IEC Releases Standard Update for IEC 60601-2-2:2017 – Medical Electrical Equipment

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has released IEC 60601-2-2:2017. This standard pertains to Medical electrical equipment – Part 2-2: Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of high frequency surgical equipment and high frequency surgical accessories, and is now available on the IEC webstore.

Description: “IEC 60601-2-2:2017 applies to the basic safety and essential performance of HF surgical equipment and HF surgical accessories.

HF surgical equipment having a rated output power not exceeding 50 W (for example for micro-coagulation, or for use in dentistry or ophthalmology) is exempt from certain of the requirements of this particular standard. These exemptions are indicated in the relevant requirements.

The object of this particular standard is to establish particular basic safety and essential performance requirements for HF surgical equipment and HF surgical accessories.

This sixth edition cancels and replaces the fifth edition published in 2009. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

– refinement and additions to the defined terms;
– additional separation of the requirements for HF surgical equipment and HF surgical accessories;
– a new requirement for adult neutral electrodes to be contact quality monitoring neutral electrodes;
– new requirements for devices that have or use a high current mode..”

*Description from the IEC Website.