Programa de verificação de equipamentos de terapia por ondas curtas baseado em normas

Abstract

This research presents the development and application of a program for the verification of short wave diathermy (SWD) equipment which included a diagnosis survey showing data relative to the instruments, use conditions, visual inspection and analysis of accompanying documents having as reference the requirements of brazilian standards NBR IEC 601-1 and NBR IEC 601-2-3. The program also comprised the implementation of electrical safety tests for the equipment and the environment (electrical installations) and the measurement of electric fields emitted by the SWD instruments. The results showed that the manufacturers do not completely follow the standards for the specifications of the instruments and accompanying documents as well as for the installations. Also, the physiotherapists do not have general knowledge on the standards. Concerning the electrical safety tests, the measured values of leakage currents of the instruments were within the limits required by the standards however for the electrical installations there were some failures. Considering the electric fields, high values were measured (above the limit of 61 V/m) nearby the SWD instruments. One can conclude that manufacturers and professionals (physiotherapists) must have more knowledge regarding the requirements of the standards including the electrical safety and the exposure to electromagnetic fields, in order to avoid risks for the patient and the physiotherapists.