User's Manual

your body or use a wireless phone connected to a remote antenna. Again, the scientific

data does not demonstrate that wireless phones are harmful. But if you are concerned

about the RF exposure from these products, you can use measures like those described

above to reduce your RF exposure from wireless phone use.

11. What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment?

Radio Frequency (RF) energy from wireless phones can interact with some electronic

devices. For this reason, the FDA helped develop a detailed test method to measure

Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) of implanted cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators

from wireless telephones. This test method is now part of a standard sponsored by the

Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). The final draft, a joint

effort by the FDA, medical device manufacturers, and many other groups, was completed

in late 2000. This standard will allow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac pacemakers

and defibrillators are safe from wireless phone EMI. The FDA has tested hearing aids for

interference from handheld wireless phones and helped develop a voluntary standard

sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This standard

specifies test methods and performance requirements for hearing aids and wireless

phones so that no interference occurs when a person uses a “compatible” phone and a

“compatible” hearing aid simultaneously. This standard was approved by the IEEE in 2000.

The FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions with

other medical devices. Should harmful interference be found to occur, the FDA will

conduct testing to assess the interference and work to resolve the problem.

12. Where can I find additional information?

For additional information, please refer to the following resources: FDA web page on

wireless phones (http://www.fda.gov), under “C” in the subject index, select Cell Phones >

Current Research Results. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) RF Safety