Safety In Medical Electrical Equipment Starts With The Power Input

Medical technology uses a wide range of electrical equipment. During normal operation and in the event of a malfunction, it is imperative that the equipment does not pose any danger to patients or medical staff. A piece of equipment that causes a short circuit or residual current can trigger a protective system upstream and in doing so shut down other, possibly life-sustaining, equipment. Thus, it is necessary to pay special attention to how each unit is supplied with power. Connectors and power entry modules used in the equipment are tested to component standards and if in compliance with these standards can generally be used in most equipment without additional testing. This is especially true for medical equipment, where extensive requirements regarding safety are in effect, as defined in the base standard for medical electrical equipment, IEC/UL 60601-1. In addition, there are a wide range of specific requirements for each category of equipment according to IEC 60601-x-xx. The IEC standards for medical electrical equipment are harmonized with UL so that the same requirements are also in effect for equipment in North America.