Production Line EMI Examination System (PLEXIS)

Modern medical equipment has become increasingly vulnerable to disruption by external signals. Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) from both medical and non-medical systems has been blamed for a variety of disruptions, in some cases leading to death. The high cost of EMI has prevented manufacturers from carrying out extensive characterizations of their systems. Fiore intends to reduce the cost per item by making a general purpose EMI testing system widely available and affordable even to the small device manufacturers. Fiore plans to develop a Production-Line EMI Examination and Inspection System (PLEXIS) for use by manufacturers and regulators. Based on an innovative testing technology developed at the Air Force Phillips Laboratory, PLEXIS will take a totally unique approach to the problem of affordable, fast device EMI testing. It will be designed for integration into a broad class of manufacturing and production lines. As part of this project, Fiore will also evaluate current EMI and EMC failure standards for commercial medical devices.| Benefits: PLEXIS will ensure maximum safety and reliability of medical devices through EMI characterization of every item. PLEXIS will: 1) Ensure safe and reliable operation of current and future medical devices in an increasing EMI environment; and 2) Enable U.S. manufacturers to compete under the EMI standards being imposed by the European Union.|