All new medical power supplies need to pass 60601-1-2 4th edition starting December 31, 2018. Click here for the link to the new MEGA Electronics catalog for the new 60601-1-2 4th edition power supplies.
These new standards will impact medical device manufacturers as well as the power supply manufacturers. Although the transition date is now set for December 31, 2018, UL Medical EMC experts advise that FDA’s publication “Design Considerations for Devices Intended for Home Use –Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff” suggests using the 4th edition of IEC 60601-1-2 for Home Healthcare environments now to cover test levels which may not be appropriately addressed in the 3rd edition.
Following are the details on the updated standards:
Key Changes
Following are some of the key changes in the 4th edition.
Use environments are split into three areas:
• Professional Healthcare Facility Environment
• Home Healthcare Environment
• Special Environment
Small clinic and Home Use Equipment
- Need CISPR 11 Class B emission, IEC 61000-3-2 Class A harmonic distortion, and IEC 61000-3-3 voltage fluctuation and flicker.
- The home use equipment needs 10 V/m, 80 MHz to 1 GHz immunity.
Equipment installed in an aircraft or an ambulance
- Additional testing per ISO 7137 and CISPR 25 applies.
For an EUT with auto ranging power supply
- Most tests are required to be performed at one nominal voltage only.
- Only voltage interruptions need to be performed at maximum and minimum voltage if the rated voltage range is >25% of lowest rated input voltage.
Immunity Test Levels
Immunity test levels increase:
• The range of testing for radiated immunity harmonized up to 2.7GHz (up from 2.5GHz in the 3rd edition)
• Magnetic immunity at 30A/m
• Conducted immunity at 6V in ISM bands
• ESD at 8kV contact and 15kV air (up from 6kV and 8kV in the 3rd edition)
• Voltage dips and interruptions at additional phase angles
In addition to these Immunity changes:
• Immunity levels harmonized with IEC 60601-1-11
• Immunity testing now follows the same port-by-port convention of the IEC 61000-6 series of Generic EMC standards
• Immunity to proximity fields from RF wireless communications equipment is now included, and is based on a minimum separation distance of 30cm
• There is a procedure for continuing to test a product that is damaged by an immunity test signal
And risk management is expanded:
- Manufacturers will be required to submit a test plan and the risk analysis document before testing
• Operating modes are based on risk analysis
• Reasonably foreseeable electromagnetic disturbances (Annex F) shall be taken into account in the risk management process
• The risk management process is used to determine whether subsystem testing is allowed
• The minimum separation distance are considered in the risk management process
• Reduced test levels (e.g. based on the intended use of the product) must be justified in the risk management file
As a leading supplier of power supplies for medical devices, MEGA Electronics has been updating our entire line of medical power supplies to meet the new 4th edition requirements. We are here to help you navigate these new requirements to ensure your products meet these new FDA guidelines. Please give us a call to discuss your medical device project today.