Need for standardization of EMC (electro-magnetic compatibility) regulation with Japan Self-Defense Force aircrafts and DMAT’s medical electronics equipment in wide-area medical transport

<p>【Background】 Japanese government plans “wide-area medical transport” as a measure of disaster medical management system in case of massive earthquake. In the plan, Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) board Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) cargo aircrafts to provide medical care for severely injured patients on-board. In case of aeromedical transportation, due to electro-magnetic waves generated by on-board medical electronics equipment (MEE) and avionics, adverse effect may appear on both or one side, therefore, prior confirmation of electric-magnetic compatibility (EMC) is critical for aviation and medical safety. 【Method】 We conducted hearing investigation to both of Air Support Command, a major command of cargo aircrafts of JSDF, and Secretariat of Japan DMAT. 【Result】 Air Support Command perform verification of EMC for multiple fixed-wing cargo aircrafts and 72 MEE using “coupling method”. Coupling method is to check EMC by verifying abnormal action observed in avionics and/or MEE by repeating turning on and off the switch of each avionics and MEE with every combination at ground parking aircraft. Those 72 MEE are mainly from JSDF medical units, however, only a few MEE from DMAT are included. JSDF basically do not allow EMC unproved MEE utilization on board. 【Discussion】 DMAT are supposed to board JSDF cargo aircrafts equipped with various kinds of MEE from their own hospitals and most of their MEE are not EMC proven. This lack of EMC standard regulation poses great risk of unacceptable confusion in wide-area medical transport flow. 【Conclusion】 Standard regulation for EMC between JSDF cargo aircrafts and DMATs’ MEE must be developed in a prompt manner.</p>