HDTV CAN INTERFERE WITH HEART MONITORS
ISSUE:
Interference of high definition TV broadcasts with monitoring medical devices.
BACKGROUND:
In an article published in the New York Times dated March 12, 1998, it was
reported that a TV station in Dallas, when started digital broadcasting, a dozen
wireless heart monitors stopped working at the nearby heart-surgery recovery
center at the Baylor University Medical Center.
RECOMMENDATIONS/CONCLUSION:
1. According to the article, FCC has warned hospitals in at least 10 major cities
(not named, New York is one of them) to avoid operating wireless medical devices
on occupied broadcast channels. The broadcasters have the stronger claim to the
wavelengths in question. All pieces of medical telemetry equipment are classified
as "secondary devices" that must yield to licensed broadcasters in a given
broadcast spectrum.
2. VAMCs should be aware of this potential problem as more broadcasters start
high definition digital broadcasting.
3. There are areas of unused broadcast spectrum where the medical devices can
operate without HDTV interference.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFOR MATION:
Contact Satish Sehgal at 202-565-5032 in the Standards Service (187C).
20 March 1998
FM-187C-DA87
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