An HIT

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reported recently that it may add to the bandwidth it permits for the operation of wireless medical devices, which may expand use of a variety of devices in a hospital setting.

FCC has had its eye on the spectrum question for some time, announcing more than three years ago its intent to establish what sort of bandwidth medical devices will need in order to allow new technology to move into the healthcare setting.

The proposal would allow device makers and hospitals to use "wireless micro-power networks" occupying four discrete slots of seven megahertz (MHz) each between 413 and 547 MHz, a bandwidth that is at present partly used for land mobile radio and radar operations.

Currently, wireless devices typically operate in the range of 401 to 406 MHz, and the intent of the current proposal is to foster space for the operation of neuromsuscular stimulation devices.