care bed

2

0

    

Continuous-airflow mattress

1

0

    

Type of incidentb

      

   Hazardous

  

3.5 [0.1–300]

   

   Significant

  

25 [0.1–500]

   

   Light

  

0.1 [0.1–3]

   

Total

61

26 (43%)

3 [0.1–500]

25 (41%)

15 (25%)

8 (13%)

  1. GPRS, General Packet Radio Service; UMTS, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System; EKG, electrocardiogram. aResults are shown as median [range]. bHazardous (H) is defined as a direct physical influence on patient by unintended change in equipment function; significant (S) is defined as an influence on monitoring with a significant level of attention needed, causing substantial distraction from patient care; light (L) is defined as an influence on monitoring without a significant level of attention needed.
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Critical Care

ISSN: 1364-8535