Preface Development in the feld of medical technology has resulted in a manifold of medical devices enabling us to diagnose illnesses more reliably, treat them more effciently and compensate for handicaps more effectively. However, these improvements are also - sociated with safety risks. Today, patients are in contact with an increasing number of medical devices longer and more intensively then before. Applied parts are put into contact with the body, probes may be introduced into the body via natural or surgical orifces, and even whole devices may be implanted for many years. The application of devices is no longer restricted to medical locations only. Home use by lay people is increasing and involves even critical devices such as for dialysis, nerve and muscle stimulation and ventilation. In contrast to users’ patients are in a special situation. Their life could depend on the performance of a device, they might be unconscious, may have impaired reactions, or have been made insensitive to pain by medication, and hence they may be exposed to hazards without their awareness and protection by their own reaction. Therefore, medical devices must meet particularly stringent safety requirements. However, the question arises how safe is safe enough? The readiness to accept risks depends on a variety of accompanying circumstances. In fact, subjective risk p- ception varies among individuals and differs from country to country, and frequently only in rare cases it is in agreement with assessments of objective scientifc ana- ses.

The design of medical electronics is unique because of the background needed by the engineers and scientists involved. Often the designer is a medical or life science professional without any training in electronics or design. Likewise, few engineers are specifically trained in biomedical engineering and have little or no exposure to the specific medical requirements of these devices. Design of Medical Electronic Devices presents all essential topics necessary for basic and advanced design. All aspects of the electronics of medical devices are also covered. This is an essential book for graduate students as well as professionals involved in the design of medical equipment. - Covers every stage of the process, from design to manufacturing to implementation - Topics covered include analogue/digital conversions, data acquisition, signal processing, optics, and reliability and failure

As the biomedical engineering field expands throughout the world, clinical engineers play an ever more important role as the translator between the worlds of the medical, engineering, and business professionals. They influence procedure and policy at research facilities, universities and private and government agencies including the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization. Clinical engineers were key players in calming the hysteria over electrical safety in the 1970s and Y2K at the turn of the century and continue to work for medical safety. This title brings together all the important aspects of Clinical Engineering. It provides the reader with prospects for the future of clinical engineering as well as guidelines and standards for best practice around the world.

Spanning static fields to terahertz waves, this volume explores the range of consequences electromagnetic fields have on the human body. Topics discussed include essential interactions and field coupling phenomena; electric field interactions in cells, focusing on ultrashort, pulsed high-intensity fields; dosimetry or coupling of ELF fields into biological systems; and the historical developments and recent trends in numerical dosimetry. It also discusses mobile communication devices and the dosimetry of RF radiation into the human body, exposure and dosimetry associated with MRI and spectroscopy, and available data on the interaction of terahertz radiation with biological tissues, cells, organelles, and molecules.