Medical devices have to be reliable—people's lives depend on them. But current reliability testing standards don't cover all of the specific stresses faced by implantable medical electronics products, including implantable subcutaneous glucose monitors and retinal implants. Now, one industry organization is trying to change that. 
 
The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI), a trade group that counts medical electronics manufacturers among its members, is holding a teleconference Sept. 13 titled "Defining Requirements for the Development of Medical Electronics Reliability Specification." The purpose of the event is to review existing standards relevant to medical electronic implants, identify areas in need of improvement, and recommend new methodologies.
 
Current reliability testing standards are based on standards used in the military, automotive, and avionics industries, according to iNEMI. That results in over-engineered products that don't consider many of the trials electronics implants face, such as x-ray screening, the organization says. While some OEMs have developed methods for their specific products, iNEMI believes industry standards and sharing of information among OEMs could benefit all manufacturers.
 
Judging by the high volume of traffic that went to a recent article we posted about the necessity for tests to assess the risks associated with the coexistence of wireless technologies and RF wireless medical devices, this is a hot topic among medical electronics designers. It sounds like a good teleconference to check out.
 
—Jamie Hartford