The aim of this work is to investigate electromagnetic interference phenomena occurring between electromedical equipment and modern telecommunication devices, with a particular attention to W-LAN network terminals. The legislative terms have been considered concerning electromagnetic compatibility in medical devices; a set of simulations have been performed in a realistic model of hospital scenery to test the effective levels of electric field over medical devices due to some typical wireless sources. Once that the interference level have been fixed, an accurate planning is advisable by taking into account all the electromagnetic sources present in the environment (at least the ones that are known).
This activity is very useful in determining the optimum number of base stations for radio coverage, maintaining, at the same time, an overall low level of the total field. Additionally, by pursuing a proper planning of the network, we are able to take into account if some rooms contain susceptible equipment so that electromagnetic field can be preferably directed towards other rooms. Due to the modern computing resources, this activity (experimental part of the project) can be easily carried out by performing realistic simulations (final section of the work), followed by a measurement campaign.
Finally, we point out that the information obtained by the radio planning activity can be used to rearrange the disposition of devices and equipment within the medical environment to reduce the probability of interference.