What Problems Does MED-E-Shield^TM Solve?

The focus of this section will be on the signal disruption that occurs with Electromyography studies (EMG’s) and Nerve Conduction studies (NCS’s) in environments where electromagnetic and Radio Frequency interference is prevalent. These intruding waves cause spurious artifacts to appear on the display.  This phenomenon makes it very difficult to distinguish between the actual electro physiologic responses of nerve and muscle tissue from the ambient electrical noise. In short, MED-E-Shield^TM has resolved these issues.

To be a bit more specific, MED-E-Shield^TM provides a barrier to the two types of emissions that occur electrically. One type of emission is radiated. Radiated emissions, either electromagnetic or radio frequency, propagate through free space in search of a more attractive path to follow. This path can be almost anything that is more conductive than air. Wires and cables, antennas, electronic devices and metal objects are just a few of the items that these waves “seek out”. When they come in contact with these items they will again become an electric current that can have an adverse effect on that object. Since an EMG machine is such a sensitive electronic device these radiated emissions can cause a variety of illegitimate artifacts to appear on the monitor. These artifacts are not the visual representation of the response of the nerve or muscle tissue but pictographic of the harmful radiated emissions that are in the immediate surrounding area. The radiated emissions then interfere with the test. The special silver-plated nylon fabric in conjunction with honeycomb vent panels and EMI windows form a sealed, shielded environment which these radiated emissions cannot penetrate. The result is a “clean” test in which the patient’s own electro physiologic responses are the only ones that appear on the display!

The problem that is more prevalent with the EMG machine is known as a conducted emission. This type of emission is brought into the device through the power line itself as the term would imply. I am sure that most of you have experienced this “60 cycle” wave on the display. It can also be a multiple harmonic of the 60 cycle wave. This emission is more difficult to shield but not impossible. While the “soft” silver-plated room and special vents and windows stop the radiated emissions, they do nothing to prevent a conducted emission through a power line. MED-E-Shield^TM has a specially designed power filter box through which the power must pass before entering the enclosure. Inside the shielded room you then have clean power to the EMG machine thus eliminating this problematic low frequency wave.

In summary, the MED-E-Shield^TM “Mobile Enclosure for Diagnostic Equipment” has solved both the radiated and conducted emission problems that cause the troublesome artifacts that appear on the screen in both EMG and Nerve Conduction studies! Purchase or rent one of our enclosures today and perform clean studies each time, every time without having to re-schedule patients or move equipment!