Table 1

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

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%)

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.

van Lieshout et al. Critical Care 2007 11:R98   doi:10.1186/cc6115