An ultrahigh-frequency circuit could drastically reduce the cost of medical imaging systems—maybe within the next five years. The 410-GHz circuit was developed by researchers at the University of Florida (UF; Gainesville) and Texas Instruments (TI; Dallas). The breakthrough is that it uses complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) technology. The new chip is based on TI's 45-nm advanced manufacturing CMOS process.
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Click here for an informative overview of standards and guidelines concerned with controlling electromagnetic compatibility in the development of medical electronics. Standards are included for the International Electrotechnical Commission, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, European Telecommunications Standards Institute, and Australian Communications Authority.
European Commission's Communications Policy provides users with information on policy and regulation of the communications sector within the EU.
The European Radiocommunications Office is a sister organization to the ETO and offers much the same information, except relating to radiocommuncations.
European Telecommunications Office (ETO) was established by the European Committee on Telecommunications Regulatory Affairs (ECTRA) in 1994 in order to contribute to the European Union's telecommunications policy on licensing and numbering. Among the information the site offers is information on securing licenses (including country-by-country guidelines), updates, and news.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) site offers a myriad of information relating to the vast number of functions of the FCC.
FCC Office of Engineering and Technology is responsible for the maintenance of Parts 2, 5, 15, and 18 of FCC rules. PDF files of the rules are located here.
The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), a part of the FDA, has regulatory authority over several thousand different kinds of medical devices. The CDRH's Medical Device Electromagnetic Compatibility Program oversees interference compatibility issues for the industry.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) , an agency of the UN, is an international organization within which governments and the private sector coordinate global telecom networks and services. The site offers information under the three areas it focuses on: radio communication, standardization, and development.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) , an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch's principal voice on domestic and international telecommunications and information technology issues.
The Radiocommunications Agency is an agency within the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) in the U.K. They are responsible for the allocation, maintenance, and supervision of the U.K. radio spectrum.
601Help is a free resource for developers of electrical medical devices. The site provides information about compliance with IEC 60601-1, the international product safety standard for medical devices.
Voluntary Control Council for Interference's (VCCI) mandate is to take voluntary control measures against electronic interference from information technology equipment and electronic office machines in Japan. The site offers EMC information and Council reports.
The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness was established in 1996, after the passage of the Congressional Review Act, to provide Congress with independent analyses of agency regulations. From this initial organizing concept, CRE has grown into a nationally recognized clearinghouse for methods to improve the federal regulatory process.
